Crop Program · Tomatoes

Concentrate the feed where the crop grows fastest.

An organic program for tomatoes: a strong Phyta-Grow® Leafy Green Special base, then three Phytamin® Pure applications concentrated across the rapid-growth window — early bloom through fruit development, where nitrogen demand peaks.

Why timing matters

Tomatoes feed steadily — and hardest during rapid growth.

Tomatoes take up little nitrogen in the first ~40 days, then uptake climbs and stays high through to harvest, peaking during rapid growth — from early bloom to first red fruit — at around 35 lb N/acre per week (UC Davis / CDFA FREP). High-yield crops take up 200 to 320 lb N/acre total, with recommended fertilizer nitrogen around 150 lb (furrow) to 200 lb (drip). The best practice is to concentrate nitrogen through that rapid-growth window. This program builds a strong Phyta-Grow® Leafy Green Special base, then delivers three Phytamin® Pure applications across early bloom and fruit development — immediately available nitrogen where the crop pulls it hardest.

Too much nitrogen causes its own problems. Excess nitrogen drives lush vine growth, delays maturity, increases fruit mold and rot, and can require extra passes to trim vines — and nitrogen-rich tailwater is an environmental concern. A pre-sidedress soil nitrate test guides the rate: where residual soil nitrate is high, less applied nitrogen is needed. Match the program to your soil test, not a fixed number.

The program

A strong base, then three feeds through rapid growth.

Timing	Product	Rate	N supplied
Pre-plant In bed	Phyta-Grow® Leafy Green Special 7-1-2 Dry, incorporated	2,000 lb/acre	140 lb N/acre
Early bloom through fruit development 3 applications	Phytamin® Pure 5-0-0 Through irrigation water	20 gal/acre each application	~8.1 lb N/acre each (~24 total)
Program nitrogen from COFI products			~164 lb N/acre

Timing Pre-plant
In bed

Product Phyta-Grow® Leafy Green Special 7-1-2
Dry, incorporated

Rate 2,000 lb/acre

N supplied 140 lb N/acre

Timing Early bloom through fruit development
3 applications

Product Phytamin® Pure 5-0-0
Through irrigation water

Rate 20 gal/acre each application

N supplied ~8.1 lb N/acre each (~24 total)

Program nitrogen from COFI products: ~164 lb N/acre

An organic-system program. These rates supply well-timed, plant-available nitrogen that complements the nitrogen your soil provides through organic matter, compost, and cover crops — build your full budget from all sources. Concentrate the in-season feed between early bloom and first red fruit, when uptake peaks, and use a pre-sidedress soil nitrate test to right-size the applied rate to your field.

Application timing

Concentrated through rapid growth.

RAPID GROWTH · EARLY BLOOM → FIRST RED FRUIT

PRE-PLANT Leafy Green Special
2,000 lb

EARLY BLOOM Pure 20 gal

FRUIT SET Pure 20 gal

FRUIT DEVELOPMENT Pure 20 gal

Transplant Establish Early bloom Fruit set Fruit dev. First red Harvest

The Phyta-Grow® Leafy Green Special base carries the crop from transplant through establishment and early vegetative growth. The three Phytamin® Pure applications concentrate across early bloom, fruit set, and fruit development — the rapid-growth window when tomatoes take up nitrogen fastest — delivering it in immediately available form.

Sources

Tomato nitrogen uptake, timing, and excess-nitrogen effects: CDFA FREP & UC Davis California Crop Fertilization Guidelines (Tomato Nitrogen Uptake and Partitioning; uptake remains high to harvest, peaks early bloom to first red fruit at ~35 lb N/acre/week). Fertigation timing and rate: Hartz, Nutrient Uptake and Partitioning in Drip-Irrigated Processing Tomatoes (CDFA FREP; ~200 lb N/acre adequate for high yield). Pre-sidedress soil nitrate testing and rate guidance: UC IPM processing tomato fertilization (100–150 lb N furrow, up to 200 lb drip). Product rates and densities: Phytamin® and Phyta-Grow® CDFA-registered labels, California Organic Fertilizers.

This program is a starting point, not a prescription. Set actual nitrogen rates for each field using its yield target, soil type, pre-sidedress soil nitrate test, nitrogen in irrigation water, and cover crop or compost contributions. Excess nitrogen promotes vine growth, delays maturity, and increases fruit mold — match the rate to your soil test. Finalize your program with your PCA or Certified Crop Adviser.
Talk to a COFI agronomist

DOWNLOAD TOMATOES CROP PROGRAM PDF

THE ORGANIC AGRONOMIST

Growing Organic Tomatoes: Match Nitrogen Timing to Crop Growth and Protect Fruit Quality

It shows how nitrogen management decisions change through establishment, rapid growth, fruit development, and ripening.

Read the Tomatoes Article

A printed guide titled 'Tomato nutrition: decisions by crop stage' with sections on 'Before Planting', 'Establishment', 'Fruit Set and Development', and 'Ripening and Harvest'.