Growing Container Tomatoes – A Great Space Saver!

containertomatoGrowing container tomatoes is relatively easy and can yield a large crop with a very limited number of plants. There is nothing more satisfying than plucking your own tomatoes from your backyard to add them into your fresh salads and sauces. Tomato plants can be grown in window boxes, hanging baskets and even planters, as they are functional as well as decorative for your home. However, there is some basic planning to be done in respect to growing container tomatoes.

Some of the points to consider are:

  • The appropriate tomato to grow for the climate you live in
  • The proper size of container to suit the selected tomato plant
  • Fertilizers and pesticides
  • Watering and feeding
  • Disease elimination

The appropriate climate:

Growing container tomatoes needs a specific temperature and climatic conditions that allow them to grow well. You could choose to start with young plants or even seeds from a nursery. It is important that you match up your climate to the variety of the tomato you would like to grow. You could also consider the microclimate inside your container garden. Most tomato varieties need a warmer night temperature to flower and reap fruits. If you live in a colder climate, choose a variety that can stand up to this temperature.

While growing container tomatoes, you might notice that some of your plants may have trouble producing fruit in very hot areas. In such a situation you should move your plants to a cooler area, erect some shade during the heat of the day or move them to a shaded part during the afternoon sun.  Remember though, that they do need 6 to 8 hours sunlight a day, with early morning or afternoon being best.

Container size:

Tomatoes are relatively easy to grow and can be grown in almost any size of container. Be it a medium-sized hanging basket or a wine barrel; make sure that you match the growth of your tomato variety to the size of your container. If you choose smaller tomato varieties such as cherry or even grape, choose containers like hanging baskets or even window boxes. The fruits of such varieties are small and will not break its stem. However, large tomatoes will need bigger containers and need to be staked or caged.

Watering and feeding:

Because the roots of tomatoes grow really deep, you need a good constant supply of water. If you have chosen bigger containers, then watering should be done weekly and remember never to allow your tomatoes to dry completely out. Constant water supply to these plants without allowing them to dry out will allow you a good harvest. When these plants begin to fruit, the water supply should be reduced.

Tomatoes demand heavy feeding and a well-balanced fertilizer should be given every two weeks throughout their growing season once the flowers have started to form. Fertilizers like mainly manure tea and compost tea work wonders for growing container tomatoes. Container tomatoes are not very prone to pests, yet you must be cautious of insects and other white flys, which may harm the leaves and branches. The hornworm is the most damaging pest for tomatoes.

Many people shy away from growing tomatoes just because they do not have a lavish garden. Whatever be the reason, there is always a way to grow these luscious red tomatoes for your salads and other dishes and with container tomatoes you can grow them right near the kitchen if that area gets sufficient sunlight.


Growing Tomato From Seed – Start From Scratch!

Seedlings of tomatoesIf you were thinking about growing tomato from seed, then here are some tips that will give you the sweetest and earliest tomatoes on the block. Growing great tomatoes certainly needs a lot of hard work and starting early with your growing procedure will ensure that you bag in some of the best tomatoes of the year.

Here are some tips that will help you in growing tomato from seed:

  • Preheat soil: the soil in which you are about to plant your seeds should be heated first because tomato plants love heat. The best way to provide such a condition is to cover-up the planting area with black or red plastic sheet so that it can soak up the sun’s rays. This extra degree of heat will certainly give you all the tomatoes.
  • Do not crowd: if you are growing tomato from seed then it is must to ensure that you do not crowd up your seedlings. Every seedling should be given enough room to branch out. Crowding up can hamper the growth, making it difficult to transplant. Transplanting should be done as soon as you see the first leaves.
  • Eliminate bottom leaves: the bottom leaves, or the first leaves of the plant should be removed once the tomato plant is about 3 inches tall. These leaves are removed because they hardly have a chance to see the sun and are the first leaves to get affected with soil borne diseases.
    • Enough sunlight: tomato plants need a minimum of 6 to 7 hours of direct sunlight. If you cannot provide this then 18 hour duration under fluorescent lights will work fine. Remember to place your plant very close to these fluorescent lights.
    • Breeze: tomato plants need a lot of strong breeze to sway and make their stems grow stronger. If you cannot provide such climatic conditions for the plant, you can definitely turn the fan on them for 5 to 10 minutes in a day. This will give it the same affect.
    • Bury deeper: once the first leaves starts to show up, transplantation needs to be done. One must bury these plants deep into the soil while transplanting. Tomato plants have very strong roots and can develop roots up their stems. Hence, digging deep into the soil and planting your tomatoes will make them stronger.
    • Mulch: keep the mulching part delayed. Mulching can prevent the soil from any diseases or harm to the plants and also conserves water. But a little too early of this, can make the soil become cool and will hamper the growth of the plants. Hence, Mulching should only be done once the ground has the chance to heat up first.

    When transplanting seedlings take care not to damage the root system.  Prize them out of the soil with a chop stick rather than just pull them up and damage the roots.  When planting the seedlings the second time, plant the root ball and all.