Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Container Gardening - Tips For Growing Healthy Tomatoes in Containers

 

There are few things as lovely as slicing into a large, ripe and juicy tomato from your very own home garden. If you live in a high-rise apartment building, or simply don't have a yard in which to garden, don't worry. This does not mean that you are unable to grow your own tomatoes. There are several types of fruits and vegetables that grow successfully in pots, and tomatoes definitely make this list. Here are ten tips for successfully growing tomatoes in containers: upl products

(1) Select a container- Pretty much any type of container can be used to grow tomatoes, as long as it is at least 4 inches deep and about 12 inches in diameter. You can use some pretty ceramic flower pots, plastic garbage cans, or just some recycled coffee tins. The one thing you must insure is that the pots have adequate drainage. You do not want your tomato plants to sit in swampy soil. Make sure that each pot has at least three drainage holes at the bottom. ridomil gold

(2) Purchase your seeds- It makes sense to acknowledge that if you want good quality tomato fruits, you must start with good quality seeds. Do not just grab the first packet that you see at the local convenience store. Seeds must be stored properly to grow well, and it is unlikely that discount store seeds have been kept in ideal conditions. There are thousands of different varieties from which to choose, in different sizes, shapes, flavors, and colors. You can pick whatever variety suits your tastes. Just make sure that your seeds come from a reputable source. I highly recommend selecting open-pollinated heirloom seeds. These are essentially seeds in their purest form. Plus, heirloom tomatoes have the best flavor and texture. Alternately, you can purchase tomato plant seedlings at your local nursery. But starting from seed allows you to know exactly where your tomato plants are coming from, and also lessens your chance of transplanting a diseased plant. rasi seeds

(3) Start your tomato plants- You can start your seeds indoors as early as mid-March or April. The process of "starting seeds" refers to allowing the tomato seeds to germinate before transplanting them into their long-term home, the larger pot that you have selected. To start your tomato seeds, prepare small pots, such as those made from small milk cartons, egg cartons, or Dixie cups. Fill them with high-quality sterile potting soil mix. Place one seed in each pot and gently cover it with soil. Moisten the soil of each pot with a spray bottle of water. Cover these with plastic wrap, and place them in a safe, warm place, such as on top of your refrigerator. At the germination stage, tomato seeds do not need sunlight. But you will need to make sure the soil stays slightly moist. seeds online

(4) Transplant your tomato plants- When your seedlings have sprouted and grown leaves, it is time to transplant your plants. Prepare your pots by filling them with a good quality potting soil mix. A good mix consists of one part each of organic potting soil, perlite, sphagnum peat moss, and natural compost. This creates an ideal balance of nutrients, a loamy texture, and conditions for proper soil drainage. After you've transplanted your tomato plant, add a layer of mulch on top of the soil to help the soil to retain moisture. Place your pot in a place where it will receive full sunlight and protection from the wind. By the time you place it outside, the threat of frost at night should have passed. If not, you may want to cover your pot with a sheet, or bring it inside at night until the threat passes. oberon

(5) Establish a watering regimen- Potted plants dry out a lot more quickly than plants in the ground do. Allow the soil to become dry to the touch between waterings. But make sure to water them frequently. Ideally, a handful of your potted soil should clump together in your hand when you squeeze it, then fall apart when you poke it. If water drips out between your fingers when you squeeze the soil, you are watering too much. namdhari seeds

(6) Encourage them to grow strong- As your plants grow, give them a little shake, or gently drag a stick across the surface of their leaves. This will help the plants to grow sturdy stems and to develop the strength to resist many plant diseases. nativo fungicide

(7) Inspect them daily- The best way to keep your plants healthy is to check them every day for signs of insects or disease. This way, you can act quickly at the very first sign of a problem. If a tomato plant acquires pests, don't panic and douse the plant with pesticides. Simply pull the pests off with a gloved hand. As your tomato plants flower, pick off a few of the buds here and there. Again, this will help your plants to develop rigor and produce lots of fruit. Once your fruits begin to ripen, you should also make sure not to leave them to rot on the vine, as this will attract pests. bayer pesticides

(8) Fertilize your plants- Tomatoes need a variety of nutrients such as phosphate, nitrogen, potash, calcium and magnesium. So it is wise to supplement your plants with a liquid fertilizer about once every two weeks. Be careful not to use a harsh chemical fertilizer, since this can adversely effect your tomatoes. For example, a plant that receives too much nitrogen will grow tall and leafy but will produce little to no tomatoes. A good, reputable and all-natural liquid fertilizer that is well recommended is Protogrow. This will help your tomato fruits to grow abundantly. bayer products

(9) Stake your plants- Tomatoes are climbing plants, so it is a good idea to stake them for support. It is recommended that you include the stake in your pot at the time of transplant, rather than add it in later and risk disrupting the plant's root system. You can use a conventional tomato cage, or just a wooden stake or piece of PVC pipe. If needed, you can gently tie your tomato plant to the stake for support using an old pair of women's pantyhose. syngenta seeds

(10) Harvest your fruits- Some people rely on color to tell when a tomato should be picked. But some types of heirlooms remain yellow or green when fully ripe, so color is not a good indicator. A tomato is ready to be picked when it is glossy, has even color, and the skin is smooth, taut, and waxy looking. Once you reach the early fall, about one month before the first frost is expected, you should cut all the remaining flowers off of your tomato plant. This way, the plant can focus its energy and resources on ripening the existing fruits rather than producing new ones. lancer gold

No comments:

Post a Comment