Tomatoes are one of the most popular home grown items in the gardening arena. If you’re looking for some tips on how to grow your own tomatoes, look no further. To get started, make sure that your soil is well drained, adding organic matter to it also. Test your pH balance of the soil and try to come in around a 6-7. If you’re planting in an area that puddles water, you may want to consider trying a raised bed instead. Pick a spot that gets a minimum of 5 hours of full sun for your plants.
Outdoor gardens are the most popular method of growing tomatoes, but apartment dwellers can get in on the action too. While gardeners have been planting tomatoes in pots for years, the advent of the topsy turvy has opened up vegetable growing to a whole another group of gardeners. Planting in pots or the Topsy Turvy is great because you can mix the perfect soil combination and control the soil pests. But perhaps one of the most decadent reasons for enjoying patio planting is that you don’t have the bending and stooping to contend with.
Still others choose to grow tomatoes indoors and still enjoy a healthy harvest. The best way to attempt this is with LED grow lights in a warm area of your home. The lights are also a good way to get seedlings started if you don’t purchase your tomato plants already grown. Keep your home set at around 68-80 degrees during the day and 58-68 at night. Keep in mind that the grow light should not be on all the time as growing tomatoes does require a rest or darkening time too.
Wherever you decide to grow your tomatoes, one of the biggest points to stress is not to over water your plants. A good rule of thumb to follow is that if you can insert your finger into the soil and the dirt sticks to it, it does not need watering. If you’re in doubt, try misting the plant it’s self and then watering it later on.
Growing tomatoes is one of the easiest gardening experiences you’ll encounter and can be fun for the entire family. Enjoy this fresh fruit (and yes, it IS a fruit) all the year long.