Things you need to know before planting a tomato seed

Before planting a tomato seed

A bucket full of freshly picked tomatoes is every gardener’s dream. Red, yellow, purple, striped and finally, green are ripe and unripe. My grandmother kept her tomato growing secrets; "Try to grow tomatoes better than mine," she said with a small smile on her face, but the tomatoes she proudly shared with friends and neighbors. On the other hand, my mom also grew tomatoes in the forget-me-not-let-grow system. They were delicious and incredibly plentiful, but the unforgettable taste was not yet the same. You can find more of this phenomenon in horticulture. This may do something with the variety, the soil, or the plants being fertilized. How much sun they got, how much water, and how often they got it.

Before planting a tomato seed ...

1. Buy the right tomato seeds

Before planting and buying seeds you should ask yourself: What kind of tomatoes do I like to eat? Will they be for processing tomato sauce? Should I make dehydrated tomatoes, or should I eat them all fresh? Should I store the seeds?

With over 3000 heirloom and traditional tomato varieties are grown around the world, it is wise to make informed decisions and know what you want.

Before buying tomato seeds, you should consider:

The growth rate of the plants and whether they are definite or unstable species.

The specified varieties are short, usually up to 2-3, and the fruits mature almost simultaneously. Unstable varieties flower during the entire growing season, for the most part, they need stocking. These varieties are characterized by a long growing season and are beneficial.

2. Find the appropriate place

I firmly believe that everyone knows that tomatoes are like full sun. But when tested, it is not always the equivalent of a large, or sweet, tomato. There is such a thing as too much sun.

First, you need to cover the basics. Tomatoes need at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. 8 or more hours will increase the size of your harvest.

One might assume that tomatoes need sunlight to ripen. This is false. Tomatoes ripen from a mixture of heat and ethylene gas, not sunlight. In fact, direct sunlight can lead to sunburn or fruit burn, if not cloud cover.

It is also important to note that pollination of tomato flowers should not be a problem if you grow your plants outdoors. If you grow them in a greenhouse or house, you will need to take care of the pests and pollinate them by hand.

3. Determine the quality of your soil

You need to look deep into your garden soil. The best way to do this is to test with a soil test tool. They are cheap, easy to use, and provide a lot of information. Otherwise, you guessed it.

Tomatoes are heavy fodder. Therefore, last fall you should put well-rotted manure or compost. Tomatoes also have a soil pH of 6.2 to 6.8, with a slight acidity. Also, keep in mind that too much nitrogen will result in evergreen leaves, but small fruits.

Areas of your garden that are high in nitrogen are ideal for plants you want to keep as leaves, such as rhubarb, Swiss chard, and Brussels sprouts.

4. Give your tomatoes enough heat and light

We have already talked about the importance of light for tomatoes. They need sunlight during the growing season. At the same time, tomatoes prefer high heat.

Tomatoes grow best when the daytime temperature is 75-85 F. They prefer nighttime temperatures between 60-75 F. We all love it, don't we? Like some I know it is above 90 F and the plants are stressed. Temperatures below 70 ° F and fruit growth are reduced.

Outside of growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, you can not always dictate the weather. If your local climate is too cold for tomatoes, grow something else where you live.