Tomatoes are an excellent
tasty vegetable. They are full of vitamin C. Besides, they contain other
valuable nutrients. Because of valuable nutrients, they are very beneficial for
health. However, if you enjoy toxin-free and fresh tomatoes, you can grow them
indoors in pots. Today, in this article, I will share how to grow tomatoes
from seeds indoors in pots. So, to know the easiest tips to grow tomatoes
in your home garden, continue reading the article till the end. Now let's learn
how to grow tomatoes from seeds indoors in pots.
How to Grow Tomatoes from Seeds
Step-by-Step Guide
Choose the Right Tomato Seeds
To grow tomatoes from seeds,
first, you have to choose the seeds of the best tomato variety. For your
betterment, I have mentioned the tomato seed names of different varieties
below.
- Determinate Varieties: Determinate
tomato varieties grow well in small pots. The best seeds of these varieties are
tiny tim, bush early girl, patio princess, balcony and better bush.
- Indeterminate
Varieties: Indeterminate tomato varieties grow well in large pots or the
ground throughout the season. The most popular seeds of these varieties are
brandywine, cherokee purple, sung old, black krim and beefsteak.
- Heirloom Varieties:
Heirloom tomato varieties produce tasty and flavorful tomatoes. The top seeds
of these varieties are green zebra, mortgage lifter, aunt ruby's, yellow pear
and hillbilly.
- Hybrid Varieties: Hybrid
tomato varieties are disease-resistant and produce a bumper yield. The
borabor steeds of these varieties are big boy, better boy, early girl, super
sweet 100 and sun gold.
You have already come to know
the best tomato varieties for pot planting. Now you will choose one or two from
these varieties. In my opinion, the best varieties for pots are tiny tim and
patio princess.
Collect Tomato Seeds
Good seeds grow good plants
and good plants bear good fruits. So, you have to collect tomato seeds
carefully. You will not buy seeds from the unknown. However, you can collect
tomato seeds from well-known local or online seed stores. Here remember that
you must buy packet seeds but not open local seeds.
Prepare Soil
Tomatoes grow well in fertile
loam soil. They also grow in sandy loam or clay loam soil. So, you have to
prepare fertile loam soil to grow tomatoes from seeds. In this case, you will
take 40% garden soil, 20% cow dung, 20% compost and 20% white sand. Then mix
them well. Your fertile loam soil is ready to grow tomatoes.
Set up Pots
For growing tomatoes, you will
need a 12-inch pot. Then make two holes at the bottom of the pot. Then
give two small brick pieces on the two holes. Then give oneinch pebbles and
one-inch white sand on them. Finally, press them with your hand. In this way,
you will set up all the pots.
Fill the Pots with Soil
Take a pot, keep the prepared
soil in the pot and press it with your hand. Finally, keep the pot 2 inches
empty from the top. Your pot is ready to grow tomatoes
Germinate Seeds
Seed Germination Soil
To germinate tomato seeds, you
have to prepare special soil. To prepare special soil, you will take 20% garden
soil, 30% cow dung, 30% compost and 20% white sand. Then mix them properly.
this is the best special soil for tomato seed germination.
Step by Step Instructions for Germinating tomato Seeds
- Dry the seeds for 3-4 hours in the morning.
- Cool them properly.
- Soak them underwater in the evening.
- Fill the pot with special soil.
- Scatter the seeds on the topsoil of the pot.
- Cover them with light soil.
- Spray light water on it.
- Cover the mouth of the pot with polythene.
- Keep the pot in a shady place
All the seeds will germinate
within 7 to 10 days. Then keep them in sunlight little by little every day.
After 3 to 4 days, keep them in direct sunlight. When tomato seedlings are 30
to 35 days old, transplant them into other pots.
Transplant Seedlings
Take a pot. Make a hole
of two inches. Then take a tomato seedling. Keep the roots of the seedling in
the hole and cover the roots with soil. In this way, you will plant all the
seedlings. Then water them properly. Finally, keep the pots in a shady palace for
3 to 4 days. Then keep them in direct sunlight.
Care for Tomato Plants
- Water the tomato plants properly every afternoon.
- Clean the weeds occasionally.
- Apply organic liquid fertilizer to the tomato plants every 15 days.
- Prune unnecessary or dry branches.
- Bury a stick in each pot and tie the tomato plant with rope to the stick.
Control Diseases and Insects of Tomato Plants
Leaf curl, blight and fusarium
are the main diseases of tomato plants. And, whiteflies, aphids and hornworms
are the main culprits for them. To control these problems, remove infected
tomato plants and apply insecticidal soap or neem oil once a week.
Harvest Tomatoes
When tomatoes are bright in
color and have slight softness they are fully ripe. At this time harvest them.
For harvesting, take clean and sharp scissors or pruning shears and cut the
fruit from the vine keeping a small portion of the stem. You will harvest
tomatoes in the morning.
Store Tomatoes
To store tomatoes properly,
keep them at room temperature until they are fully ripe. Then store them in the
refrigerator for a few days. Remember that proper storage keeps tomatoes fresh,
flavorful and nutritious.
Know More about Growing Tomatoes
Best time to plant tomatoes
The best time to plant
tomatoes is October and November in winter and March and April in summer.
How far apart to plant tomatoes?
Tomatoes are to plant 2 feet
apart in rows and 3 feet apart in space. But in the pots, plant one seedling in
each pot.
What to plant with tomatoes?
You can plant basil,
marigolds, carrots, lettuce and onions with tomatoes.
What not to plant with tomatoes?
Don't plant corn, potatoes,
cabbage, fennel and walnuts with tomatoes.
In conclusion, tomatoes are a
very nutritious food. They are more nutritious than apples. You can enjoy this
beneficial vegetable by growing them in your home garden. How to grow
tomatoes from seeds is fully known to you. Now if you want to enjoy fresh
and toxin-free organic tomatoes, decide to grow them indoors in pots. I think
by following my tips, you will be able to grow tomatoes from seeds perfectly
and get a bumper tomato yield.
Do you want to know more about
growing tomatoes from seeds? If you have anything to know, share it in the
comment box below.
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