Container gardening is no big mystery! The work, compared to a real cultivated garden, is minimal and the rewards are great. Gone is the back-breaking work of digging, raking, and pulling out the tons of weeds and bermudagrass that continually invade your garden space. Nothing compares to cutting your own fresh tomatoes for your table. Anyone who has tried homegrown tomatoes and then greenhouse grocery store varieties knows that there is a huge difference in quality and flavor between the two.
Then let’s get started! The first thing to find out is the type of tomato you prefer. Do you want the big, slicing tomatoes? Or maybe you prefer meaty Roma tomatoes or flavorful cherry tomatoes for salads! Maybe you would like all three! Whichever type you prefer, your local greenhouse can guide you to the perfect choice.
Next, you’ll need some supplies. The pots or containers should be about 18″ wide, give or take. Large 5-gallon paint buckets work well, even if the diameter is a little less than 18″, because they have depth. You see, if you have more soil, it will dry out less quickly, requiring less watering. If your tomatoes are in smaller pots, they will require more care and water. Regardless of the type of container you use, make sure there are holes in the bottom for drainage purposes. Next you will need some soil. Many common outlet stores have soil that will feed your plants for 3 months or so! Or you can buy a combination of topsoil and compost and mix them together. If you get topsoil or potting soil on its own, you will need to “feed” your plants. There is a wide variety of plant foods or fertilizers; some are specially formulated for tomatoes. Just follow the instructions on the package.
Now you have your containers, your soil and your plants. You are ready to plant! Here’s a tip: If your plants aren’t too big, say 6 or 8 inches tall, place the 3 or 4 inches of stem at the bottom of the plant (the part just above the soil in the small container you plant them in). buy). in) down sideways into a trench and cover with soil. Let the top few inches curve up and stick out. If any leaves are going to be under the ground, remove them. What this will do is add significantly to your root system, thus creating a healthier, more resilient plant. Don’t worry if the part that sticks out curves. It will straighten out on its own in a few days as the plant adjusts to its new position and added root base. If the plants you buy are too big for this, don’t worry. They will still grow and give you delicious tomatoes!
After your plants are established, you want to keep the soil from getting too compact around them. This probably won’t happen anyway, if you buy your flooring. However, if you use soil from your garden that has a lot of clay, it tends to harden, which will prevent water from quickly reaching the root system. A hand digger with teeth is all you need to keep the soil loose.
As the plants grow, you will need to stake them or the branches will become too heavy and will fall, splitting and damaging your plants. Tomato cages are available at local outlet stores (like Walmart, Lowe’s, etc.) or you can make your own out of fencing. As long as the cage surrounds your plant and gives you places to tie down heavy branches with twine, you’ll be fine. Be sure not to tie the twine tightly around the stems; It will get too tight as they grow! It is enough to form a cradle or support with the string that prevents the branches from hanging too much. The twine will need to be adjusted from time to time as the plants grow.
Keep in mind that your investment in bins, cages, and a hand excavator are longer-term investments and should last for several seasons. Your soil will need to be refreshed every spring with additional nutrient-rich soil or fertilizer, and of course you’ll need new plants every year, but other than that, and a little water, your investment should be fairly modest compared to the benefits of having plants. fresh. tomatoes by hand
Tomatoes grow well in full sun. However, if you are in an area where the afternoon sun gets too hot and blisters the tomatoes, you may need to place the containers where they will be in the shade during the hottest hours of summer. The east side of your porch or house works well for this.
Make sure to give your tomatoes enough water. Try not to water them in the hottest hours of the day; early afternoon or early morning is best. Otherwise, the water could blister the tomatoes. It is better to water deeply and a little less often. Shallow water will not reach the entire root system.
Remember that these rules and tips work for bell peppers too (except for positioning them to create a longer root base—I’ve never tried that with bell peppers!).
You now know the basic rules for container gardening vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. It’s not too late this summer; Get your supplies and get going! You’ll be glad you did!