If you’ve ever driven past Florida’s commercial tomato fields, you’ve probably noticed their tidy rows, plastic-covered beds, and healthy, uniform plants. Commercial growers have perfected techniques for maximum yield in Florida’s tough climate.
The good news? You can borrow many of their methods—without farming on an acre of land. Here’s what works for home gardeners (and what you should tweak for a backyard or raised bed setup).
Raised Beds and Mounded Rows (Copy This)
Commercial growers use mounded rows to improve drainage and warm the soil. You can get the same benefits in a home garden with raised beds.
How to Adapt:
Keep beds 10–12 inches high with loose, well-draining soil.
Add compost before planting—commercial growers inject fertilizer through irrigation, but we rely on building soil health naturally.
Plastic Mulch for Soil Temperature Control (Modify This)
Fields are covered in white-on-black plastic mulch to cool soil in summer and warm it in early spring.
How to Adapt:
For hot Florida summers: use white plastic or reflective mulch if you want to keep soil cooler.
Prefer organic? Palm fronds, shredded leaves, or straw mulch provide similar cooling benefits and improve soil as they break down.
Drip Irrigation (Definitely Copy This)
Commercial growers run drip lines under plastic mulch for precise watering. Consistent moisture prevents blossom end rot and cracking.
How to Adapt:
Install a simple drip irrigation kit or soaker hoses in your raised beds.
Water deeply 2–3 times a week, keeping soil evenly moist.
Disease-Resistant Varieties (Copy This)
Commercial growers plant hybrids bred for Florida’s diseases and humidity, like Solar Set, Florida 91, and Heatwave II.
How to Adapt:
Plant at least one hybrid for reliability.
Mix in a few heirlooms for flavor and diversity, but keep them separated if you’re watching for disease outbreaks.
Fertilizer Programs (Modify This)
Commercial fields get a steady feed of synthetic fertilizer injected through irrigation.
How to Adapt:
Use a slow-release organic fertilizer (3-4-4 or 5-5-5) worked into the soil before planting.
Boost with compost tea or my Garden Revival Tonic every few weeks for microbial health.
Pest and Disease Management (Copy + Modify)
Growers use fungicides and pesticides preventively, but home gardeners can stay organic:
How to Adapt:
Use companion planting (marigolds, basil) and encourage beneficial insects.
Treat outbreaks early with neem oil or baby shampoo spray (see our Natural Pest Control for Florida Tomatoes post).
Plant Spacing and Pruning (Copy This)
Commercial rows are spaced for airflow, which reduces fungal disease.
How to Adapt:
Space plants 18–24 inches apart in rows or raised beds.
Prune suckers on indeterminate varieties to improve airflow and direct energy to fruit.
Final Word: Grow Like a Pro—But Smarter
By borrowing these proven techniques—raised beds, drip irrigation, disease-resistant varieties—and tweaking them for small spaces and organic methods, you can grow tomatoes as healthy as any commercial field. And you’ll enjoy something those big farms can’t always promise: unbeatable, homegrown flavor.