Grow your own Tomatoes
Growing Tomatoes in Containers
The biggest advantage to growing tomatoes in containers is that you can grow them just about anywhere they will get at least 8 hours of sun. You can move them if needed (say an unexpected frost). The biggest problems with container gardening are usually related to watering since they can dry out fairly quickly, so attention to watering or some type of irrigation can be needed.
Choosing a container: A standard type pot, the same height as diameter, with a diameter of at least 12 inches is recommended. A 5 gallon bucket is a common choice for some bush varieties. A plastic pot will not dry out as rapidly as a clay pot and will require less watering. It is essential to have drainage holes in the bottom or root rotting will occur. Place a round fiberglass screen of the same shape and size as the pot in the bottom to prevent soil from washing out of the holes and to bar the entry of pests into the pot. Half whiskey barrels, black plastic pots and bushel baskets can also be used.
Starting the Plants: The easiest way to start the plants is to buy them from the nursery. But often you can’t find the variety you want at the local nursery, so you may want to start your own. Tomato seeds can be started indoors in peat pellets or pots as about 6 weeks before the last frost date for your area.
Soil: In a container you can mix the soil as you wish, which gives you better yields. Tomatoes like a loose, well-drained soil. Always use a good amount of organic matter, this will help drainage. Try starting with a soil mix of one part each of potting soil, perlite, sphagnum peat moss and compost. Tomatoes are heavy feeders so you will want to add fertilizer. Fertilize the soil with a slow release type. Make sure that it’s a type for tomatoes, too much nitrogen will result in a lot of growth but no tomatoes.
Planting Fill the container 3/4 full with your soil mix. Put the plant close to the stake and fill in the soil mix around the plant up to the first set of true leaves. Water thoroughly and when the soil settles, add more soil until it comes to within an inch of the top of the container.
Supporting your tomatoes: Most tomato plants will need to be staked. Do this early so you don’t destroy the root system inserting the stakes. Tomato cages or stakes can be used. Be careful to place them so that as the tomato matures that it doesn’t make the container top heavy and prone to falling over in the wind. Shield it from the wind if necessary.
Water the new transplants deeply to encourage deep root growth. Water frequently for a week or two, gradually diminishing frequency and increasing depth of penetration. Established plants require about 1" of water per week.
Tomatoes need even watering to prevent blossom end-rot. Water thoroughly but not too often (twice per week should suffice at first) and try to water early in the day so that plants will dry off before evening. This helps to reduce disease problems.
Using drip or soaker hose irrigation is the best idea. Water is used more efficiently this way and the leaves don't get wet.
Pruning Tomatoes
When the first fruit begins to form on the vine, the plant will also begin to produce side-shoots in between the main stem and the leaf stems.
These side shoots should be pruned by pinching them out with the fingers and thumb. If allowed to grow these side shoots will produce a lot of foliage but few tomatoes. Any lower leaves that begin to yellow should also be removed to avoid the risk of infection.
After the plant has developed six or seven trusses of tomatoes break off the growing tip to stop the plant growing any more. If more than seven trusses of tomatoes begin to develop, the additional stems should be pinched out encourage the plant to produce good quality tomatoes rather than an abundance of low quality fruit.
Happy Tomato Growing
Homemade Fertilizers
Fish emulsion and seaweed extract are the best store-bought natural fertilizers. You should follow the directions on the labels or make your own fertilizers:
Compost Tea
I’ve read that the active ingredients in compost actually help control disease and shoo away insects. You should use composted manure, not dehydrated manure for this recipe. Simply add 1 cup of compost to 1 gallon of water and 1 teaspoon of blackstrap molasses to a bucket and let sit for at least 2 weeks. Spray on the leaves as a foliar feed or drench the soil.
Stinging Nettles Tea or Comfrey Tea
Mix these greens together or use them separately. Chop enough of the greens to fill a 5-gallon bucket half Full. Fill the bucket with chlorine-free water because the chlorine destroys the good stuff (beneficial microbes). Let sit for a week. Spray on the leaves or drench the soil.
