Planting Tomatoes
As a beginner, it’s likely that you have thought about planting tomatoes at one stage or another but gave up because it was too hard. Like increasing numbers of people all over the world, you are fed up with eating tomatoes that don’t have any flavor. Did you know that tomatoes grown in the USA have a very high Vitamin C deficiency? And here in Australia we aren’t that much better off.
So, to make it as easy as possible for you, the beginner, I’m going to show you an easy-to-follow guide to plant and grow organic tomatoes using containers. I don’t claim that this is the best way to do it. All I’m saying is if I were to grow tomatoes for the very first time, this is how I’d go about it.
Let’s get started:
Seedlings
* Find a good garden center and buy 3 organic tomato seedlings, each a different variety. Things don’t always go to plan in nature. So, you increase your chances of success by not planting the same variety.
* Ask for patio determinate varieties ( determinate simply means that the plants will cease to grow after they reach a certain size) that grow well in your area.
* Choose the short, sturdy seedlings and ignore the lanky ones or those with yellowish or diseased leaves.
Container
* Choose three 12 quart (3 gallon) containers as tomatoes need room to grow (one for each seedling).
* They must have drain holes.
* Get rolling platforms. Tomatoes need a lot of sun – aim for a minimum of 7 hours a day. Therefore, if you can’t find a permanent spot where your plants can get that much sun, you can just roll the containers to where there is sun.
Soil Mix
* A good mix is equal parts each of pasteurized soil, peat moss, perlite and organic compost. You can mix this yourself or you can just buy a sterilized, commercial organic mix which contains these ingredients. Buy enough to fill your 3 containers.
* Add a slow-release organic fertilizer in accordance with the directions on the label. This should be about 1 1/2 tablespoons for a 3 gallon container.
* Add granular potassium sulphate in accordance with the directions on the label. Potassium is vital in growing tomatoes successfully.
* Add water-holding gels.
* Mix everything together.
Now, you’re ready to start potting.
* With tomatoes, you need to plant deep. So, go ahead and take the seedling out of its container. Roughly, “fix” a spot about half way up the stem because you’re going to plant the seedling right up to that spot. That’s what I mean by planting deep.
* At this stage, you can add some kind of gravel to the bottom of the container to ensure good drainage.
* Fill the container with some of the soil mix and plant the seedling up to that imaginary spot. You may have to try a few times before you get it right.
* Once you’re satisfied, fill the container all the way up to just below (about an inch) the rim.
* Now is also a good time to insert a stake or rod or tomato cage for the tomato plants to grow on.
* Repeat the process with the two other seedlings.
* Water in well but not the leaves.
Remember
* Give your tomato plants at least 7 hours of sunlight every day. Roll the containers out to achieve that, if needed.
* Water regularly – every day if you have to – but avoid wetting the leaves. Water the plants at the base. Keep them moist but don’t over water.
* Fertilize as directed on the label. Use a fish emulsion or seaweed-based ferlilizer.
I’m sure that you’ll agree that planting tomatoes is not that difficult after all. In a few short weeks, you’ll be feasting on tomatoes that are so tasty you’ll kick yourself for not doing it earlier.
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