There is nothing tastier than homemade juicy and incredibly aromatic tomatoes. However, not all of us can indulge ourselves with tomato grown on our own bed. However, they do not necessarily grow only in the garden plots.
For this entertaining and useful business, an ordinary window sill is also perfect. Many people do not know about it and believe that it is possible to grow a full-fledged vegetable only in the garden on the site. But do not despair those who do not have a garden, in this article you will learn how to grow tomatoes on your windowsill in a regular pot.
Description of the method
People resort to this method in the winter, when they want to eat fresh and at the same time more fragrant and tasty, and most importantly a useful vegetable, because it is not processed with chemicals.
The best choice - undersized varieties. When grown in the open field, tomato bushes can grow up to 25-35 centimeters, but room plants grow up to 40-50 centimeters. The stem of these tomatoes is very strong and does not need tying. They have compact bushes and a decorative look. The fruits on such bushes are small but very tasty.. It is due to the small size, the fruit grows quite a lot.
Pros and cons of the garden above the ground
Before you start growing potted tomatoes, you should learn about the advantages and disadvantages of this method.
Benefits:
- savings on the purchase;
- ease of growing and care;
- the possibility of growing all year round;
- an abundance of green in the room that calms the nerves and relieves stress;
- positive emotions for those who like to work in the land.
Disadvantages:
- the smell of tomato tops can cause migraine;
- high humidity in the room;
- possible occurrence of harmful bacteria in the disease of the plant;
- lack of lighting in the room due to the height of the bushes.
Training
Tanks
Good development and condition of the plant and its roots, and later on the quality of the fruit, depends on the proper selection of the capacity for planting.
Each bush needs a separate pot. The volume of such a pot must be at least 5 liters. But for more stunted varieties, a three or four liter pot may be suitable. It must also be wide and have a cylindrical shape in order for the roots to fit freely in it. Of great importance is the width, not the depth of the tank. In such a tank should be drainage holes to avoid stagnant water.
When choosing a container for planting tomatoes, pay attention to the material from which it is made. It is best to choose pots that will not heat up quickly, for example, clay or ceramic. If your choice fell on a plastic pot, then it is better to choose a white or light shade so that it does not attract a lot of sun.
Selection of tomato seeds
It is very serious to choose planting seeds. Seeds should be large and whole, without stains and darkening.
For growing in pots on window sills are suitable for stunted varieties. The choice of grade depends on the size of the window sill on which they will grow.
For windowsill
A small window sill fit small dwarf varieties of tomatoes.
Minibel
Up to 30 cm high, compact clusters of 8-10 fruits each weighing 20-40 grams. Tomatoes are incredibly tasty and juicy.
Florida Petite
A bush 30 cm high, bright red shade sweet tomatoes weighing 30-40 grams. One bunch has 15-20 fruits.
Balcony miracle
Early homemade variety with pink tomatoes weighing 20-30 grams. Harvest after 80 days.
We offer to watch a video about Tomat Balcony miracle:
Balcony red
The height of the bush about 30 cmOn which small bright red, sweet and fragrant fruits.
We offer to watch a video about a balcony red tomato:
Bonsai
The yield from one 30 cm bush - 500-600 grams of small red tomatoes. Despite the size of the tomatoes are very tasty.
We offer to watch a video about Tomat Bonsai:
Micro bonsai
Bush 15 cm, on which fragrant tiny fruits.
Pinocchio
The best variety for home cultivation in pots. Pinocchio is unpretentious and grows well.
We offer to watch a video about Tomate Pinocchio:
For balcony
For a wider insulated, with a large area to accommodate pots, varieties of larger tomatoes are suitable:
Balconi Yellow
The bush grows up to 45-50 cm. fruits sweet and sour, yellow.
Pearl Red and Yellow
Height up to 50 cm. Has sweet fruit weighing 50 grams.
Hermitage
The weight of these tomatoes can reach 100 grams.
Native
Early variety with large fruits crimson color up to 180 grams.
Igranda
Variety with round, fleshy bright red tomatoes up to 150 grams in weight.
Russian troika
A bush 60 cm high, fruits very large, fragrant up to 300 grams.
To select the right variety of tomatoes for growing it is for you, you need to plant several varieties and look at their behavior during growth.
The soil
Soil can be purchased at a special store or prepare yourself. It is better to stay on the ground that you prepare yourself. It is necessary to take in equal parts black soil, sand and peat. Also this composition is enriched with minerals. Sifted charcoal is best. Pre-disinfect the soil by pouring boiling water over it.
If you decide to buy ready-made soil, then stop at the "Universal" soil.
Landing
Planting a tomato involves several important steps.
Seed disinfection
This procedure is carried out for the prevention of late blight. Seeds are soaked for 20 minutes in a weak manganese solution.. Further, to improve the germination of seeds is placed for 10-12 hours in a growth stimulator.
Read more about how to process tomato seeds before sowing, in our material.
Germination
Seeds selected for cultivation should be placed in a small bowl and cover with moistened gauze. Then they are sent to heat for 3-4 days. At the expiration of the time the seeds appear small roots. After that, choose a place for planting.
Container and soil composition
The best option for growing - plastic or peat capacity volume up to 200 ml. Use of small pallets is possible.
The tank must be filled with soil. It is recommended to use such mixtures:
- An earth mixture of 45% black soil, 5% sand and 50% humus is pretreated with manganese. It is important that it is not clay.
- A mixture of 5 parts of soil and humus, and 1 part of sand and peat.
Urea (8-10 g per bucket), wood ash (1-2 cups), superphosphate (40 g) and potash fertilizers (40 g) are added to this mixture. Then it is well mixed and distributed in containers.
Landing
Place the seeds in small depressions at a distance of 2 cm and a depth of 1-1.5 cm. Moisten the ground before sowing. After sowing seeds in the ground, containers with them covered with glass or film.
The containers are stored in a warm place with a temperature of + 25 ... +30 degrees until germination.
Picking
After the appearance of the first shoots, the containers are transferred to a place with a daytime temperature of +22 ... +25 degrees, and at night - +15 ... +17.
After the appearance of at least two leaves, tomatoes dive and planted in a permanent place. Learn more about growing seedlings of tomatoes from seeds without picking here.
Care and watering
Watering depending on age and season will be different. During the first month, the soil should be watered moderately every day or every other day. Further watering is less common, but more abundant. Since the appearance of the ovary, the drying out of the soil is unacceptable. Water for irrigation should be at room temperature + 20-25 degrees. The soil should be wet, not washed away.
It is best to water in the evening. In the daytime it is better to water through the pan. Do not water the tomatoes on particularly sunny days. On hot days, spraying helps. In hot periods, it is better to pour, and in the winter, on the contrary, to underfill.
Lighting
This moment is also worth paying a lot of attention, because tomatoes are very demanding of light.
It is worth growing on the south or southeast side. In case of insufficient lighting, it is necessary to additionally highlight the bushes.
In order for the bushes to receive uniform illumination, turn them to the other side towards the light every 2 days.
On cloudy or winter days, be sure to arrange additional lighting.. To do this, use a lamp with white or daylight, which can be located close to the bushes.
Top dressing
For fertilizing use organic fertilizers. In order not to spoil the crop do not use chemicals. It is also well suited to mixed in water rotted manure. To do this, 2 tablespoons of manure diluted in 1 liter of water. You can also feed the ashes. Take 1 teaspoon of ash per 1 liter of liquid.
Masking
In the leafy sinuses may appear additional stems, which are called stepchildren. For a good harvest stepsons must be removed from the bush. They do this when it grows from 1 to 3 cm. It is simply broken off by hand. No need to cut, as this can lead to infection.
It is also possible the appearance of yellowed or damaged leaves, which are also removed.
Props
Legs and tying are not necessary for low-growing tomato varieties. To others, they are simply necessary.
Pegs are best for support. To do this, when planting tomatoes, a peg 50-60 cm long (above the ground) is instilled into the ground. When the need arises, the plant can easily be tied to this peg. If the peg is not dug in immediately, but do it when the bush grows, then the root system can be damaged.
For tying, use a nylon stocking or a strip of flannel fabric. Do this very carefully, without placing a node on the plant.
What result should be expected?
With the right care, you get a good harvest. juicy, fragrant and very tasty tomatoes.
No need to leave the fruit to full maturity. They must be harvested in the immature form.
Common Errors
- Excess moisture and humidity in the room.
- Draft indoors.
- Fertilizer oversupply.
- Lack of room for growth.
- Lack of light.
- The lack of nutrients in the soil.
All these errors can lead to diseases, wilt and death of bushes, as well as affect the quality of the crop.
