Growing tomatoes: Sowing, caring for and harvesting tomatoes!
Growing tomatoes is not difficult, but they need proper care and love to grow into delicious, firm and sweet tomatoes. Here we explain step by step how to sow, care for and harvest the tastiest tomatoes yourself!
Sowing tomatoes, but which variety?
Sowing tomatoes, don’t do it too early! There are an enormous number of tomato varieties to sow. Are you choosing a Heirloom? Hybrid? Cherry? And then… Sweet or sour? Juicy or meaty? This really all comes down to taste and preference. But, there is something you should at least consider beforehand: do I choose “determinate” or “indeterminate” tomato varieties.
Determinate are tomato varieties that have a “fixed” growing height. These tomatoes do not grow beyond a certain height. Also, tomatoes will grow and ripen much faster at the same time, making it easy to make sauces, tomato paste or ketchup.
Indeterminate are tomato varieties that continue growth. The plant grows as big as it wants, depending on its care and the medium it is in. This species will also continue to produce fruit until frost puts an end to it. This is useful for tomatoes that you want to use fresh in salads.
Whatever species you are looking for. We have tomato seeds of many delicious tomato varieties available in our seed market!
Sowing tomato seeds
If you are going to sow your own tomato seeds, you can do so indoors starting in late March. Then do this in a warm environment such as an electric propagator, or in another growing container on the windowsill over a heater.
Plant the tomato seeds about 0.5 cm deep and at least 2.5 cm apart, in potting soil meant for vegetables or specifically for tomatoes.
Once the seeds hatch, they will have two leaves. These are the first leaves that catch light allowing the seedling to grow. Once the seedlings get a second set of leaves, you can transplant them into larger pots, planting the stem as deep as possible, up to the leaves. The seedlings will grow so big and strong until it is time to repot them again. And so you continue until they can go outside after icing saints, when the last night frost has passed.
Tip: When you move the plants to the last, large pot of at least 10 liters, or when you put them in the ground, use a soil conditioner such as this organic worm manure from Franky’s Flora.
Feed and water adequately
It goes without saying, but after making the effort to sow your tomato seeds and raise the seedlings, it’s important that you give them the proper nutrition, such as the plant food we offer, as well as enough water. Tomato plants, especially in summer, need a lot of water. So give them a good dose of water once a week. Notice it’s not enough? Then don’t be afraid to do it twice a week, or even more often, if necessary.
When growing tomato plants, it is important to pay attention to the details. For example, always water the plants directly on the potting soil, and not on the leaves! Tomato plants do not do well with the combination of water and sun.
Support your tomato plants
It is important to support your tomato plants. As you can understand, tomatoes can get quite heavy. Too heavy for the plant. Therefore, it is good to use, for example, a sturdy bamboo stick to tie the plants to. Want to make sure your plants have enough water AND are well supported? Then use this handy self-watering pot from Garland as your plants’ last home.
Prune your tomato plant regularly
Tomato plants grow tremendously fast. That also means a lot of unnecessary stems and branches that won’t grow tomatoes. It is important to prune these. The first thing you can do is “thieve” the tomato plant. Thieves are small outgrowths that grow from the axils of larger stems.
They are called thieves for a reason, because they are like stealing nutrients from the plant that it can better use for growing and ripening tomatoes. It also helps the plant stay upright, improves air circulation and provides more tomatoes to the plant.
Harvest your crop and enjoy your tomatoes!
Tomato plants generally produce ripe tomatoes 40 to 50 days after sowing. Want bigger tomatoes? Then prune the ones growing at the end of a branch to give the lower ones more nutrients and room to grow.
So growing tomatoes, as mentioned, is not difficult and a lot of fun! As long as you take good care of them, you will enjoy delicious homegrown tomatoes!
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