Growing Tomatoes

Patio Garden

If you want to grow lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, radishes, peas or beans, you can grow all of these from seed without having to start the seeds inside in advance. If you want to grow other things such as tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, eggplant or other vegetables, you may want to consider buying starter plants

 

Best Way to Grow Tomatoes in Small Space

1. Don’t start the plants too early before the season, unless you live in a warm climate otherwise; your tomato plants will be exposed to unexpected late frost and cold temperatures. The best planting time is when the temperature starts to stay above 50 F (10 C).
2. Unlike all other plants, tomatoes must be planted deeply. Deep planting encourages healthy and strong root system. At the time of planting, cover bottom 2/3 part of your tomato seedling with potting soil. For example, if your plant is 10 inches high leave only 3 inches of its height from the top.
3. Grow determinate varieties of tomatoes if you’re short of space or growing tomatoes in containers. Determinate tomatoes don’t grow too tall or wide (generally, 3-4 feet). Both hybrid and heirloom cultivars are available in it.
4. Growing indeterminate tomatoes in a small space is a mistake, they easily grow above 6 feet tall normally and spread a lot, thus require sturdy support by caging or staking. On the other hand, determinate type of tomatoes requires slight support.
5. Space your tomato plants 18 inches apart (determinate one). Ideally, you should leave the space of 24 inches if possible. Tomato plants grown too close are prone to fungal diseases and are less productive.
6. On a small balcony, you can even grow smaller varieties more closely. Consider cherry tomatoes. But remember, tomatoes growing too tightly require more attention: More fertilizer, water, and pruning.
7. Pruning is not necessary unless plants are grown too close. Prune tangling branches that are blocking the air flow and penetration of sun. Also, remove suckers (emerging stems) up to 6-8 inches under each plant. This will improve the productivity of the plant.
8. Use large pots to grow tomatoes. You can use a 5-gallon pot that is 12 inches wide and deep for a single plant of determinate variety, for an indeterminate type choose minimum 15-gallon size container.
9. The container should be deep, at least, 12 inches is necessary.
10. Caging needs more space so instead of it, support tomatoes by stacking. If you are growing tomatoes on a balcony, consider tying them up to the railing.
11. Don’t grow tomatoes upside down. It is a fancy idea but not a practical one. However, you can grow tomatoes (cherry tomatoes) in hanging baskets.
12. Provide the sun, as much sun as possible. The more your tomato plant will soak the sunlight more they will fruit.
13. Use soilless potting mix for the better result. You can buy it or make your own.
14. Soil pH matters. Ideal pH for tomatoes is around 6 – 6.8. Slightly acidic to neutral.
15. Add worm castings or vermicompost to the soil. You can also put worms in the soil.
16. When growing tomatoes in a container, regular watering is essential. Watering must be done in the morning. Almost every day in summer. In tropics, you may need to water twice a day.

17. Avoid overhead watering. Wetting the foliage is a bad practice as wet leaves and stems are more prone to diseases.
18. Use tomato feed to fertilize your plants. Apply less dose than the instruction given on the packet but more often. Consider half of the recommended dose but twice.
19. At the time of planting, place 2-3 crushed chicken egg shells in the bottom. This will provide a constant supply of minerals and calcium to the plant. Deficiency of calcium promotes blossom end rot in tomatoes. It is an essential element in the uptake of nutrients. Calcium also saves the plant from heat stress and affects the fruit quality.

20. Sprinkle some bonemeal at the time of planting, especially if your soil lacks calcium. Bonemeal will also provide a slow and steady supply of phosphorus to the plant. It is an organic product that consists higher amount of phosphorus and calcium.

21. Once in a month, fertilize the plant with compost or manure tea.
22. Mulch your tomato plants, it is important. For mulching, use organic matter, crushed egg shell, and coffee ground or tea.
23. Use Epsom salt for tomatoes.

 To know why and how

Epsom Salt for Potted Tomatoes

Dissolve 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt in 1 gallon of water. Water with this solution until it starts to drain from the bottom. You can do this in every 3 to 4 weeks. You can also use Epsom salt spray for tomato plants.

Epsom Salt for Tomatoes while Planting

While transplanting the seedling, put one tablespoon Epsom salt in the bottom of the planting hole and cover this with a layer of soil. Make sure before planting that roots are not directly touching Epsom salt.

Epsom Salt for Tomatoes during Growing Season

For the tomatoes growing on the ground after planting till harvest, spray two tablespoon Epsom salt mixed in one gallon of water every month during growing season. This will encourage plant’s growth, prevent blossom end rot and makes tomato skin thick and red.





 Specialty Farms finding the Tips:
Never place tomatoes on a sunny windowsill to ripen. They may rot before they are ripe! Leave your tomatoes on the vine as long a possible. If any fall off before they appear ripe, place in a paper bag with the stem up and store them in a cool, dark place. Per Farmers Almanac


Five-spotted hawk moth

 

hawkmoth, is a brown and gray hawk moth of the family Sphingidae. The caterpillar, often referred to as the tomato hornworm, can be a major pest in gardens; they get their name from a dark projection on their posterior end and their use of tomatoes as host plants

 

 Most gardeners get good organic control of tomato hornworms by handpicking them. Until you learn what to look for, spraying the plants with water can increase visual contrast and make handpicking easier. When numerous small hornworms are found, you can use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) or spinosad to kill them.

 

Early Blight (Alternaria) Another tomato plant disease fungus, Alternaria, also causes leaf spot or early blight. Lower leaves show brown or black spots with dark edges, almost like a target. Stem ends of fruits may be attacked, showing large, sunken black areas with concentric rings.

 

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