Short On Space – Start Growing Container Tomatoes

Growing  container  tomatoes has so many benefits and as well as that it is relatively easy. Also they can yield a large crop with a very limited number of plants. Picking your own tomatoes can be such a satisfying experience, made even more so when you eat them because the flavor is so much better than commercially grown tomatoes. A tomato plant can be grown in a window box, a hanging basket and even in planters, as they are functional as well as decorative for your home. However, there are few basic planning to be done in respect to growing  container  tomatoes.

Some points to consider are:

• The climate that you will be growing your tomatoes in
• The variety of tomato that you will grow according to your climate
• The size of  container  to suit your plant selection
• Fertilizers and pesticides
• Watering and feeding
• Disease and pest elimination

The appropriate climate:

Growing  container  tomatoes needs a specific temperature and climatic conditions that allow it to grow well. You could choose to start with young plants or even seeds from nursery. It is important that you match up your climate to the variety of the tomato you would like to grow. You could also consider the microclimate inside your  container  garden. Most tomato varieties need a warmer night temperature to flower and reap fruits. If you live in a colder climate, choose a variety that can stand up to this temperature.

Generally speaking it is best not to plant seedlings until the night temperate is 65 degrees.

Although tomatoes need 6 – 8 hours of sunlight a day they do not like it if the temperatures get extremely hot, so if you live in a climate with exceptionally hot midday temperatures it would be a good idea to move the  container  or use some shade cloth at this time of day.

 Container  size:

Tomatoes are relatively easy to grow and can be grown in almost any size of  container . Be it a medium-sized hanging basket or a wine barrel; make sure that you match the tomato variety to the size of your  container . If you decide on smaller tomato varieties such as cherry or even grape, you could choose  containers  like hanging baskets or even window boxes. The fruits of such varieties are small and will not break its stem. However, large tomatoes will need bigger  containers  and need to be staked or caged.

Watering and feeding:

Because the roots of tomatoes grow really deep, you need to supply a lot of water. If you have chosen bigger  containers , then watering should be done weekly and remember never to allow your tomatoes to dry completely out. A drip feed system of water can be ideal but if you only have one or two  containers  this is probably not that practical. Constant water supply to these plants without allowing them to dry out will give you a good harvest.

Tomatoes demand heavy feeding once the fruit starts developing and a well-balanced fertilizer should be given every two weeks throughout their growing season. Organic fertilizer is excellent. Tomatoes grown in  containers  are not very prone to pest, yet you must be cautious of insects and other white flys, which may harm the leaves and branches. The hornworm is the most damaging pest for tomatoes. Don’t shy away from growing tomatoes just because you do not have a lavish garden. Whatever be the reason, there is always a way to grow these luscious red tomatoes for your salads and other dishes.