You want to grow your own tomatoes? Cool! Nothing is better than the taste of sun-ripened and freshly harvested tomatoes at home. Whether in the garden bed or in pots on the balcony, tomatoes are one of the most most popular vegetables among amateur gardeners. The power fruit not only tastes delicious, but is also very easy to grow yourself.
Here I would like to give you 10 valuable tips and tricks so that you can successfully grow your own tomatoes. Have fun!
10 tips for successful tomato growing
Actually, each of us can be a gardener - you just need a little time and patience. More importantly, you need to Plant needs knows. Of course, this also applies to their own tomato cultivation.
With the following tips and tricks you will lay the foundation for a really successful tomato harvest. You'll see: Soon you'll be able to enjoy the delicious fruits to the fullest - without the weekly trip to the supermarket!
1. choose best tomato varieties
There is probably no other vegetable that as diverse as the tomato is. Whether stick, salad, cocktail or rather cherry tomatoes: The range is large and the decision for a particular variety is not exactly easy. When it comes to choosing a variety, taste is what counts - this is where your personal preferences come into play. But don't forget, to think of the intended use:
- Cherry tomatoes taste delicious as a snack for in between.
- Cocktail tomatoes look good in salads or as a topping for bread.
- Meat tomatoes go very well with other vegetables.
- Roma tomatoes are ideal for soups and sauces.
If you want to grow your own tomatoes, you should consider not only the taste but also the Plant resistance take into account. Especially in the open field, it needs varieties that are resistant to rot. This fungal disease cannot be completely avoided, but the risk is lower for robust varieties (e.g. old tomato varieties).
2. select suitable location
Tomatoes need a warm and sunny place, which is protected from rain and wind. In addition, a permeable, humus-rich and nutrient-rich soil is important for optimal plant growth.
For pre-growing is recommended to use a warm and bright window sill - tomato seedlings need especially much light and warmth. This concerns not only the germination phase, but also the subsequent growth. The temperature should be at least 20°C, so that the sowing really succeeds. If everything fits, you have created a solid foundation to be able to grow delicious tomatoes yourself.
3. sow tomatoes correctly
Of course, you can buy already fully grown tomato plants. But it's almost more fun to watch the plant grow From zero hour to experience. Use for this germinable tomato seedsFirst soak them in warm water, chamomile tea or garlic broth. After that, you fill planting containers with growing soil and distribute the seeds in a Distance of about 3 centimeters. Press the earth a little and wet it very lightly.
4. use proper planters
We are not all blessed with their own garden. But no problem, growing tomatoes works just as well in pots! Note, however, that the Planter neither too big nor too small should be. If the capacity is too large, root rot may occur due to the large amounts of soil. On the other hand, if the pots are too small, it is more difficult to control moisture.
It's best to use a pot that 15-20 liters grips. So the plant roots feel especially comfortable! In addition, the planter should have a water drainage. This is important so that no waterlogging forms - your tomato plants are non swimmers and do not want to learn it either!
Tip: Be sure to also check out my post about the Bird friendly garden on! There you will learn how to turn your garden into a real bird paradise.
5. prick tomatoes
Tomato plants need a lot of space, to grow well. As soon as the first leaves appear - usually after 2-3 weeks - the big moment has come: Time for pricking! So you have to use the individual plantsif you have planted them too close together. For this you should take some time and have a lot of patience.
For pricking out you lift the seedlings carefully from the ground - be sure not to injure the small roots in the process. How do you do that? It is best to use a special pricking rod or the shaft of a spoon. Then put the tomato plants in new pots, filled with nutrient-rich soil.
6. watering correctly
Tomatoes want to be watered! But the motto "the more, the better" you should immediately eliminate from your thoughts. After all, with too much water increases the Danger for fungal infections - especially if the moisture persists for a long time. Therefore, never water from above over the whole plant if you want to successfully grow tomatoes yourself.
You're feeding your tomato plants right when you're only directly on the ground watering. On hot days, you should water them several times a day. Never wait until the soil is completely dry - because tomatoes are also not fans of dryness.
7. do not forget to fertilize
Tomatoes are So-called starchy plants that is, always hungry plants that extract a lot of nutrients from the soil. Therefore, you should fertilize your tomato plants regularly so that they are well supplied and you can harvest as many tomatoes as possible. It is suitable Biofertilizer containing potassium or even compost.
Tip: Want to know how composting works? Then be sure to check out my article about the Proper composting inside!
8. stubbing out must be
To encourage fruiting, you should use the young side shoots of tomato plants periodically remove (sprout). This way, the plant can use all its strength on the main shoot on which the tomatoes hang. If you do not cut out, the tomato plant will form Too many fruits out - these remain too small and do not ripen.
9. use climbing aid
To prevent the main shoot from snapping off under the weight of the fruit, you should secure it with a Climbing aid or climbing aid support. Spiral rods made of stainless steel or aluminum are suitable for this purpose. Likewise, you can use strings that you loosely wrap around the plant and attach to a rain gutter, for example. Definitely a pretty crucial tip for the successful cultivation of tomatoes.
10. protect tomatoes from rain
Tomatoes are children of the sun - so they like no rain. Therefore, you should protect them well from it. In addition to a greenhouse, a tomato house is also worthwhile in the open field. Otherwise you can Tomato hoods for individual plants use. Under a special film simulates the greenhouse climate. On sunny days, however, you can roll up the hood again.
Tip: If you feel like it, also feel free to check out my detailed post about sustainable gardening in.
Tomato cultivation made easy!
I'm sure you now have plenty of tips to help you successfully grow your own tomatoes. can. Just always try to respond to the needs of your tomato plants. You will see: Your efforts will be rewarded with delicious fruits rewarded!
Do you have any questions about growing tomatoes? Or can you think of any other tips and tricks? Then feel free to write me a comment!
Stay sustainable,
PS.: Look at you with pleasure still a little bit in the Nutrition blog around. Learn more there, for example, about the Environmentally friendly kitchen. Anyway, as a tomato grower, you are already on a very good path!
