Are your tomato seedlings not growing well or producing few fruits at home? Today, I'm going to teach you how to grow tomatoes that will be full of fruit, and achieve "tomato freedom."
Step 1: Choose the Right Variety
Balcony/Pots:
Choose dwarf cherry tomato varieties, such as Millennium or Cherry Tomatoes. These varieties don’t require a trellis and grow to a height of 30-50 cm. They produce a lot of fruit without taking up too much space!
Ground Planting:
Vining varieties like Provence or Pink Tomatoes are better suited. With a trellis, the vines can grow over 2 meters, and a single plant can yield more than 50 fruits!
Step 2: Germinate Seeds
Soak the seeds in 45°C warm water (comfortable to the touch) for 6-8 hours. Add a drop of dish soap to rub off any surface mucus to improve germination rates.
Place the seeds between damp kitchen paper and in a sealed plastic box, keeping it near a router or yogurt maker. Open the lid for 10 minutes each day for ventilation. After 2 days when the seeds show white, they are ready to plant!
Mix 3 parts leaf mold, 5 parts garden soil, and 2 parts well-rotted sheep manure. Add a handful of perlite for better aeration. After sowing, cover with 0.5 cm of soil and wrap with plastic wrap to maintain humidity. The seeds will sprout in 3-5 days!
Pitfall Tip: After sprouting, ensure they get 4 hours of sunlight daily to avoid leggy seedlings.
Step 3: Planting Time
Northern Regions:
Plant from mid-to-late April to early May. Cover with mulch and a small hoop house until the soil temperature is stable above 15°C. Seedlings should be grown in July, planted in August, and harvested before the first frost!
Southern Regions:
Plant from late February to March, using shade nets to prevent cold snaps. For heat-tolerant varieties, plant in September to October to avoid damage from high temperatures.
Step 4: Pruning and Training
Only leave the main stem and trim off all side shoots once they reach 5 cm. You can also use the side shoots for propagation. After 4-5 clusters of fruits, pinch off the top 2-3 leaves above the highest fruit cluster to prevent the plant from growing uncontrollably.
Step 5: Water and Fertilizer Management
Seedling Stage:
Keep the soil slightly moist. Too much water can cause leggy growth! Water once a week with diluted well-rotted cake fertilizer to promote root development.
Flowering Stage:
Spray a 0.2% borax solution on the leaves to increase fruit set. After the first flowers appear, control watering to prevent flowers from falling.
Fruit Set Stage:
Apply high-potassium water-soluble fertilizer once a week. Add a handful of bone meal during the fruit enlargement stage for larger and sweeter fruits!
Watering:
Water in the morning and evening on sunny days, and avoid watering on rainy days. During the fruiting period, when the plant needs more water, water thoroughly when the soil surface turns white.
Step 6: Pest and Disease Control
Use yellow sticky boards to trap aphids and whiteflies. Set up insect nets to protect against fruit flies and cabbage caterpillars.
Spray a 1:500 solution of baking soda to prevent powdery mildew. If you find red spider mites, spray diluted neem oil (10 times dilution) as it is natural and harmless.
Emergency Solutions:
Curled and Yellowing Leaves: This is a magnesium deficiency! Spray with a 0.5% magnesium sulfate solution.
Blossom End Rot: This is a calcium deficiency! Spray with calcium nitrate solution on the leaves.
By following these steps, you can grow tomatoes that are full of fruit, even at home. Enjoy your "tomato freedom"!
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