Grow thriving, delicious tomatoes: Urban Harvest gardening pro Carol Burton shares top tips

HOUSTON – If you’ve been thinking of growing tomatoes in the Houston area, we’re nearing the end of tomato planting season.

Urban Harvest’s Director of Permaculture Education, Carol Burton, takes us inside one of Houston’s community gardens to show us step by step how to plant a thriving crop of tomatoes. She explained why planting in March, when it’s not too cold and not yet too hot, is critical.

“We’re planting now because when the weather gets to be 85 degrees and up, tomatoes do not set fruit,” said Burton.

A variety of young tomato plants (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.)

Burton said she often gets calls from people asking why their tomato plants aren’t producing any fruit. The common culprit? Those plants may have been planted too late -- in April or May -- when average temperatures are already too hot for the plant to produce fruit.

Another common problem is over-fertilization. While using an organic fertilizer and root stimulator is an important part of the planting process, Burton cautions that using too much fertilizer when the plant is young, within the first few weeks of being planted, can result in more greenery on the plant but fewer tomatoes.

Watch the full interview with Houston Life’s Derrick Shore to learn more of Carol Burton’s expert tips for planting a healthy, thriving crop of tomatoes.


About the Author
Derrick Shore headshot

Three-time Emmy winner, dog lover, uncle, electric car driver, cookie eater.

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