Tomato Plants from Seedshow to grow tomato plants from seeds

A garden just doesn’t seem like a garden without at least a few tomatoes growing. A rich garden will also produce lots of great tasting tomatoes. One of the keys to tomato success in the garden, though, is in knowing when to plant them.

To simply say that this depends on the local climate doesn’t help a great deal, though it is very true. The problem is that climate is the average of the weather. This means that one year can be hotter and drier than normal, while the next may be colder and wetter than average.

To know the best time to plant them, then, it is easiest and best to understand the optimal growing conditions. You can then judge for yourself when the best time to grow them will be, according to your climate and the weather you are having in any given year. For people who have grown tomatoes for years, most of this will come as no surprise, but a few things might stand out as something not before considered.

Most important of all is that tomatoes are not a cool weather crop. Even a mild frost is enough to ‘zap’ an established tomato plant, killing a large number of the leaves and stems. Mild frosts, though, can be combated early in the growing cycle by covering the plant for the night. It isn’t necessary to have anything as elaborate as a greenhouse or cold frame; simply cutting the bottom out of a plastic gallon milk jug and placing this over the young plants can guard against quite a bit of frost damage.

Another consideration, though, is the general health and size of the plant when it is planted. If you plant directly from seed, the ground must be relatively warm and it needs to stay that way. If you plant the seedling plants, the continual warmth isn’t as firm a rule, and the larger the plant, the better its chances of it surviving and flourishing. Many people start the seeds inside, such as in peat pots, while others buy the seedling plants when they are already well established.

Cold and windy weather need to be guarded against in the early year, especially in areas prone to late winter storms.

There is a bit of a misunderstanding, though. Many people think that for the best crop, the tomatoes must go into the ground as early as possible. This isn’t always the case. Tomatoes grow according to three things; soil quality, amount of water, and amount of sunlight. It isn’t unusual to have one person planting tomatoes in April while a neighbor waits until June, yet for the two to have nearly identical crops.

Tomatoes require

There’s a reason why you hear so much about hothouse tomatoes! Quite simply, tomatoes need a warm climate in which to grow.

The best time to plant is after the last danger of frost has passed, typically around the middle of May depending on the climate you live in and how long the growing season is. Tomatoes need full sunlight, heat and water. Peppers require the same amount of sunlight and water, so often you can plant both tomatoes and peppers at the same time.

Tomatoes are classified as fruits, rather than vegetables.

Keep in mind that tomatoes prefer well-drained soil with a PH balance between 6 to 7. Raised beds make ideal places for tomatoes. They can be grown indoors too so long as there is plenty of light. A south facing window is the best place to grow tomatoes indoors.

To get a good yield, you can start them from seed indoors then move them outside after the last frost has passed.

If you don’t wish to grow them from seed, buy young plants at farmer’s markets and plant them in well drained soil in your garden. Mulch and organic compost helps promote growth.

While full sunlight is best, they can grow well next to the side of your house, provided they still get enough sunlight. Reflected sunlight from the siding can help distribute light more evenly. Planting nearest the house also has the advantage of limiting excess water from a particularly rainy summer. Tomatoes need water to develop a strong root system, but they should not be waterlogged. Not enough water leads to a small supply and small fruit.

Because the tomatoes are heavy, the plants need support. Tomato wire cages helps to keep the fruit and leaves off the ground where they could rot.

Once the tomatoes start to grow, work into the soil a little fertilizer a few inches away from the base of the plant and water thoroughly.

Tomatoes ripen quickly. Pick them when they have turned red or about 3/4 of the fruit.

Tomatoes are rich in vitamins A and C, both of which help in cancer prevention. One particular study followed the diets of a thousand people for 5 years and found that the chances of dying from cancer were lowest in those who ate tomatoes and strawberries every day. Low in fat and sodium, they’re rich in potassium which is lacking in most diets.

Once you follow the proper steps, plant at the right time and water when nature doesn’t provide, you can be assured of a good harvest come fall.