Growing Tomatoes


The Taste Sensation Of The Home-Grown Tomato


Growing tomatoes is not only easy to do, either in the garden or in containers but there are about 4,000 different varieties that are just waiting to throw your taste buds into immediate ecstasy.


How to Grow Juicy Tasty Tomatoes  

 


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The most familiar types of tomatoes are the Roma, Beefsteak and your typical round red.  But you’ll be pleased to know that there are also, yellow, green purple, and black kinds, such as the Yellow Pear, Green Zebra, Cherokee Purple, Evergreen, White Wonder, Striped German, and the Black Russian or Krim tomato.  They are a necessity for any vegetable garden, as they are delicious small bundles of colour and they will brighten up the dimmest corners of any garden even when growing tomatoes in pots. 

 

 

A Brief history on growing tomatoes

Tomatoes are thought to have originated from the western part of South America between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, from northern Chile to Peru and Ecuador.  Today, there are approximately eight varieties of wild tomatoes growing in South America  There is little proof that the inhabitants of Chile, Peru and Ecador had been growing tomatoes, especially any of the local wild tomatoes.  Yet they managed to end up in the gardens of pre-colonial Central America and Mexico and by the time the Spanish invaded Mexico, the Aztecs were growing tomatoes from those original wild South American tomatoes. Tomatoes were bought to Europe and they were soon growing tomatoes in many parts of Italy, Spain and France.


 

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Although the recognition and practice of growing tomatoes was thriving in Europe, North Americans remained skeptical.  Fearing the tomato because its leaves were similar to those of the poisonous Belladonna plant.  In due course they overcame their fear and the tomato became very popular as a fruit, despite the fact that it is indeed a member of the Nightshade family.  Although The Nightshade (Solanaceae) family contains many plants that are poisonous, the family is very large and includes numerous other common edible plants.  Some of these include eggplants, potatoes and chili peppers, and petunias.

 

 

Growing Tomatoes: Getting Started

If you are thinking about planting and growing tomatoes for the first time, it’s important to know that they are divided into two different types.  Indeterminates and Determinates.

 

Indeterminate growing tomatoes often need added support to grow well and have vines that continue growing tomatoes.  The Indeterminate tomato plants are best for growing tomatoes in cages or on a trellis.

 

Determinate growing tomatoes grow from vines that reach a certain point and then stop growing,  the plants are typically small and compact, often laden with growing tomatoes.  Determinates will work well for growing tomatoes in containers and in a small garden space.  They usually give fruit earlier in the  season than indeterminate plants.

 

Growing tomatoes from starter plants

You can buy starters to plant directly in your garden.  Make sure you buy a plant that has nice green leaves without any yellow speckling. These starters may already have problems with disease that could make growing tomatoes more difficult. If you purchase starter plants from the nursery, make sure to choose healthy plants that haven’t been in their containers too long. Ideal plants for transplanting are 5 to 7 weeks old with roots that just about fill a four-inch container. Look at the bottom of the container. If roots are protruding out of the drain holes of a four-inch container, the plant has been in the container too long and will probably be severely stressed when transplanted and will be unsuitable for growing tomatoes in abundance. In addition, avoid buying starter plants that already have growing tomatoes on them. These plants will generally produce fewer tomatoes during the year and may not grow fully.

 

Growing Tomatoes from Seed

If you want to start growing tomatoes from seed, sow your seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost. You will not be growing tomatoes if you plant the sensitive tomato seeds directly into your garden.  The ideal temperature for germinating tomato seeds is 29 degrees Celsius (85o F). It will take five to seven weeks before the seedling are ready to plant outside.

 

Depending on your gardening zone, in Australia, late September or early October is usually a good time to get your seedlings underway. In the Northern hemisphere we would advise around March.   You can start your plants in flats or large pots, and after they get their true leaves, you can transplant them into individual paper cups or plant bands. Growing tomatoes from seedlings in paper cups or plant bands simplifies transplanting.  By slitting the paper cup down one side or by removing the band the roots are left intact and undisturbed.

 

When growing tomatoes, use a good potting soil of one-third garden soil, one-third sand, and one-third compost Keep the soil nice and moist and place the flats in the sunniest window you have. When the weather becomes reasonably warm set the plants outdoors in the sun during the day and bring them inside at night.  This will help to make the plants hardy.

 

Soil Basics for Growing Tomatoes

Soils are divided into various categories, such as clay, sand, silt, and loam. Most gardeners consider soil that has a combination of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter to be good soil for growing tomatoes.  Follow our simple guidelines and you'll Discover How to Grow Juicy Tasty Tomatoes .


Healthy, fertile soil is also filled with bacteria, fungi, earthworms and other beneficial soil organisms that break down organic materials. The final result of this composting is humus, which helps the roots to absorb minerals and other nutrients more efficiently.  All the organic matter in the soil also provides the necessary fertilizer for growing tomatoes that are healthy, strong and nutritious.