Ever walked into the grocery store to get some supplies and could not stop staring at the big, red tomatoes at the corner? Do you keep wondering how you can grow the same kind of tomatoes in your garden? Do your plants keep dropping? How do you care for them? If these questions are on the top of your mind, then this article is for you.
Tomatoes have found considerable use in the food industry. It is a staple vegetable in stores and refrigerators. You cannot make a good stew without it and your fries are incomplete without the tomato sauce. That is how important this plant is!
However, instead of having to buy this plant from time to time at the stores, many people have decided to grow it themselves. There are many discussions centered on how to grow big, juicy tomatoes. Growing tomatoes is quite easy, they are very versatile, grow fast under the right conditions and are delicious
There are a number of factors to consider when growing your own tomatoes. You need to select the best varieties, the starting seeds, transplant them to a suitable place, provide protection with cages, ropes, and stakes, and overall tomato care as the plant itself is not immune to diseases such as the tomato blight.
How long does it take to grow a tomato?
To grow your tomatoes, the first thing you would want to know is how long it takes to grow them.
In fact, this is one of the most commonly asked questions. While the time of harvest largely depends on the cultivator, tomato matures between 60-80 days. Although it may differ from region to region.
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How is it planted?
Due to the long growing season, tomato plants can be transplanted instead of directly sowing the seeds in your garden. These transplanted seedlings can be bought from nurseries. After satisfying all the requirements to get the healthiest varieties, you should look for short stocky plants, usually dark green in color with straight and sturdy stems.
- Tomatoes need extra care, monitoring, and vigilance due to their susceptibility to diseases and pests. Select a patch of land with adequate exposure to sunlight. Tomatoes can grow in different soils except those that retain water and become swampy. Slightly acidic soil with a PH of about 6.5 is ideal.
- When planting the tomato transplants, one of the first things to do is dig the soil and mix it with manure. Then, harden the seedlings or the transplants for about a week before planting in the garden. You should also place the young plants in shade, and gradually increase the time they spend outside daily, to increase exposure to direct sunlight.
- When planting, do ensure the tomato stakes or cages are already in the soil to prevent the roots of the plant from getting damaged later on. Staking tomato plants keeps the fruit off the ground while caging it keeps the plant from falling.
- Do make sure you apply enough fertilizer per square feet of the garden. Avoid nitrogen fertilizers as they are more likely to delay fruiting and flowering. The transplants should also be adequately spaced to allow for maximum growth. Plant the root ball of the transplant as deep as possible, so only the leaves are above the surface of the soil.
- Water your tomato plants as regularly as possible. This is to ensure an optimum root and soil contact, while also preventing wilting. Your transplants need a shaded environment for the first week so as to prevent the leaves from drying out excessively. Try to keep the soil moist as much as possible while checking on your plants from time to time. Have a good time farming big and juicy tomato plants.