Pesticides

How to Grow Tomatoes

Growing tomatoes is a popular activity for the at home gardener and can very worthwhile. It is quite easy with the right steps and preparation. Tips on such things as soil, growing season, and varieties can help immensely. Tomatoes are sub-tropical plants and require a position in full sun. Tomatoes also require a very fertile soil. A healthy plant may be up to 2 meters tall. One kind of tomato is the Beefsteak kind which is a large Mediterranean style tomato, excellent for sandwiches and salads. Then a Cherry tomato is a Small, round and usually has excellent flavor. Sowing seeds indoors in late February to mid March using a heated propagator or a warm, South facing windowsill is an awesome option. If you plan on using compost the temperature of the compost should be around 22 degrees Celsius or room temp for the seeds to germinate. Young plants will also need to be kept warm until early Summer when the soil temperature is above at least 10 degrees. All that's left is to transplant the tomato plants. Dig a hole for each plant 18in apart in the bed then make the hole 2in deeper than the pot. Add support by burying a length of twine under the root ball when planting and tying the other end to a support above the plant, this is easy. Outdoor planting allows for a wide range of tomato supports available. Then care for plants as one usually would.

Written By: Alexsandra Knowlton