How do I grow tomatoes?

Question

Im in London and have a small plant. How do I bring it to harvest?

Answer 1

Tomatoes love lots of sun (about 6 hrs a day), and like good air circulation and warm soil. I was in London in summer last year, and it was definitely warm enough for tomatoes to grow. A common mistake is using a pot that's too small. If the container is too small, the plant may topple over, become root bound, dry out or not develop properly (some tomatoes can get really tall too). When a pot is too large, the soil holds water too long, and the plant's roots will rot. Most veggies grow rapidly in a container that holds at least 5 gallons of soil. Every second week, water the tomato plant with a liquid seaweed based fertilizer until they set fruit, then after (using lots of manures and heavy chemicals may give you a thriving plant, but you'll get no fruit). Harvest tomatoes at the "pink shoulders" stage (when they're just starting to ripen) to prevent birds from pecking and to prevent insects from destroying the fruit. To stake without damaging tender stems, wrap cotton ties (or old stockings) around the tomato stake first, then catch the stem with a loop and tie it loosely with a knot or bow behind the stake. Make sure you remove any dead leaves from the plant and the pot (this will minimise any disease risk). Enjoy. Your tastebuds will thank you for it.

Answer 2

They are tropical plants so they need plenty of sun or very good light, warm temperatures and a good soil, water and soil nutrients. If you are somewhat cool over the summer, say around 20 celcius or so, you probably need to put the plant near a south facing wall that would collect heat.

The plants sprawl a bit. Some people tie the stems to poles set next to the plant. Others erect cages with wide hole mesh and let the plants sprawl around inside. The idea is to keep the plant and fruit off the ground to avoid rot. Since you are in London, I'd go for the pole. With soft ties support the plant up the pole or several poles, You'll notice between the main stem and leaves you'll get new little stems. These are suckers. Remove these as they will cast too much shade on your developing fruit. Here in the desert they are most welcome to shade the fruit.

Any flower fertilizer will work for your tomatoe plant providing it does not also contain a fungicide or insecticide. You don't want to be eating that stuff.

Keep the soil evenly moist, Wet/Dry produces splits in the fruit or blossom end rot......which you can ask about later when the fruit appears.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Stick it in a grow bag, water and feed it and let nature take its course. Then with little effort on your part, you will be rewarded with a good harvest of tomatoes.

Answer 4

there's a clean product on the industry that facilitates you to improve them the different way up. many absolutely everyone seems to be employing the tumbler tomatoes in putting baskets, and so on. as far as i'm conscious multi purpose compost is in basic terms fantastic. considerable earnings is that the tomatoes are actually not scuffling with gravity to improve upwards

Answer 5

it depends what type it is there are the bush variety or the taller ones. Usually you take out the side shoots as it grows and as soon as the first flower appears you begin feeding with tomato feed. As it grows you need to support it with a bamboo cane or similar and take out the side shoot continuously so you have one single stem and one growing shoot at the centre. As soon as it gets to the required height for yourself take the growing shoot at the centre out and it will not grow any taller but contunue to remove side shoots. keep feeding and wait for your fruit voila!

Answer 6

they need a sunnyspot but not too hot, they do not like to be too dry or over watered because this can cause the fruit to split, grow them in a large (14'')pot in a rich compost and feed them with tom feed once a week.

Answer 7

you can grow in your back yard or on a bucket you can use the seed from tomato that you like from the market put the seed in the soil and water it then it will grow.

Answer 8

plant it deep and when it grows stake it back and keep it watered