tomato planting
growing tomato plants
No More Cardboard Tomatoes,
Grow Your Own Plants
Home grown tomato planting are far more flavorful and
juicy than anything that you'll ever find in a grocery. The reason? You don't pick them green for shipping; you get to wait until they are at their peak of ripeness and pluck them gently for your favorite salad or sauce.
When to plant tomatoes, you can grow tomatoes easily but it does require a sunny location. Most plants can tolerate a little shade but thrive when the sun is warming them throughout the day. Cooler nights and hot sunny days give a bumper crop.
You can grow your own tomato plants from seed or purchase seedlings from various sources. Many home supply stores and even groceries carry a large variety of plants for a nominal cost. The price varies by the size. The small seedlings are more inexpensive and don't suffer as much shock when transplanted. Watch the tag to make certain that you purchase the best tomato for your needs. There are a vast array of colors and sizes.
Planting tomatoes is no mystery. While the tomato planting soil pH is between 6 and 7, they tend to tolerate most soil. Before you plant the tomatoes thoroughly work the soil. Add compost and crushed egg shells to create a rich growing medium.
how to plant tomatoes
Harden off the tomatoes before you plant them. Hardening them off is another way of saying acclimate them to the area. Introduce the young plants into full sun a little at a time. Make sure that the risk of frost has passed, but if you made a mistake on that, don't worry. Even the weatherman messes up. If there is a frost warning, Milk jugs with the bottom removed can be used as a cover to protect your plant overnight. Make certain you remove them in the morning.
Depending on the size of the plant that you purchase, you need a hole that is four times as wide as the roots and an inch or two deeper than the rootball to the surface dirt in the pot. Water the plant thoroughly about an hour prior to transfer.
Invert the pot and gently tap the bottom with the stem between the two middle fingers in the front to catch the plant. Spread the roots out and cover lightly with dirt. Remove a few of the bottom leaves by pinching them off and bury the plant beyond the first leaf node. Burying the stem at an angle beyond a couple of leave nodes allows more roots to form creating a more stable plant.
Keep the plant well watered. If you allow it to go dry and then water furiously, the skin gets scarred from too rapid growth.
It is advised to stake or cage your tomato plant. The cage works best but a stake when tended to frequently, can be a real space saver.
Don't forget to add a little fertilizer as you go. You can give the plant a little zing by offering it up some coffee. Put the coffee grounds around the base of the plant.
This pick me up is a great one for tomatoes just like people. They, however, love the acid not the caffeine.
When do you harvest your tomato planting ,wait a few months and pick those luscious tomatoes. You'll want to eat them right away. Don't worry; there will be plenty for your spaghetti sauce later on.
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