Every plant lover wants to grow tomatoes in their garden because who doesn’t want a juicy, sweet and tangy, blemish-free, aromatic crop in their garden that is full of vitamin A, vitamin C, and cancer-fighting antioxidants like lycopene.
Tomatoes are one of the tender warm-season crops that love the sun but can’t tolerate frost. It is the edible berry that is scientifically known as Solanum lycopersium.
these are considered as fruits from the family of berries but they are commonly used as a vegetable ingredient or as a side dish. It can be consumed in different ways like raw or cooked and it is used in various dishes, salads, sauces, drinks, etc.
Hybrid tomatoes are generally grown for different reasons like to grow bigger sized, disease free, large amount of fruits. Click To TweetThus is originated from western South America and Central America, however the domestication and use of this plant is considered to be originated by the indigenous peoples of Mexico.
This is a plant which can be grown throughout the years in all the seasons and perennial in their native habitat but cultivated as annual plants.
Home grown tomatoes can be a good addition to your home and garden but this can consume your time, hard work, a lot of sun and water.
Variety of tomatoes to grow
Heirloom tomatoes
This type of tomato is generally passed from one generation to another generation by saving its seed at the end of the season of each harvest. The seeds can be collected, or purchased and used to grow this plant.
Heirloom tomatoes come in a variety of colors like red, pink, purple, yellow, green, orange etc. Its variety, color, taste are unmatched but it is not productive as a hybrid plant.
It is a popular type that has a tendency to produce fruits throughout the year.
Hybrid tomatoes
Hybrid tomatoes are generally grown for different reasons like to grow bigger sized, disease free, large amount of fruits.
The main goal of producing hybrid tomato plants is to produce higher yields and mature them earlier with better quality and a uniform appearance. These hybrid variety are generally produced for commercial purposes.
Determinate tomatoes
Otherwise known as bush tomatoes, this variety has a predetermined growth. If you are looking for a tomato variety for a small garden, this will be a better option for you that grows up to the height of 3 feet usually.
This variety is much easier to keep contained in a cage than other more rambling vines. Determinate variety bear fruits early in the season.
Indeterminate tomatoes
Indeterminate tomatoes are way different from determinate ones. This plant doesn’t stop growing and grows in a rapid way with more vine-like than the other varieties.
They sprawl over the whole garden and need to be staked once they have grown above the top of the cage. Thus this variety bears fruit more often than the other varieties.
Semi-Determinate tomatoes
Semi-Determinate tomatoes are the combination of determinate and indeterminate varieties
There are some other varieties of tomatoes that include early tomatoes, cool summer tomatoes, small fruit tomatoes, plum tomatoes, etc.
Perfect time to grow tomatoes
There is no particular time to grow tomatoes. They can be grown in all seasons.
But as these are a long season, heat-loving crop and can’t tolerate frost, it would be beneficial to plant the tree when the climate is warm generally in the spring season.
Perfect location to grow tomatoes
Once you have chosen the right variety and the right time to plant this, it is necessary to choose the right location for planting this plant.
So the perfect location for the growth of tomatoes must match the following requirements:
- The place must have full access to sunlight with partial shade
- Has rich, well-draining, loose soil that is free of diseases and has a good pH balance.
- The place must not be planted with some other tomato plants or similar types of plants.
- Fertilized well with compost and manure.
Planting tomatoes from seeds
If you want to grow tomatoes from seeds, then you must follow the following steps for better results.
- Prepare the soil to plant it. Soil can be prepared by adding two parts of soil with one part of compost, perlite, or vermiculite.
- Plant the seed in the soil making holes 2-3 inches apart.
- Until the seeding gets sprouted, put the plant in a warm and dark place for 6-14 days. Light is not necessary at this time.
- Once the plant starts growing, keep it in a cool and bright place. Make sure it doesn’t get less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
- When The plant starts bearing 1-2 leaves, transplant them into larger pots. But before two weeks of transplanting, set them in the shade during the day and bring them back home at night.
Caring for tomato plant
Sunlight
Tomatoes thrive well when they get eight hours of full sun. If the plant is unable to get full sun, it will grow spindly and produce little or no blossom.
Before choosing a spot for planting it, make sure that the area must get eight and more hours of sunlight during the day.
Water
An even amount of watering is required for the growth of this plant. Although this plant requires a lot of water, they don’t like to have their roots in the water. Too much water can cause diseases like fruit-splitting, flower drops, etc., not enough water also can cause diseases like wilting, etc.
Thus this plant requires regular, slow, and deep watering. In a warmer climate, they require watering daily. But in cooler climates, they require watering once in two to three days.
During watering, make sure that the leaves don’t hit the water. If so, then they are prone to different diseases. So during watering, always water the plant towards the base of the plant, away from the leaves, keeping the leaves dry.
Tomatoes thrive well when they get eight hours of full sun. If the plant is unable to get full sun, it will grow spindly and produce little or no blossom. Click To TweetMulching
The outdoor garden that grows tomato plants requires mulching every four to five weeks after transplanting.
Mulching helps the soil to retain water and moisture, helps to control weeds, and keep it away from sticking to the lower leaves during watering
If you are mulching, it is recommended to mulch the soil with organic mulch like hay, straw, and bark chips applied in a layer in 2 to 4 inches thick layer.
Fertilizer
This plants require fertilizing once the plant starts bearing flowers. During fertilization, you must make sure that fertilizer is put at least two to three inches away from the base of the plant with regular watering of the ground deeply.
During fertilization, you need to take care of the plant so that the fertilizer must not contain nitrogen. Too much nitrogen in fertilizers can retain the blossom and drop them away. So it is needed to fertilize the plant with the fertilizer that is formulated specially for tomatoes and contains a lower level of nitrogen.
In organic gardens, horse manure can be a better fertilizer for this plants.
Pruning of tomatoes
Pruning is recommended in an indeterminate variety of tomatoes as they tend to sprawl and cover half of the garden. Although pruned plants bear fewer fruits, they bear larger fruits. So pruning is necessary for this plants.
Pruning should be done before the plant bearing fruits. It should not be done once the plant starts bearing fruits.
To prune this plant, clip the side shoots that grow where the leaf meets the stem.
For better air circulation, good sunlight exposure, and aid in the reduction of disease risk, pruning is necessary which can be done by pinching off new, tiny stems and leaves that erupt between the main stems and branches.
Common pests and diseases
Tomato hornworm are the common pests that can be seen in this plants. This fat caterpillar blends among the foliage, and as they are difficult to find, they can chew the foliage and cause disease.
Certain microscopic eelworms that remain in the soil can harm the roots and make the plant die.
Fungus like fusarium and verticillium can cause wilting of the plant, turn them yellow and kill the plant. If the tree is planted in the same soil where the disease has occurred in the past then it is more prone to contract the disease. There are certain other fungi that can cause early blight in the plant.
Other different diseases also can be done due to unacquainted weather for the growth of this plant.
One thought on “How to Grow Tomatoes at Your Home – A Step by Step Guide”