Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Growing tomatoes as house plants then will move to garden advice please?

had a couple of plants in garden with small success


would like to do a better job this year


advice???

Growing tomatoes as house plants then will move to garden advice please?
Plant them outside when the danger of frost is passed.
Reply:did you know that planting poppies around tomatoes keeps aphids away i use poppies wherever i can to deter aphids Report Abuse

Reply:Tomatoes need light and warmth. They grow really fast with these conditions met. Try to add compost to the area. I use wooden stakes to tie my plants up and I have so many 'maters, that I give half away. The neighbors love me. Oh yeah, so do the squirrels. And the raccoons, too
Reply:If you have a good south facing window you will have no problem growing seedlings indoors I lack windowsill space but I do this with some plants. However when it is brighter and warmer in a sunny spot in the garden things don't need much encouragement. Keep out of wind chill to avoid light frost in extreme frost cover with fleece or old net curtain.
Reply:Bomber knows.
Reply:Once they have grown as seedling - in plant pots 3 in each , max, on window sill in sealed freezer bags ( heat and humidity) they need to be about 20 cm in height and then you can GRADUALLY harden them off by moving them away from heat and into slightly cooler area. You need to be sure of no frost. I tend to use grow bags and cut off coke bottles as clouches. I also use newspaper pots that I make myself. You can then plant them in these and they will degrade in siol and you will not damage roots. Handle tem very delicatley and 'tease'roots apart.


Remember to use tomato rite and I use the ash from the fire in water for extra nutrients and sweetened delicate skins. (my grandads tip!) If you do not water them regularly then give them extra water the skins will split.


In the greenhouse I use Hyroponics, third year of experimenting with this.





Good luck.





PS greta recipe, tom thimb toms sliced in half, chunky chopped free range boiled eggs, mixed with french dressing. Eat with french crusty bread and red wine, delicious!
Reply:The following simple advice might help avoid some common pitfalls of growing tomatoes in the backyard





First, home gardeners should not grow tomatoes unless the plants can be placed in an area that receives sunlight for at least six hours a day. Tomato plants placed between tall shrubs, under trees, or between buildings simply will not produce maximum yields.





Second, good soil is essential for good growth and high yields. Often, poor soil can be improved with liberal amounts of organic matter and by proper fertilization. A dark, heavy clay or even a fine sand can be improved by working 3 to 4 inches of decomposed organic matter into the soil where the tomatoes are to be planted.





If only a few tomato plants are to be grown, a space at least 2 feet square should be prepared for each plant. The soil should be worked to a depth of at least 12 inches. Raised beds work well. Liberal amounts of organic matter and a small amount of fertilizer, such as 10-20-10 or 12-24-12, should be mixed into the soil where the plant is to be grown.





Variety selection is of utmost importance and is one of the keys to growing tomatoes successfully. Select varieties that resist many of the common diseases. Look for VFN after a variety name; this indicates that it has resistance to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, and nematodes.





'President', 'Celebrity', 'Big Boy', 'Champion' (a good warm-weather producer), or the small-fruited 'Sweet 100' are top producers in my experience. The new varieties 'Donna', 'First Lady', and 'Viva Italia' (a paste type) also show promise. Other old-time favorites exist and may also perform well.





Plants can be started at home, although at this time in the season here in South Texas where I am it is best to purchase transplants at local nurseries. When buying plants, the home gardener should look for healthy, vigorous transplants. When the transplants are set in the garden, use a starter solution to assure adequate fertility during the early stages of growth. Starter solutions can be purchased at local garden centers, or they can be made by mixing one tablespoon of a complete garden fertilizer in a gallon of water. About one cup of the starter solution should be applied in the planting hole prior to planting.





For best results, the transplants should be set in the garden on cloudy days or late in the afternoon. The plants should be protected from adverse conditions such as high winds or cold temperatures for a week or so after transplanting. Cages, wrapped in row-cover fabric, can be used to control temperatures for a week or so after transplanting. Covering the plants with milk cartons also works well.





Almost all tomato varieties should be staked, trellised, or caged for best results. Any method is good if it keeps the fruit off the ground. Fruits allowed to contact the soil often develop fruit rot. People who would like to grow tomatoes but lack the space should try growing them in a five-gallon container. 'Better Bush' is a short, stocky variety well adapted to container growing.
Reply:they have a pretty bad smell so i woulden't grow them indoors.


buy some grow bags there really cheap and some canes


the instructions are on the bags,


get the plants from garden centre and off you go,


No comments:

Post a Comment