Tomatoes fresh from the garden are darn close to heaven on earth. Supermarket tomatoes don't even begin to measure up. Sun ripened and full of flavor and chosen at the perfect time. No green tomatoes forced to ripen as they are carted off to the store. Only picked when they are ready to eat - scrumptious!
Growing the perfect tomato is a lot easier than you think. It really isn’t difficult at all. You just need a few tips to get started. For the perfect tomato garden, just follow these simple suggestions and you will be on your way to enjoying a crop of scrumptious tomatoes!
Location Is important
You need to find the perfect location to plant your tomatoes. Tomatoes are sun lovers so an area that gets plenty of sunlight is perfect. No matter if it is a sunny site in your yard, or a sunny corner of a patio – be sure that your sun loving tomatoes get heaps of sunshine!
Tomatoes don't require a lot of space like some plants, but they will require about 18 inches for each plant. If you have a sizeable garden, you can plant as many as your garden will hold then sell them at a farmers market, or can them for later use. If you have a small garden or just a courtyard, tomatoes make a terrific potted plant. If you grow them in a pot, make sure the container is well drained and is placed in a sunny location. A stake should be placed in a container tomato to help it stand upright.
What Type
There are more kinds of tomatoes than you can count! With so many to choose from which do you pick? Your best choice is to visit your local garden center and ask the experts what kind of tomato grows best in your area. Most tomatoes do well anywhere, but it never hurts to ask around. It is a good idea to plant some small varieties of tomatoes as well. It is wonderful to be able to pick a few small tomatoes for dinner. Small kinds like cherry tomatoes grow great in containers and tucked in corners of your yard. The small red fruit really looks nice planted amid marigolds. Plus, the marigolds help to prevent pests from attacking the tomatoes!
How to Start
Tomatoes need to be sheltered from frost so unless you plan to use hot caps, don't put them in the ground until you are sure frost risk is over. After the risk of frost is gone, put your tomato plants in the garden or plant them in containers. Most people buy tomato plants from a nursery, however you can start your plants indoors from seed. Tomatoes do best if they are transplanted into the garden rather than seeded into the garden. Starting seeds indoors will require you to begin six to eight weeks before it is time to plant them outside. Fill a growing tray with a seed starter soil mixture and lightly press the seeds into the soil. The soil needs to stay damp, but don't get it soggy. You don't want to be able to see water standing in the soil, but if you press on it you will feel dampness. In a week or so you will see the seeds begin to pop up. Keep the plants in a sunny window or under a grow light. Once the plants are large enough and the risk of frost is over, plant them in your garden.
Watch for Pests!
Although tomatoes are very simple to grow, they do have their share of pest problems. The hornworm is one of the pests you will need to worry about. They like to eat the underside of the leaves so you won’t really see them on the plant. If you find one, the best way to get rid of it is to step on it! Inspect your plants on a regular basis to make sure you don’t get infested with the hornworm.
Plants similar to marigolds and garlic can help to keep away pests if you plant them close to your tomatoes. Gardeners have long planted marigolds alongside their crops. It is remarkable how nature provides it's own natural repellants.
It is fairly easy to grow the perfect tomato. With these easy steps you will relish delicious tomatoes all season long!
Author Resource:
Piper is a self-employed writer who enjoys spending time with her family, good food, and the great outdoors. She enjoys working in her garden and loves growing perfect tomatoes . She loves going for walks, music and fitness. Piper writes about subjects she loves like fitness , parenting, and the outdoors.
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