Growing Tomatoes Indoors
When we think of growing tomatoes we typically think of a big, beautiful outdoor garden, specifically laid out to house a myriad of different vegetables. The problem is that not everyone is blessed with enough outdoor space to be able to accommodate an outdoor garden. Do not fear because growing tomatoes indoors can be just as easy as growing them outdoors and it comes with its own benefits as well.
Choosing the correct variety of tomato plant is essential in growing tomatoes indoors. So I always do this as a first step. You want to select a species that doesn’t grow too large or you’ll need much larger pots to plant these in. If you are going to grow your tomatoes from seeds, check the description on the seed package and it will sometimes mention being able to be grown indoors or in a container or sunroom, etc. If you will grow them from seedlings, check with the nursery about which can be grown indoors. I try to stay away from giving recommendations here as I feel doing this research is very important for the grower to find the variety that exactly matches their needs.
Your geographic location and the time of year could play a large part into where you select as your growing location for your tomato plants. For instance, if you live in a more southern climate in the United States, then you have access to ample sunlight all year round to possibly grow your plants in a sunroom or other area with access to the sun. If you live in a more northern climate, such as Alaska, and you are growing your plants through the winter, then you won’t have access to enough sun light to successfully grow your plants using this natural light source. Some people have success growing tomatoes indoors using the sun’s natural light but others do not. For this reason, you may need to find an unfinished section of your basement or other area in your house to set up specifically for your indoor garden using artificial lighting.
The big three you need to remember when growing tomato plants is moisture, heat and light. Tomato plants require moist soil. This is not difficult to do. On average you will need to water your tomato plants about an inch of water per week once they have been transplanted into their larger pots. Make sure the pot has a hole in the bottom for proper drainage and to eliminate the chance for water to accumulate on the bottom which leads to root rot. Use the proper soil. The ideal growing soil is an equal mixture of sphagnum peat moss, vermiculite and perlite. I use compacted peat moss for my starter seeds which helps to germinate the seeds in less than half the time as normal potting soil. Next is heat. Seeds germinate best around 80 degrees. After that, you can scale back to day time temperatures of around 75 degrees and a night time temperature of 65 degrees. The last of the big three is lighting. You will read and hear varying reports on this but I like to simulate the outdoors as much as possible so I typically provide 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness which works well for me. Naturally you can experiment with this to find what is right for you. If you choose to alternate light and dark, incorporate a timer to automate this process.
Growing tomatoes indoors can be very beneficial. If you live in an apartment, condominium, townhouse or other living situation that does not afford you the necessary outdoor space, you now have another option. Another benefit is that when you grow tomato plants indoors, weeds and pests are less likely to invade your space so you can focus your energy on caring for your plants. Probably the biggest benefit of all is the peace of mind you will get from growing your own organic tomatoes that will taste so much better than anything you could buy at a store.
|
|
Growing Tomatoes
No outdoor vegetable garden is complete without a few tomato plants. Growing tomato plants is very easy to do and with a few easy to follow tips you’ll be enjoying big, juicy, completely organic tomatoes in no time.
Did you know that there are over 7000 varieties of tomatoes? While that may seem a little overwhelming, it is actually good news because with all of the different varieties to choose from, there is no doubt that your needs can be met. You may want to try the big, juicy Beefsteak tomatoes if you’re looking to make sauces or salsas. On the other hand, if you’re looking for more of the bite-sized variety for a salad or vegetable tray then you will want to try one of the many cherry tomato varieties. Whatever your pleasure, there is no doubt that you can soon be harvesting plenty of tomatoes during the next harvesting season.
Tomato plants are a bit sensitive in that they cannot tolerate frost. In fact, tomato plants should not be planted until nighttime temperatures are consistently over 55 – 60 degrees Fahrenheit. They will thrive when daytime temperatures are between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of this planting limitation, many people target Memorial Day in the United States as the latest that they will transplant tomato plants to their outdoor garden.
When planting your tomato plants, take great care not to plant them too closely together. The spacing should be about 18 to 36 inches apart but this will vary greatly since there are so many different varieties and sizes so there is no hard and fast rule here. By spacing the plants out you will maximize the sun intake to all parts of all the plants. You will also help to ensure that if one plant has the misfortune of becoming diseased or pest infested that it will not share this misfortune with other plants. If you are growing tomatoes of the climbing kind then you will need to space them out even further so that you can incorporate cages or a trellis system which will help to support your plants and keep the tomatoes from reaching the ground and rotting.
Obviously watering the tomato plants is a crucial component to developing strong, healthy tomatoes. Care should be taken to water the plants regularly when no rain is present. The soil around the tomato plants should be a mixture of potting compost and sphagnum peat moss and needs to be kept moist. You will also want to stay current on the pruning by removing the suckers and other non-fruit bearing branches. Suckers develop in the joint of two branches. They don’t bear any fruit and they basically just “suck” the energy away from the rest of the plant and the tomatoes themselves. Be careful not to remove too many leaves though as these leaves handle the photosynthesis process and produces sugar for the tomatoes.
Growing tomato plants is a very rewarding hobby and should be included in any outdoor vegetable garden. The satisfaction you will get from growing your own tomato plants will be second to none. You will save money buy growing your own tomatoes and will receive much better tasting tomatoes than if you were to buy them in a store.
|
|
When to Plant to Avoid Tomato Growing Problems
Tomatoes are undoubtedly the most popular and probably one of the most used vegetables around the world. I can’t tell you how many times people ask me each year if I want any tomatoes from their garden. To counter this problem of having to harvest more tomatoes than you can handle at one time, some people have resorted to staggering the planting season so they can spread out the harvest time.
Depending on where you live, your harvest time could vary greatly because of the length of your particular growing season. Tomato growers may plant a few plants each week from early May and into June in order to harvest gradually from July through September, or even October, depending on the weather conditions and your climate. You’ll know it’s time to start planting when the soil temperature gets close to 60 degrees Fahrenheit and the day time temperatures are in the mid-seventies. To raise the soil temperatures, simply cover your garden with a sheet of black plastic in early April. The sunlight will provide the necessary heat and the plastic will trap the heat in. If you get your tomato plants planted at the right time, you’ll probably see your first tomatoes beginning to ripen in late July to early August with the real harvest occurring about 2 weeks later. Tomatoes love warmth so plant them in a location that sees at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.
If you are fortunate enough to live in a warmer client, such as the southern United States, it is possible to grow tomatoes almost year round. Not only can you plant your tomato plants during the standard planting time of April through May but you can also have a fall or winter crop by planting some tomato plants in July or August as well. You will still need to water your tomato plants regularly because they will still be seeing at least 6 hours of sunlight each day on average.
Another problem you will want to avoid is to make sure you plant tomato plant seedlings in your outdoor garden and not the seeds themselves. Seeds need nurturing and special care that you cannot easily give in an outdoor setting. Make sure you plant your seedlings about 8 weeks prior to your tomato planting time. Sow the seeds in a covered tray of compost soil and sphagnum peat moss. Keep the soil moist, covered and in the sunlight as much as possible for fastest sprouting. You will need your seedlings to reach a height of at least 6 inches and contain at least 6 leaves before you are ready to transplant to your outdoor garden. Make sure your soil has been loosened by tilling and is slightly acidic with a pH level of roughly 6 to 8. Your tomato plants will grow best in a light and aerated, well drained and completely organic soil.
Serious and expert tomato growers are turning more and more to small, portable greenhouses to get the most of their gardening experience. Greenhouses are especially useful in colder climates where you have to wait longer before any outdoor planting occurs. These greenhouses certainly are not a necessity but they can be nice. The simple little tip I mentioned earlier of spreading the black plastic over the soil will also help in raising your soil temperature much more quickly, allowing you to get your seedlings planted a little earlier.
|
|
How to Grow Tomatoes Upside Down
Not everyone enjoys tilling the soil like many gardeners do. Maybe you live in an apartment that has no room for an outdoor garden. Maybe health problems keep you from getting outside and kneeling down in a garden. Maybe you just don’t want bothered with the insects that are associated with the great outdoors. Whatever the situation, an outdoor garden may not be the solution for everyone. These folks can still enjoy growing tomatoes and avoiding all of these things by growing tomato plants upside down.
Growing tomatoes upside down involves planting the tomato plants in a container instead of outdoors in the garden. Some of the benefits of growing tomatoes upside down are that you do not need to stake the plants or support them in any way. With the plant hanging upside down, gravity takes over and the plant grows toward the ground. Also, weeds and pests will become a thing of the past. You will be growing your upside down tomatoes in weed-free composted soil and with the container suspended in the air, the pests that are inherent in outdoor gardens will not be able to make their way up to these tomato plants. If you have poor soil or don’t have the desire to grow any other types of vegetables then this may be the desired method for you. If you lack an area that receives 6 – 8 hours of sunlight per day then you will easily be able to move your container to a new location to make up for this limitation. Another benefit is that by keeping the tomato plants in containers, separated from one another, you will reduce the chance of spreading diseases if one of your plants should happen to fall victim to this fate.
The tomato plants themselves will also receive a benefit from being grown upside down as well. By being allowed to naturally grow down toward the ground, the plant structure will be less stressed and will eliminate the need to be staked or supported in any way. Rotting tomatoes will be eliminated because there will be no branches bending to the ground and allowing the tomatoes to come in contact with the soil. Growing tomato plants upside down increases the airflow in and through the plant and allows sunlight to filter through. This will allow the tomatoes to ripen faster than traditional growing methods and can help to yield a bigger and better crop of tomatoes.
If you are going to grow your tomatoes upside down the natural thought process would have you searching for a smaller variety of tomato which may be better suited to this method of growing tomatoes. Just remember that you are not limited to just the smaller varieties as many have grown larger tomatoes this way as well with great success. It all depends on what your goal may be.
Growing tomatoes upside down and growing tomatoes in containers are topics that are on the rise among gardening enthusiasts showing that these methods have a lot of merit and are really beginning to catch on. These methods offer great benefits to those that cannot enjoy a traditional garden for whatever reason. So if you don’t feel like trudging down to the garden everyday, you now have a new tomato growing method that is right for you.
|
|
Growing Tomatoes from Seeds
There is no greater reward in tomato gardening than growing tomato plants from seeds that you planted yourself. After all, isn’t this what gardening is all about? There are a multitude of varieties to choose from and you will want to experiment with many to find the ones that suit your taste the best.
Timing is everything in planting your seeds. You will want to sow your seeds indoors roughly eight weeks prior to your projected outdoor planting date. This will give them sufficient time to grow. Find a flat tray with a clear lid. Make a mixture of potting compost and sphagnum peat moss and line the tray about one inch thick. Sow your seeds about an inch apart covering them with your soil mixture no more than 1/8”. Water the seedlings sufficiently so as to make the entire potting bed moist. A small aerated watering can will do the trick here. Place the clear cover over the tray and place the tray in a warm, sunny location like a windowsill. Tomato seeds love warmth so this covered tray will hold the heat in and you should see new growth in a few days. Once all the seedlings appear, remove the cover, leaving the tray in the sunlight and begin monitoring more closely as the air will dry out the soil a little quicker. Take care not to over water the seeds so that there is standing water on the bottom of the tray. Another alternative is to purchase a seed starter kit from a local home and garden center which simplifies this process quite a bit.
Let the new seedlings grow in the tray until they reach a height of two inches. At this time it will be time to transplant them into their own individual containers to keep their roots from getting tangled with another plant. You will want to select a container that is roughly four inches wide and deep to be able to support a six to eight inch tomato plant which will then be ready to transplant to your outdoor garden. Ready the new individual containers by filling them about ¾ full with the same potting medium you used in the tray. Make a small hole in the soil large enough to receive the new seedling. The seedlings are extremely fragile at this early stage of development so use a spoon to dig them out of the tray and place them into the new container. Add additional soil as needed and press the soil down lightly around the roots to make sure the roots are in good contact with the surrounding soil. You will want to keep the seedlings in the same or another similar sunny area turning the containers every couple of days so the new tomato plants continue to grow straight up.
Once the seedlings reach a height of about six inches, they are almost ready to be transplanted to your outdoor garden. Before this final transplanting, the seedlings need to be “hardened off”. This is a simple process that readies the plant for the harsher outdoor temperature and environment. You will want to move the seedlings outdoors, into the direct sunlight, for a few hours each day.
Once the danger of frost is past and the temperatures are warm enough, it is time to transplant your tomato seedlings to your outdoor garden. Plant your seedling deeper into the soil so that you cover up the bottom 1 or 2 leaves and leave the top 3 or 4 leaves exposed. Tomato plants have the ability to grow roots all along the stem so by doing this, the plant will develop a stronger root system and grow more vigorously. Take extra care when it is time to stake or cage your tomato plants that you don’t puncture the roots.
|
|
Tips for Growing Tomato Plants
As a gardener, there are few things more satisfying than seeing an abundance of big, beautiful tomatoes growing right before your eyes. Anyone can do it with a little help. I’m going to give you a few tips to get you headed in the right direction. If you incorporate these simple tips for growing tomato plants into your growing plan you will be very satisfied with your next harvest.
An easy way to get a jump start on the tomato growing season is to heat up the soil before you even plant the tomato plants. Tomato plants love the warmth. If you are in the northern climates, after the snow has melted and a few weeks before planting, cover your garden with black plastic. This will use the sunlight to heat up the ground underneath and will help to trap the heat in. This simple tip will get your plants growing much faster than they would otherwise.
The next tip for planting your tomato plants involves planting them deeper than they tend to grow naturally. What I mean by this is that if you buy starters from a nursery or even if you start your own from seeds, the tendency is to simply plant them to the top of the dirt they were started in. You’ll want to plant your seedling after it has developed about 5 or 6 leaves. Plant your seedling deeper into the soil so that you cover up the bottom 1 or 2 leaves and leave the top 3 or 4 leaves exposed. Tomato plants have the ability to grow roots all along the stem so by doing this, the plant will develop a stronger root system and grow more vigorously. Take extra care when it is time to stake or cage your tomato plants that you don’t puncture the roots.
Now that we have the tomato plants in the ground, we need to switch to maintenance tips. These tips will help to keep the tomato plant growing stronger and stronger throughout the growing season. The first is a pretty well known tip which is removing the suckers. Suckers develop in the joint of two branches. They don’t bear any fruit and they basically just “suck” the energy away from the rest of the plant and the tomatoes themselves. You will also want to prune some additional branches and leaves so that the sun is able to get through to the center of the plant and the fruit. Be careful not to remove too many leaves though as these leaves handle the photosynthesis process and produces sugar for the tomatoes.
Obviously watering the tomato plants is a crucial component to developing strong, healthy tomatoes. Care should be taken to water the plants regularly when no rain is present. The soil around the tomato plants needs to be kept moist. If the soil becomes dry, the plant will become stressed and will begin to wilt. If you try to make up for this later by watering the plant too much it could lead to rot and cracking. Another lesser known secret is that once the tomatoes begin to ripen, begin to lessen the amount of water you give the plant by about thirty to forty percent. This will force the plant to concentrate its sugar production.
If you incorporate these tips into your tomato growing plan, you will begin to enjoy the enhanced flavor of the tomatoes and the higher yield that it will produce as many of the experts have been doing for years.
|
|
Growing Container Tomatoes
Most people associate growing tomatoes with an outdoor garden. Not everyone has enough land to have a garden. Fortunately tomato plants can be grown just as easily in a container as in an outdoor garden.
Growing a tomato plant in a container has many of its own benefits. Pots can be strategically placed on decks, patios, sun rooms, window sills or any place in the house that receives enough sunlight which is crucial to growing your tomato plants. The experts say that tomato plants ideally need to get 5-6 hours of sunlight each day. If your location doesn’t receive enough sunlight, the containers can easily be moved to satisfy this need. Another benefit is that when you grow tomato plants in pots, weeds are less apt to invade so you will save an enormous amount of time by not having to weed your garden.
Choosing the correct species of tomato is crucial to successfully growing tomatoes in containers. The reason is that most, but not all varieties will thrive in pots. Naturally you don’t want to select a tomato plant that grows too large. Doing this would require a larger pot which would defeat the purpose of the container garden, namely ease and mobility. Try to select a tomato plant that grows no larger than 2.5 ft. maximum. Another thing to note is that the tomatoes tend to all ripen at the same time when they are grown in containers. By choosing the smaller varieties, you won’t be stuck with more tomatoes than you can handle at the same time. You will also want to choose a plant that has a lower demand for water. Tomato plants require moist soil which can prove to be a real challenge when growing them in a pot. This really doesn’t have to be difficult though. Ideally, you will need to provide your potted tomato plant with about an inch of water each week. Simply find yourself a nice terra cotta pot that will support the growth of the plant and make sure it has a hole in the bottom for proper drainage. The last thing you want is to over-water your plant and have water lying at the bottom of the pot causing root rot. Another way to fight root rot is to provide a layer of rocks on the bottom to keep the roots from sitting in water all the time. You will also need to use the proper soil. You can use most soils found at your local home and garden center marked for vegetable growing but the ideal growing medium is a mixture of vermiculite, perlite and sphagnum peat moss. I use compacted peat moss for my starter seeds which helps to germinate the seeds in less than half the time as normal potting soil. Tomato plants love to be fed so you will want to fertilize your tomato plants as well. Use a time released, organic fertilizer following the manufacturer’s instructions. Now you’re ready to go.
Probably the biggest benefit of all is the fact that you’ll be growing your own organic tomatoes, free of pesticides and harmful chemicals that will taste so much better than the store bought varieties. You’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that you did it yourself.
|
|
