This concise guide on growing tomatoes is essentially written for beginners, however, some intermediary or advanced gardeners can also find new ideas or some inspiration here.
We’ll include the why, what, where and how to grow tomatoes in your own climate as well as when and where to grow them.
Also, we’ll be feeding, taking care, transplanting, pruning tomatoes, and finally harvesting.
Where do tomatoes come from?
I trust most people know where it comes from, but if you are unaware or new to growing your own produce you may not know it.
Tomato plant has its origins in South American countries. But you’ll find a multitude of tomato diversity around the globe. We can see (and enjoy) that tomatoes have evolved into one of the world’s most popular food crops.
Today’s tomatoes began as wild plants in the Andes, cultivated in parts of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
You probably know that tomatoes are either classified determinate or indeterminate – the latter grows vertically.
Note: If you fancy contributing to a global movement of farmers fighting for health, justice, and sustainability
Related: Fun facts, and indian tomato recipe
How to grow tomatoes? Beginner’s quick steps
Well, if you are reading this post and asking yourself the same question, then you must really want to get your hands dirty. Or not.
Get some garden gloves. You thought, I need to get some tomato seedlings plus a few small pots, and we’re done. Well, it doesn’t quite work that way.
You’ll need some paper, a pen some information and scheduled a bit of time.
Let’s go, and don’t get too excited 🙂 … yet.
It’s fairly simple, really.
When starting the planning of seeding tomato plants, the first three (maybe four) things on the top of your list should be:
1) Get peat plug pellets
2) soil with nutrients (to add later on)
3) quality tomato seedlings
4) small tray (if you don’t have one).
Make sure you buy quality tomato seedlings.
This is important and for that reason you will be better off getting them from garden centres or certified reseller outlets. Because you are almost certain to get better quality than those bought in the supermarkets.
Depending on where you are, you can either order them on the Internet, and I am sure you get the seedlings quick enough if you purchase online.
Yeah, you have them. Now its time to act:
- Open the packet and place a few per pellets
- Organise them within the tray or propagator (great to have, by the way).
Being conscious about getting top notch quality seedlings helps going forward.
Also, have you asked yourself this: why should you grow your own instead of buying them from the supermarket?
There are a few valid reasons for that.
You don’t know what you are going to get:
- In terms of flavour – let me say that the quality isn’t always there,
- You can’t always find the ones you want,
- Industrially produced tomatoes are mostly grown in poor soil environments (fed with artificial fertilisers, so they can last longer during the transportation and shelve lifecycle).
We are happy to share from a recent study that organic or home-grown tomatoes have a much more complex rich chemistry than the commercially produced fruits.
All six good components (image below) were detected in all organic tomato samples, whereas only four of them were found in conventional samples.
If you have time, do read a scientific article, but you can also download the full article there too.
Tomato farming campaign
(figure 2 above) – Shows a complete farming campaign where all bioactive compounds were identified as markers in organic tomato crops.
It’s worth mentioning that tomatoes are a major source of good compounds (polyphenolic) in the human diet.
To get these deep and mouthwatering rich flavours, you are better off planting your own tomato plants.
Home-grown tomatoes are delicious, healthier, with higher levels of the pigment ‘Lycopene’.
Hint: Lycopene has been recognised to help fight and/or unclog blocked arteries. Many international studies have shown us that the Mediterranean diet is so healthy and one of the best.
Best time of the year to grow your own tomatoes?
What sort of time of the year, you asked? You actually need to plan and prep as explained above. You access this date seed calculator online and check the best dates depending on where you are.
By doing so, allows you to see when to start seedlings before transplanting outside. In general, you can start middle of January to start harvest begin of spring.
J, F, M = Perfect for sowing seeds – May and June: Planting time
Where should you start -inside or outside?
I recommend inside. Why, you asked?
Let me break it down for you.
The prep work can be delicate. The global warming is affecting the seasons. Hence, the seedlings need warm temperatures to keep the germinating phase going.
The whole process is short, fun and the results enjoyable not to mention tasty and nutritious. The only inconvenience (if I can say that) is waiting for the tiny tomato bud to pop through and of course the growing process.
But I’m sure, and you’ll probably agree, that it is exciting to grow tomato plants.
What else do I need to start propagate tomato plants inside?
From the 3 steps above you should probably purchase the ‘Money Maker‘ tomato if you’re after a quick, healthy and early crop. This is a great and easy start, and you just need to follow the packet’s instructions.
Before you start your experience, make a tiny list of things you might need. You can get some ideas from the example described below.
Materials, tools needed to sow and flourish tomatoes indoors:
The steps below are essential for the success of your experience:
a) Propagators – will help pre-germination stage (If you don’t have plastic trays, I recommend egg carton, keep the lid open during the day until they are out.)
b) LED grow light* – If lack or no much sun where you are.
c) Heat mat – (It’s technically optional if you have a propagator.
d) A sunny window – or spot in your house for a large pot or container (Make sure it has good drainage.)
e) Water (of course)
Tip*: To grow healthy tomatoes, you’ll need a suitable artificial light source with temperatures at 75°F to 80°F – is 23.89°c (Celsius) and a [plant] variety that will stay short.
You’ll then feed the tomato plants and (finally) move to the stage where the newly grown plants have reached about 16-20 cm (6-8 inches) tall with flowers coming out of the first truss. You are ready to repot the tomato plant into larger pots or move it into your greenhouse.
Don’t forget to add fertiliser every 3-4 weeks and you wanna be sure you add plenty of multi-compost, and do remember to rake in (again) some good fertiliser before planting outside.
How and Why growing tomatoes from seeds?
Who wouldn’t be excited to see tomato plants sprouting from a seed? It is fun and instructive, and you’ll soon discover the first shoot poking through the soil.
A tiny tomato plant is born.
You might feel even more excited, when you come back the next day, to find out that a few more are sprouting along.
Happy times, isn’t it, as all your efforts have been rewarded, leaving you enjoying that big sense of achievement.
Secondly, if you got children of your own, it helps them understand where their food comes from, and perhaps they will be more tempted to want to eat it – if they are fussy eaters – we all know one right? And if you teach them the process, it could be a great fun too.
Thirdly, but not last, it’s a great way to save money on grocery shopping.
What motivates many people to start burgeoning tomatoes from seed at home (the same applies for me) is that it offers little effort, especially when they have a hefty selection of varieties to choose from. You can find tomatoes that are unlikely to be found at our local supermarket.
Only a few garden centres or plant nurseries will have them. You normally can buy a packet of about 20-25 seeds for less than £1 or $0.99. Or why not spreading it from older dried seeds (post coming soon)?!
As your tomato plants grow, feed them with good quality fertilizer is a must. This allows some side shoots to develop faster until they’re between 15 and 30 cm long. Rip them off the plant and pot deeply into very moist, almost wet compost. Use a plastic bag over the shoot tied to the pot to stop them from drying out, and they should root in a matter of days, giving you more free tomato plants
So, it’s up to you to figure out what type of tomatoes you will be seeding, growing and harvesting.
See below to select which type is preferable.
Whether you’re looking to eat raw or add them to summer, spring salad, oven-baked pizza, tomato sauce, we know that there’s an array of possibilities to choose from before you start seeding the tomatoes of your choice.
How many tomato varieties can we find?
Above, we quickly talked about dozens of tomato varieties. I don’t about you, but I didn’t know all of them either. So, I performed a search and recently discover (now) that there are more than 10,000 types.
Here are the most popular ones:
Beefmaster (popular hybrid beefsteak) | |
Beefsteak | |
Big Beef | |
Brandywine (a pink heirloom variety) | |
Bucking Bronco | |
Roma – The traditional Italian, perfect for canning and making pasta sauce. Not the best for fresh eating flavour but they will cook and freeze well. |
But, if you have the exact number, please share the link in the comments box below.
Where and When to grow tomatoes?
Tomato plants require lots of sunlight and in the winter (minimum 4-5 hours) full sun exposure. This is especially true if you leave in the UK and/or some Nordic countries.
Sweden, for instance, has become the Nordic leader in terms of growing tomatoes sustainably. They cultivate it all year round. Thanks to renewable energy.
If you live in those parts, remember that tomatoes don’t thrive in cool conditions, and they are better off kept inside a polytunnel or greenhouse.
South of Europe where sunlight and warmth is largely abundant, the tomato plant will prosper much quicker, however, you will want to water it a minimum twice a day and shade it if too hot.
When should you start harvest tomatoes?
The best way to find out when your tomatoes are ready to pick – is to feel with your hand if the fruits are fully ripen, almost falling when touching them. Also, if they’ve full red colour. Look out for the end of summer where the frost could arrive without warning. Tomatoes can be frozen if you like, or why not make it into a purée.
Sum up
Tomato plants grow from seedlings, these tiny little things will germinate from warm temperatures, soil and water. That is special, don’t you think? Especially if this is your first time.
If you are not a seasonal gardener yet, your best option is -to start sowing seeds in small quantities. This works a treat.
Always remember to water your plants, but don’t over do it. Pruning suckers of determinate tomatoes can improve harvesting later on. Also be aware that plants don’t like too much direct sunlight as it can also be bad for your crop.
Tomatoes need high light intensity to grow well, but too hot or too much can cause blotches, scalds or spots on the growing fruit. ‘Greenback’ is a common problem caused by too much sunlight, leaving the ripe fruit with a hard green area on its ‘shoulder’.
Good luck with your seedlings.
Read also:
Please share in the comments how you are fairing along. 🙂
Credit tomato image by Alexas 🎄
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