One of the most popular vegetables that people want to grow is tomatoes, and everyone dreams of having the ultimate tomato, which is juicy, sweet, aromatic, and unblemished.
Unfortunately, tomatoes are prone to various problems. To have the best possible tomato experience, choose the best varieties and start the plants right.
Here are some easy-to-follow tomato growing tips that will help you get the best from your garden this season.
One of the reasons why tomatoes are the most popular garden vegetable is that they taste so good when they are fresh off the vine.
They are also very warm-weather vegetables, making them an ideal choice for those who are looking to enjoy their garden all season long.
Tomatoes require around 6 to 10 hours of sunlight per day in northern regions, while those in southern areas can benefit from afternoon shade.
When it comes to growing tomatoes from seed, you can start them in March or April.
They should be planted around six to eight weeks before the final cold of the winter, and earlier if you are doing it in a greenhouse.
Start by sprinkling the seed evenly onto a good quality seed compost. Then, cover it with 1.5mm of organic matter and water lightly.
If you are only going to be planting two seeds, you should place them in a 7.5cm pot. Make sure that the compost is moist, but avoid over-watering as wet weather can lead to fungal diseases.
The temperature at which the tomato seeds will germinate is around 21 degrees Celsius. After about 7 to 14 days, remove the smaller plant and prepare the seedlings for the pot.
When they are big enough, place them in the pot and allow them to grow. You should also avoid touching the stems.
Make sure that your plants are protected from draughts, frost, and cold winds, which can kill them.
One of the most important factors that you should consider when it comes to caring for your tomato plants is the amount of water that they need.
This is because, if they are not getting enough water, they will not be able to produce a bountiful harvest.
Some gardeners also leave a few watering cans in their greenhouse to warm up the water.
Some people claim that consistent and precise watering at the same time throughout the day can improve the quality of the tomato crop.
Feed them with a general liquid feed once the first truss has formed and add a high potash feed as the fruit and flowers develop.
As the tomatoes start to ripen, their colors change as they go from vibrant medium green to a lighter shade.
Mature green tomatoes are known as “breakers.” They can be used to make various types of food, such as pickled or pan-fried.
The flavors of these fruits become more complex as they ripen, which is why it is important to wait until they are fully ripe before you eat them.
The exact signs that a properly ripe tomato has are different depending on the variety.
However, in general, they show a deep red color and feel firm when squeezed gently.
Picked tomatoes should be stored at room temperature or in a shady location outside.
They should not be kept refrigerated as temperatures below 55 degrees can break down valuable compounds.
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