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How To Grow Tomatoes
Tomatoes are the number one choice of vegetables to grow in a garden. That's because they are relatively easy to grow, don't require that much space and one plant can yield dozens of tomatoes in a season. Tomatoes can grow in any type of soil, whether it is sandy, dry or moist. To grow tomatoes, you can either start them by seed or by buying young plants at your local garden center. Here are some simple instructions for both methods.
It's a little more work to start the plants from seed, but it's very rewarding as you see the plants grow. You will need to start six to eight weeks before the last expected frost. First, fill a seed tray with container soil and place a seed in each container. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Cover the tray with a plastic top or even cardboard, so that the seed tray will retain moisture. Place the tray near a sunny window in a warm room.
When the seedlings start to appear, remove the plastic top. About a week later, the seedlings and the soil around them can be transplanted into larger containers. Place the containers near a sunny window and make sure to keep the soil moist. At this stage, it is very important that the soil is never too dry or too wet. Keep the plants inside until the risk of frost has passed.
Once the risk of frost has passed, you can either buy tomato plants or use the seedlings that you started a few weeks earlier. For both methods, the first step is to harden the plants. You can do this by placing them outside during the day, in a sunny spot that is well protected from wind, and then bring them inside for the night when the temperatures are cooler.
After doing this for about two weeks, the tomatoes are ready to be planted outside. Tomatoes can either be grown in large containers, at least one foot in diameter, or in a garden. The most important thing to remember is that they will need full sun and protection from the wind. The best place is along a fence or wall.
If you are planting the tomatoes in a garden, set them about 12 to 18 inches apart. Dig a hole in the ground and place a young plant in each hole. Fill it in with dirt and press down firmly. Place a stake near each plant, so that the plants will have the proper support to grow tall and strong. Water well each week and soon you will have lovely tomatoes all summer long. The tomatoes will be ready to pick when they are red in colour and firm, but not hard, to the touch.
