Growing a tomato plant is not difficult but it requires a lot of patience, knowledge, and experience. If you have a big garden then you can grow a large number of tomatoes. But if you have a small garden then you should try to grow a few tomatoes. This article discusses how to grow a tomato plant in your garden.
The tomato plant belongs to the Solanaceae family, originated in Western South America, was planted in March-April, and harvested in late summers. Some of the tomato varieties are determinate and indeterminate. They also fight against biotic and abiotic stresses. Plants are branched, trailed at the fruiting time, and leaves are pinnate. Proper fertilizer, irrigation, and pruning are required for the growth, development, and fruit setting of well-drained soil.
In this article, we provide you with the step by step guide to growing tomato plants from seed. We will be providing you with all the necessary information regarding the process of growing tomato plants from seed.
How to Grow Tomato Plant?
The tomato plant needs staking or cages for the vines to stand at the fruit set. Grown in pots and also in raised beds, adequate sunlight is necessary. Some insects, pests, and diseases attack plant-like fusarium wilt, blossom end, and tomato hornworms. Harvest the tomato fruits before the entire ripening stage at proper size development and green color establishment.
Also read the article, Can you plant two tomato plants together?
Best suitable Tomato variety to grow
Cherry tomato
Green Zebra
Black Krim
Celebrity
Amish Paste
Crimson crush
Tomato Plant Features
| Technical name | Lycopersicum esculentum |
| Common name | Tomato |
| Family | Solanaceae |
| Planting time | March-April |
| Harvesting time | Late summer (mature green stage) |
| Climate | 15℃-32℃ |
| pH | 6.0 and 6.8 |
| Soil | Well-drained, loam, and sandy loam |
| Plant spacing | 24-36 inches (depends on variety) |
| Plant type | Determinate and indeterminate |
| Harvesting time | Not fully ripe, green color |
How to plant Tomato seeds?
Suppose you want to plant tomatoes from seeds. It would be best to have you need fresh tomatoes from the planting store, the desired variety according to the climate. First, eradicate the sources from a ripe tomato (fresh, healthy, and not stored) and soak them for 14 days in tepid or lukewarm water. Next, you have must dry the seeds on a paper towel or tissue paper and then sow them in a pot or bed within seven days.
How to plant tomatoes in a pot?
Choose the desired variety (well and strong) take the seeds from the tomato with the help of a sharp knife, as discussed in the above paragraph. Use well-drained soil, choose a fabric pot over the plastic pot and sow seeds. Water carefully and steadily
How to grow an indoor Tomato plant?
The exact process for the growth of tomato plants is that first, you have to sow seeds in a small pot and wait for the seeds to sprout for transplanting in a large container. Next, water the soil when dry and place plant stakes in a container for vines to grip up. Finally, harvest the tomato when attaining the proper red color.
Some Tomato companion plants
Companion plants can help the plants that enrich each other’s growth or protect from pests are mutually beneficial. Some companion plants are bean, asparagus, amaranth, celery, cucumber, lemon balm, garlic, sage, lettuce, marigold, nasturtium, mint, squash, cosmos, carrots, calendula, and onion. All these companion plants can be planted with the tomato plant.
Types of Tomato plants
| Green beefsteak Tomato |
| Red beefsteak Tomato |
| Campari Tomato |
| Cocktail Tomatoes |
| Pear Tomato |
| Plum Tomato |
| Roma Tomato |
| San Marzan |
| Tomato Gold Medal (heirloom tomato) |
Cherry Tomato plant
Cherry tomato plant varieties are easiest to grow in a pot; if you grow only one plant, it will bear a stable crop of bite-size fruits all season. Cherry tomatoes comprise vitamins A, C, and E, rich in potassium.
Tomato Growing Tips
Tomatoes are an easy-to-grow plant. Tomato plants need a lot of sunlight and well-drained soil. They require a warm temperature and a dry atmosphere. The ideal soil for a tomato plant is a mixture of equal parts of peat moss and sand. They can grow in containers, but they should be watered regularly.
Tomato plant spacing
Tomato entails amply of room to grow healthy. When raised in beds should have to be planted at 18-24 inch spacing because of its deep roots and length of the stem.
When to plant tomatoes?
The plantation time of tomato plants is in late spring and early summer, excluding zone 10 (where they are a fall and winter crop). The specific month for plantation is late March-early-April if you want to plant outside. However, if you will grow your plants in a greenhouse, you should start from late February- to mid-March.
Tomato plant care
The tomato plant needs hours of sunlight for fruit production; 6-8 hours of the sun is required for the plant. It needs fertile soil, sunny and sheltered spot water regularly, and feeds weekly when the plant reached on flowering stage. The garden tomato plant requires 1-2 inches of irrigation weekly; the pot tomato plant needs normal water and a properly draining system.
Pruning tomato plants
When the tomato plant gets about 30-60cm, you start pruning them, branches coming out from the main stem (small suckers). Take a sharp and clean pruner and snip the branches off.
Tomato fruit pruning starts when leaves begin to yellow. First, pinch the leaves to avoid diseases.
Baby tomato plant
Grape tomatoes, shaped like grapes oblong, thick skin, less watery, the flesh is meatier, half the size of cherry tomatoes but aren’t sweet as them. Baby tomato plants are mini tomatoes, also known as micro tomatoes, are compact. In the dwarf cultivar of tomatoes, all plant parts like stem, fruit, and leaves, are smaller than the typical tomato plant.
Tomato plant fertilizer
Best fertilizers for tomatoes have a balanced ratio of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium 8-8-8. If the soil has high nitrogen levels, then mix accordingly to maintain balance. Organic fertilizer also helps grow: coffee, banana peel, eggshells, Epsom salt, and tea.
Tomato plant flowers
Tomatoes are self-pollinated, having both male and female parts on the same plant. These tomatoes are open-pollinated, which means that they pollinate the plant naturally through wind, birds, insects, etc., known as Heirloom Tomatoes. Pollination occurs on the same plant at the flowering stage, and each flower has male and female parts (stamens and pistils). So for growing tomatoes at home, you need only one seedling for the growth and development of tomato fruit.
Growing Tomatoes at Home
Suppose you want to plant tomato seeds in a small pot at home. First, you have to take a pot put soil as recommended for tomato plants well-drained, loam, and sandy loam soil. Next, select the desired cultivar that will grow better in the climate you are living in. Next, net take a tomato, put two-three seeds, and place them in a container filled with soil. Cover the seeds with about 1/4 inches of soil, and rinse (dribble a mist of water) the pot to mix roots and soil.
| Tomato Planting | |
| Problems | Remedies |
| Fusarium wilt | Treated after applying fungicidal spay |
| Over pruning won’t | Don’t over-prune |
| Hornworms | Companion plants, inter-planting (dill or basil) skills blossom blossom |
| Blossom and don’t | Don’t overwater, at least 2 inches per week |
The harvesting time of the tomato plant
Harvesting time should be before ripening and when tomato fruit attains the proper size, usually late summer season, early morning. Many commercial tomatoes are picked before they are completely ripe. Please pick them up before the sun dries them and enjoy your garden tomatoes at their crunchiest and sweetest.
Tomato plant problems
Problems that occur in the growth and development of tomato plants from vegetative to the developmental stages are mentioned below;
| Watering above can endorse fungal diseases |
| Shortage of air movement around plants |
| Too much irrigation |
| Water scarcity |
| Use unglazed pots |
| Low sunlight affects |
| Use short stake as support of the vines |
A stake is used to support the tomato vines and fruit set. A stake is a wood or metal stand that helps fruits grow on vines to avoid hanging and bursting.
Some varieties of tomatoes are length that needs cages or stakes for fruit setting and vines. If you want to grow, those varieties must be grown in large containers for them cages (homemade or you can also buy from any store) are required. Dwarf (or patio) tomatoes that don’t need staking are cherry or baby tomatoes.
Tomato plant diseases
Some most common tomato diseases are
- Early blight (leaves, fruit)
- Fusarium wilt ( yellowing and browning of foliage)
- Late blight
- Verticillium wilt
- Southern bacterial wilt
- Septoria leaf spot
- Root rot
- Bacterial canker
- Leaf mold
- Bacterial speck
- Alternaria canker
- Blossom end rot is an abiotic or physiological disease caused by drought, freezing, or other stresses. It’s developed near the blossom end of the tomato, identified as brown and leathery rot. To treat this, you have to cut off the affected area.
Major Uses of Tomatoes
Tomato sauce: Boil the tomato, peel them, chop and let them simmer for some time, add some condiments, and enjoy it with rice or bread.
Eating green tomatoes is poisonous for health if consumed in the maximum amount. This is because green tomatoes contain alkaloid solanine.
Conclusion
Tomato plants are easy to grow through seeds and cuttings. Still, proper care and maintenance are needed for the growth and development of the plant. You have to grow inside, outdoor in raised beds, and harvest the organic fruit when needed. Tomatoes are very beneficial for healthy skin and all internal organs.
- We can make many delicious recipes from tomatoes and enjoy the food.
- You can use tomato with sugar powder for shiny and glowing skin.
- Tomato can remove skin tan from hands and feet also.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to grow a tomato plant?
First, choose a type of tomato that is suited to your climate. Then, place the tomato in a sunny spot, and water it regularly. Moreover, it is best to start the plant from seed. The best way to grow a tomato plant is to start it indoors, and then transplant it outside when it is ready.
Do tomato plants need full sun?
Tomatoes can be grown in full sun or partial shade. However, they will grow better in full sun if you give them a chance to grow. Tomato plants need at least six hours of direct sunlight to grow properly.
In which month tomato is grown?
Tomatoes are grown in the summer. Usually, March to July is the best time to grow tomatoes, because it thrives well in the hot season.
How long do tomatoes take to grow?
Tomatoes are very easy to grow, but they take a long time to produce their fruit. Usually, they are one of the most labor-intensive vegetables to grow. Moreover, it takes about 3 months to harvest.
Do tomatoes need a lot of water?
Yes. Tomatoes are a fruit, and they do require a lot of water. They can easily dry out if there is not enough moisture in the soil.
What temperature do tomatoes like?
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