Fresh and crunchy tomatoes are the type of tomato favored by potted gardeners. Tomatoes need a large pot to grow, and usually require a support in the form of a tomato cage or other type of support for the plant to grow optimally. Some additional precautions, such as installing insect repellent nets and shade cloth, can help tomato plants to survive the extreme conditions. Follow the steps in this article for great results.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preparation
Step 1. Prepare a healthy tomato plant
Most varieties of tomatoes can be grown in pots, but the larger varieties require a larger container. Tomato plants are also easier to grow if grown from seeds, not from seeds.
Step 2. Use a large pot with drainage holes
Most tomato plants need a 60 liter pot, about 50 centimeters high to give them enough room to grow. Some of the smaller varieties of tomatoes may be able to be grown in pots measuring 30 centimeters, but root development will be limited and yields will not be very large.
Step 3. Pay attention to the material of the pot
A pot made of earth may look beautiful, but a large pot is very heavy and difficult to move without a lot of effort. Therefore, the best option is probably a plastic pot equipped with a drainage perforated bottom.
Step 4. Clean your pot
This is a very important step if the pot has been used for other plants as there may be bacteria or small insect eggs left in it. You should at least wash the pot with soap and hot water. You can also use a little bleach for better results.
Step 5. Prepare the planting medium for the pot
Do not use garden soil as it can contain harmful pests and bacteria that can damage tomatoes and make plants susceptible to disease. All-purpose potting soil is a great growing medium, but you can also mix it with perlite, sphagnum peat moss, and compost to improve drainage and provide additional nutrients. Make sure the compost used has been heated to a high temperature to kill any harmful organisms in it.
Step 6. Mix the fertilizer into the planting medium
You can use factory-made fertilizers that are safe for vegetables, or you can mix several components of organic fertilizers, such as soy flour, blood meal (from animal blood), bone meal, kelp flour, and greensand (a type of sand).
You can buy organic fertilizer components on the internet. Some of the more common types, such as bone meal and blood meal, can usually be found in gardening and construction stores, as well as at plant seed vendors. Animal feed stores that sell fodder usually also provide some organic components, such as kelp flour
Method 2 of 3: Early Planting and Care
Step 1. Place the fiberglass mesh on the bottom of the pot
Cut the gauze to match the size and shape of the bottom of the pot. This gauze serves to prevent the soil from falling out along with the flow of water so it does not contaminate the area under the pot.
Step 2. Sprinkle pebbles or river stones into the bottom of the pot
The rocks create an air gap between the bottom of the pot and the surface where the pot is attached so that water can flow more easily.
Step 3. Put the planting medium into the pot until 1/3 full
For a pot measuring 60 liters, it means that you have to put the planting media into a pot that is 15 to 20 centimeters high.
Step 4. Put the tomato plant in the pot
Push the stems of the plant into the soil, just enough for the plant to stand.
Step 5. Add planting media around the plant
Compact the soil around the plant stems when you add the planting medium, so that the soil fills the inside of the pot tightly and doesn't shift. When you've done this, about half of the plant stem should be covered with soil.
Step 6. Water the tomato plants evenly
Wet with water once, then wait 10 minutes before watering again. The soil should be completely wet, and the roots should also be submerged in water.
Once you've watered them thoroughly, your tomato plants may not need to be watered again for a week. Watering tomato plants continuously can actually damage them
Step 7. Place the pot in a location that gets sunlight
Tomatoes need at least 6 hours of sunlight per day to grow and eventually produce fruit.
Step 8. Fill the remaining pots with planting medium when the tomato plants get bigger
Prune the leaves that are on the stems of the plant before you add additional planting media. Compact the soil around the stem as described in the previous section. Adding soil to the pot as the tomato plant grows will help build root mass.
Continue to fill the pot with planting medium until it is near the top of the pot, leaving about 2 to 2.5 cm of free space between the soil surface and the top edge of the pot
Method 3 of 3: Daily Maintenance, Sustaining and Harvesting
Step 1. Install the tomato cage when the pot is filled with soil
Carefully bury the bottom of the cage into the soil, surrounding the tomato plant. Stop pushing when the cage is firmly planted. When the cage feels difficult to push down, pause, then adjust the cage position before continuing. Pushing the cage carelessly can damage plant roots.
Step 2. Place a nylon net around the tomato cage
It serves as a deterrent to insects such as tomato caterpillars and stink bugs. Place the net around the cage, and attach the net to the cage using strong clamps.
Step 3. Water the tomato plant as needed to keep the soil moist
However, don't let the soil get too wet, as too much water can soak the roots and cause them to rot. When the weather is hot and dry, you may need to water once a day.
Step 4. Place the tomato plant in a location that gets a lot of sunlight
This plant requires a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight a day, especially in late spring and early summer when temperatures are still warm (in the four seasons region).
Step 5. Provide shade when the weather is very hot
Sunlight and very hot weather can heat up your pot and cause the soil to dry out. Attach the shade of fabric to the bottom of the cage using tweezers. Shade from this cloth should be installed starting from the top of the pot with a height of 30 cm.
Step 6. Cover the potting soil with mulch
Mulching is another technique to keep the planting medium from drying out quickly. Spread a small amount of mulch over the planting medium and around the plant stems.
Step 7. Fertilize tomato plants once a week, starting in the sixth week
Apply a water-soluble fertilizer after you water it in the morning. Follow the directions for use on the fertilizer package.
Step 8. Watch for garden pests
Even if you've used a net, it's still possible for some pests, such as flies and aphids, to get through. If your plants are attacked by pests, use neem oil or pesticides that are safe for humans to deal with them.
Step 9. Harvest your tomatoes one by one when they turn red
The color of the fruit should be red, with only a hint of green left. Ripe tomatoes can be picked by hand or cut from the branches.
Tips
- Most tomato varieties can survive if grown in pots. For novice gardeners, cherry tomatoes are an easy variety to care for. However, you do not have to grow this type of tomato. Choose and grow your favorite tomato variety. Alternatively, you can also plant several different varieties in separate pots so you can harvest different types of tomatoes.
- The best time to plant tomatoes is when the weather is warm.
Warning
- Always wash tomatoes after you harvest them. This will remove any residual chemicals, dirt, and bacteria that may have stuck to the surface of the tomatoes.
- Be careful with the chemicals you spray on tomato plants. Many chemical fertilizers and pesticides are not safe for consumption, and should not be used on fruit and vegetable crops. Before choosing a product, read the packaging carefully to find out whether the product is safe to use or not.
