What with biotechnologically engineered crops, cereals, fruits and vegetables, many of us have forgotten the flavor of home grown vegetables from Granny’s backyard. The other day I chanced to drink home grown tomato juice at my friend’s estate in the naturally beautiful and fertile lands of the Western Ghats. The pure and fresh juice made me admire Mother Nature’s ability to nurture her flora and fauna in a way that only she can. So folks, here are some handy tips on how to grow tomatoes at home:
Visit the local horticulture shop to buy tomato seeds from a reputed brand. Some have ready tomato saplings that can be effectively transplanted keeping the climatic conditions of your place in mind. There are two types of tomatoes, one the juicy red fruit ideal for soups and curries and the other is the fleshy red one used in salads and dressings. Choice is entirely yours.
Tomato seeds need a little more finesse in nurturing them into healthy saplings. The tomato plant thrives well in rich well drained soil. Sow the seeds at a depth of just 5-6 mm below the soil and half a meter apart if it is a bed. One gallon pot can easily hold fifteen to twenty tomato plants. Extra care should be taken to see that you do not water it extensively till it grows into a healthy sapling. Ideal amount of water would be just enough to keep the soil wet. Alternate days too should suffice till they attain a decent height.
The tomato plant starts blooming roughly within 5-6 days after the sapling surfaces. It requires sufficient sunlight, a minimum of four –six hours per day. In fact the tomato plant cannot thrive in cold temperatures. Once the plant is firmly rooted, give it a booster fertilizer. In fact all the peelings of vegetables and fruits act as very good compost manure along with a shot of some well known brand. In fact, you can effectively use all the uncooked kitchen waste to get juicy red tomatoes. The tomato plant needs a lot of manure and fertilizer to give an impressive yield.
If you want to go the extra mile in getting lovely red tomatoes, you can cover the soil with a protective material such as a thin plastic shield. This is known as mulching. Mulching serves the dual purpose of retaining moisture in the soil and keeping weeds at bay. The tomato plant does not require pruning though. The tomatoes appear anywhere between 50 to 80 days of sowing the seeds or the sapling. Care should be taken to give equal attention till the plant bears fruits!!
The tomatoes are now ready to be plucked, savored and dressed in any which way that pleases your taste buds!! Once you have tasted home grown tomatoes, you become their fans for life!! Now go ahead, try it out and invite your friends over for a sumptuous gourmet of juicy red home grown tomatoes!!
While buying the salings, choose small healthy saplings having four to six leaves.
Comments
I grow tomatoes in grocery sacks
It is a very interesting article with a lot of useful information. I usually practice growing tomatoes in my balcony and used to get almost my requirements barring a few months when I start a new planting. Its a lot of fun and rewarding. More than the amount of tomatoes, I like the taste of home grown tomatoes. View my experience of growing tomatoes at http://purnimamoh1982.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Grow-Tomatoes-in-your-Balc...
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