No need to have a garden to make good crops of tomatoes: they also adapt very well to a pot growing. Here are some practical tips for planting and caring for them.
Conditions for successful planting
Before you begin, make sure the conditions are right for your tomato plant to thrive. Is your balcony well lit? Tomatoes need heat and sun! Then get started with the choice of material:
- To successfully plant potted tomatoes, you need to start by choosing the right one… your pot! The size should be adapted to the variety of your tomato plant. It must be large enough, the root system of the tomato is highly developed: at least 40 cm in all directions for a classic tomato plant. Smart gardening tells us that the choice of materials is also important: to save water, avoid terracotta, which is porous. Finally, the pot will have to be pierced at the bottom so that the water does not stagnate, which would have the effect of suffocating the plant.
- The choice of substrate: the tomato is very voracious in nutrients. It is recommended to mix potting soil with garden soil if possible. You can supplement with compost.
the plantation
Once equipped, here is the procedure to follow:
- Arrange small pebbles on the holes of the pot. Then fill the bottom of the pot with a layer of gravel or clay granules.
- Place the root ball of your tomato plant in a container filled with room temperature water. This allows the roots to be hydrated, an important condition for the success of your plantation.
- Fill 2/3 of the pot with your substrate.
- Plant your root ball: the collar of the plant should be about 3 cm from the top of the pot.
- Fill the voids with your substrate, then water thoroughly.
The interview
Seeds and plants recommends watering very regularly: in pots, the soil dries quickly. Without being soggy, it should always be wet. A tip: Mulch the surface of the pot to maintain freshness. You can also provide a saucer to place under the pot, so that your plant always has enough water.
Do not hesitate to regularly adjust your plantation: the frequency prevails over the quantity. It is recommended to bring a little fertilizer every 15 days.
As the plant grows, it will be necessary to make a sturdy pole.
Finally, you can prune the “greedy”, these secondary branches that consume some of the plant’s resources. If demand divides gardeners, it’s because the operation is a balancing act: enough leaves must be left for good plant health.
Finally, don’t forget… to taste!