Tomatoes are one of the best fruit vegetables. Tiny cherry tomatoes with their sweet, tangy taste, can be eaten whole. Tomatoes will add a zip of color to a boring salad. Tomato sauce makes pizza or pasta even more appetizing when added. These are just some of the benefits you will get from growing your own tomatoes.
Tomatoes come in various shapes, sizes and colors but there are really just two kinds. One type is called the Determinates and the other the Indeterminates. Determinate tomatoes are vine growing that stop when they reach a certain point.
These tomato plants are small and compact vines that produce fruits early in the growing season. Determinates tomatoes plants can be grown in containers or even in small spaces.
Determinates grow best when spaced 1 to 2 feet apart. The rows need 4 feet between them. If you want to plant some other vegetables around the tomato plants, you will need to add a little extra room in the rows.
Indeterminates tomatoes on the other hand continue growing. They need support in the form of cages or trellises. The distance that you should keep between the cages is about 3 feet. Once the Indeterminate tomatoes have caught on to the trellis or their cage, you will need to train them to climb the supporting frame. Sometimes it will be necessary to tie the vines to the frame stakes so that the whole tomato plant does not fall over due to its own weight.
There are 2 ways to start your plants, either with your own seeds or buying starter plants from a nursery. Look for healthy plants that don’t have any yellow spots on their leaves. It’s also a good idea to check the roots to make sure that they are not coming out of the bottom of the container. By checking the root growth you will be able to tell if the plant will grow well or if it might be a poor fruit producer because it’s been stressed.
The best way to tell when to plant your tomatoes is when all of the other trees in your garden have leaves. This means the temperature will be warm enough and your plants will receive about 8 hours of good sunlight. It’s important to fully cover the roots of you tomatoes with soil enabling it to get all the nutrients it can.
With tomato gardening you need to keep an eye on the weather. Hot sunny days might be great for you, but they mean that your tomato plants will need regular watering at least once a week. Other than this you can sit back and relax. Once your tomatoes are fully ripe, just pluck them off the vines and enjoy your fresh tomatoes.