Tomatoes: A Guide to Growing Your Own
Versatile and delicious, tomatoes are a key ingredient used in countless dishes all over the world, from hearty pasta to refreshing summer salads. Although tomatoes are typically inexpensive and readily available in stores, they are very easy to grow yourself, and homegrown tomatoes are fresher and tastier than anything you can find in the grocery store.
When you grow tomatoes and other produce yourself, you have full control over the growing process and can make sure no harmful chemicals are used. This guide will help you grow your own luscious and ripe tomatoes, even if you only have a small balcony to work with.
Understanding Your Tomato Plant
Tomatoes are technically fruits, specifically berries, and are botanically known as Solanum lycopersicum. A tomato plant thrives in warm weather, and it is a member of the nightshade family that also includes eggplant, potatoes, and all kinds of peppers. To grow tomatoes successfully, you first have to understand the varieties available. They all taste different and they have varying sizes, growth habits, and other unique qualities.
Favorite Tomato Types to Cultivate
There are numerous types of tomatoes to choose from. The type you choose depends on your personal taste and ideas for usage.
Beefsteak Tomato
Beefsteak tomatoes are oversized and meaty. They are excellent for slice and use on sandwiches and burgers because of the enormous and fluffy meat.
Cherry Tomato
Cherry tomatoes are small round and are quite sweet. They can easily be snacked on, tossed in salad, or roasted. They are fast growing and perfect for beginner gardeners.
Grape Tomato
Grape tomatoes are elongated, smaller, and have thicker skins than tomatoes. They are really good for cooking and are good on skewers for meals or to have on the side with meals.
Plum Tomato/Roma
Plum tomatoes are the best for making sauces with their meaty thick flesh and low moisture with a lot of good meat.
Campari Tomato
Campari tomatoes are sold in bundles. They are not as small as cherry tomatoes but not as big as plum tomatoes. They have a really good texture and are perfect and desirable for sweet dishes
Setting Up for Successful Tomato Growth
Tomatoes can be grown year-round in some places, although they work best in warm weather. You can start your plants from seeds in your home or get ready-made starter plants from stores.
Figuring Out Where to Plant
Tomatoes need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. If you start your plants in a container, make sure to fill it with soil that isn’t too dense, letting it drain, and has some nutrients. Compost can be used for nutrients, and soil can be amended to be light and drain well.
When it comes time for planting, make sure your plants are spaced out enough for good air flow. Each plant should be plaaced at a minimum distance of 2-3 feet apart. Some plants that have a vining nature will need to be more spaced out.
From Planting to Growth
When growing tomato plants, extra care must be taken. They need to be well watered and nourished to keep a healthy root and leaves, and to stay safe from fungus. We suggest watering them from the bottom to keep the leaves dry. Remember to fertilize every few weeks and use a tomato or vegetable focused fertilizer.
Once your little seedlings start growing, keep in mind that they will need support. Staking or connecting the taller tomato plants with a cage will keep them from growing on the soil. They will also be able to keep their extra heavy fruits from rotting. It will be easier to harvest the fruits and improve airflow and circulation.
Companion Planting for a Healthier Garden
Your tomato plants don't have to be lonely while they grow. They have friends, and a few pairs make great companions. Basil seems to be the most popular tomato friend.
Gardeners say that they enjoy cooking with them because they are so good at improving the flavor of a tomato, and they claim that it helps the tomato plants grow healthy and strong.
These pairs of plants should also help keep pests away and attract other bugs that farmers.
- Marigolds: Marigolds will deter nematodes (small soil pests), as well as other dangerous insects.
- Borage: Borage will attract good pollinators such as bees and small parasitic wasps that eat tomato hornworms.
- Carrots and Onions: The soil around your tomatoes will get loose with the addition of other root veggies that also do not need the same root space.
Taking Care of Your Plants and Pests
Your plants will do their best to defend off situations that can cause problems. Moisture in the air when tomatoes are grown can lead to problems like blight and powdery mildew. Make sure to look at your plants to check for problems. If there are problems like yellowing, dead, and withered leaves, make sure to take these away so that disease cannot spread.
Aphids, worms, and other pests need to be dealt with quickly. For small amounts, you can take them off the plant by hand. For larger amounts, soapy water will help eliminate the pests. The removal of any affected fruit is also necessary to eliminate the spread. In the end, with a good routine you will be able to get your plants to the end, and they will be filled with good tomatoes to eat.
The Final Stretch: Flowering to Harvest
After reaching the flowering stage, the home stretch begins. Generally, the fruit will grow to full maturity in about two months, give or take depending on the variety and other growing conditions. Once the fruit is fully colored and slightly soft to the touch, it is ready to pick.
Finding Your Perfect Plants at TN Nursery
Are you ready to create your own garden? To have a successful vegetable patch, you need good plants to start with. Check out the assortment at TN Nursery for a wide range of healthy, colorful plants that can be delivered straight to your door.
FAQs
What are 5 facts about tomatoes?
Tomatoes are amazing and here's why. For one, tomatoes are actually a fruit and not a vegetable like many people think. For two, tomatoes have around 10,000 different cultivars available around the world! For three, many Europeans used to think they were poisonous. For four, New Jersey has a state 'vegetable' and it's the tomato! And lastly, believe it or not, the largest tomato ever grown weighed a whopping 9 pounds!
How long does it take for tomatoes to grow?
The timeframe from when they are planted to when they are harvested usually depends on the variety. Smaller tomatoes like cherry tomatoes will only take about 59-65 days! On the other hand, bigger tomatoes like beefsteak take a lot longer, usually around 70-90 days plus. Lastly, starting off with a young plant will cut that timeframe down a lot!
What are three things to consider when choosing a tomato?
When choosing a tomato, consider color, size and smell! Look for one that is vibrant and has a deep color for its variety. You want it to be heavy, that means it'll have a lot of water! Finally, they should smell really good near the stem. This shows that it's ripe and a really tasty tomato.
What is special about tomatoes?
Tomatoes are a valuable food source outside of being a food you can cook in a million ways. They are high in vitamin C and a powerful antioxidant, lycopene, which is known for being related to health benefits. They can also be grown anywhere, even in small spaces, which means most people can access growing food.
Why should you sprinkle baking soda around your tomato plants?
Using baking soda around your tomatoes can lower the acidity of the soil and result in sweeter tomatoes. Also, having sodium bicarbonate around the soil will raise the pH around the soil and on the leaves creating a less hospitable area for blight and powdery mildew spores.
What season do tomatoes grow in Australia?
Tomatoes are a warm season crop. In Australia, the best time to plant is from September to December in the southern, temperate region. In the warmer northern region, growing can be done year round, but the hot and humid, wet season can be diseasy.
