Imagine life without tomatoes?

 

 

You can’t? Well, then take to growing tomatoes in your own yard because if you love tomatoes, you’re bound to love homegrown tomatoes a lot more! Growing tomato plants isn’t hard. In fact, I find it easier than making palatable tomato soup! Here’s some useful information to help you get started.

Tomato plants perform best in sunny locations that offer rich soil, with a ph of 6.0 to 7.0. For areas subject to strong winds, it’s advisable to pick a planting site that offers shelter to your plants. If you plan on growing tomatoes from seed, I’d recommend starting seeds at least 6-8 weeks before the first frost free date for your region. This will offer ample time for the plants to get strong enough to be transplanted outdoors in spring. For details regarding the right temperature conditions, planting depth and irrigation, refer the instructions on the seed package. Once the plants are strong enough, harden them by allowing them some time out in the garden. Place the containers in a sheltered part of your garden for a couple of hours to begin with. Gradually add to the time that the plants spend outdoors over a period of 8-10 days.

Amend the soil at the planting site by incorporating good quantities of organic compost or peat moss. Once the night temperatures rise up to 50 degrees F, you can plant tomato plants outdoors. Set tomato plants at a distance of 12-18 inches from each other. Water your plants regularly, making sure they receive at least 1-2 inches of water every week. A 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch is one of the simplest ways of keeping away the weeds and retaining moisture for the plants’ growth.

Growing tomatoes is a great way of fulfilling the needs of everyday consumption. That’s right! A little effort, some care and you won’t have to shop tomatoes at the market anymore. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? So start growing tomatoes now!