Tomatoes can be successfully grown in Pots or Containers , just a few tips and tricks that you need to know about growing tomatoes and you will be hooked on to growing them in your garden.
Tomatoes are used worldwide and are very common.They make a great addition to any kitchen garden, as they are easy to grow.Tomatoes can range in colors from the most common reds,to unusual colors like purple,black,white,green ,yellow etc.
There are many varieties of tomato seeds from which you can pick and choose like heirlooms,hybrids,organic or simply save up the seeds from the tomatoes from your very own kitchen to start growing them.
Keep in mind that Heirloom Tomatoes are not heavy producers like Hybrids,however they taste better and the fruits are way superior in terms of color and shapes,also you can grow the same type of tomato every year from saved seeds as heirloom tomatoes are open pollinated and organic unlike hybrids that can be genetically modified (GMO).
Hybrid Tomatoes on the other hand are hardy , disease resistant,and they give higher yields and mature early.Hybrid Tomatoes are a great choice for first time gardeners as they are 100% foolproof, especially for those gardeners who have had 0 % success in growing tomatoes or those tend to kill their tomato plants.Hybrid Tomatoes can give such gardeners guaranteed success in growing them which in turn boosts the confidence and enthusiasm of the gardener making them want to grow tomatoes again and again.
To begin growing tomatoes start by choosing what type of tomatoes would you like to grow as there are so many types of tomatoes like Cherry,Plum, Roma,Currants etc Then the next step is to prepare the potting mix in which you will be growing your tomato plants,start off by mixing equal proportions of good garden soil,cocopeat,manure and vermi compost or compost,mix well to incorporate and then fill it in the pot or container in which you wish to grow the tomato plant.Tomato plants need well draining soils that are rich in organic matter.
Tomato plants grow and fruit well in full sun and require cool temperatures at night ,so the best time to grow them is from June till August and from November to January in India.In case you do not have a spot that receives full sunlight , 5 to 6 hrs of sunlight can suffice. Inadequate sunlight results in weak and straggly tomato plants.
Its always a good idea to stake the plants when they are young this way chances of damaging the roots and lessened.Also staking ensures that the plant does not break or bend over due to the weight of the fruits or the winds.It also provides necessary support and grip.You can use Bamboo or Thin wood sticks to serve as stakes or you can also buy Tomato cages from gardening stores/Nursery centers.
If you notice that the tomato plant has started to bear flowers and if they are begining to drop off from the plant this is a common condition known as flower drop ,you can mix a pinch of lime (chunna) in a glass of water and pour this onto the soil,Lime contains calcium so it can help sort out the problem of flower drop.Mix three small pinches of Compounded asafoetida or Hing in a liter of water and pour 1/2 cup of this solution in the plants to help better flower formation.
Dry Out Banana Peels and Egg Shells,Powder them and use this powder for your tomato plants to provide them with a boost of Potassium,Calcium and Magnesium.
Always allow spent tomato flowers to drop off by themselves,never pull them out yourself this way proper tomato bunches are formed or else it effects the fruit formation.Spraying diluted fermented buttermilk on tomato plants improves flower and fruit formation.
The main idea behind pinching away suckers is that the plants produce fewer but larger sized tomatoes.Suckers are easy to identify they are new shoots that grow between the main stems and lateral stem of the tomato plant. If you do not pinch the suckers off the tomato plant it will produce smaller fruits . Keep clipping away the leaves from the bottom as the plant grows this helps the plant retain its energy and it helps the tomato plant in channelizing this energy in producing more fruits rather than grow more leaves.
Planting garlic along with tomatoes helps keep spider mites away.Borage protects tomato plants from tomato hornworms .Chives and Mint due to their strong scents help in deterring garden pests away.Companion plants are a great organic and natural way to deal with pests and insects and one can certainly avoid using harmful chemicals,pesticides and fertilizers to get rid of them.
Epsom salts can be mixed with water and this water can be poured for tomato plants.Epsom salts contains natural magnesium and sulfur which works wonders for magnesium hungry tomato plants.
Watering Tomato plants is also important especially when the plant is forming fruits,never skip watering your tomato plants,avoid watering the leaves tomato plants do not like their leaves being watered.If you let the plant dry our and then water it,it will result in flower drop, cracked tomatoes and blossom end rot.Water the tomato plants twice on hot and sunny days.Tomato plants need to be watered deeply and the soil needs to stay moist but not boggy so avoid clay or loamy soils,go for well draining soils that have the ability to retain moisture.
Once the plant has produced enough tomatoes chop off most of the upper leaves,this helps the sunlight reach the tomatoes and fastens the ripening process too.Placing a few Banana peels directly on the soil also helps to ripen tomatoes.
Its advisable to allow the tomatoes to ripen naturally on the vines to get the ripest and most flavorsome tomatoes.If at all the tomatoes need to be plucked when they are still green you can wrap them in newspaper or put them brown paper bags and leave them in a warm spot to ripen.
Avoid storing freshly plucked tomatoes in the refrigerator, tomatoes contain natural sugars which turn into starch when kept in the refrigerator, making the tomatoes taste mealy and insipid.
Happy Gardening To All My Friends :)
