How To Grow Potted Tomatoes
We have recently seen how to grow carrots in pots. Following pretty much the same guidelines, we will today look at how to grow potted tomatoes so that, despite the small space on a balcony, to enjoy a small crop that will give us some self-satisfaction. Here are more details on this topic, as seen on Wikihow.com
Use a large pot with drainage holes. Most tomato plants require a 60-liter, 46-centimeter deep pot in order to have adequate room to develop. Some small varieties may fit inside a 30.5-centimeter pot, but the roots will be restricted and your yield may not be very impressive. Sturdy clay pots may look nice, but a pot this large will get very heavy and you will not be able to move it without some strain. As a result, plastic pots with drainage holes and saucers may work best. Make sure you give them a proper clean before planting.
Never use garden soil, which may contain harmful pests and bacteria that can damage tomatoes, which are susceptible to disease. An all-purpose potting soil provides an excellent base, but you can also mix it with equal parts perlite, sphagnum peat moss, and compost to improve drainage and provide additional nutrition. Make sure that any compost you use has been heated to high enough temperatures to kill off potentially harmful organisms. You can use a commercial fertilizer safe for vegetables, or you can mix in organic fertilizing components, including soy meal, blood meal, bone meal, kelp meal, and greensand.
Pour pebbles or river rocks into your saucer. The rocks create air gaps in between the underside of your pot and the surface it sits on, which allows water to drain more thoroughly. Fill your pot 1/3 full with potting mix. For a 60 liter pot, you should cover the bottom 15 to 20 centimeters with soil. Place the tomato plant in the container. Push the stem of the plant into the existing soil, just enough to give it a base of support. Add soil until about half of the stem should be beneath the soil.
Give the tomato plant a thorough watering. Soak it with water once, and then wait another 10 minutes before soaking it again. The soil should be completely saturated, soaking the root, as well. After soaking it so thoroughly, your tomato plant may not need additional watering for an entire week. Set the pot out in a sunny location. Your tomatoes need at least six hours of sun per day in order to grow and eventually produce fruit. As it grows, the plant needs physical support so insert a tomato cage. Keep an eye out for garden pests. If an infestation occurs, use neem oil or a safe-for-humans pesticide to ward off the bugs.
