You Can Grow Delicious Tomatoes - It Is Simple!
 (Read 250+ times)
By Piper Cox
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Tomatoes fresh from the garden are darn close to heaven on earth. Supermarket tomatoes don't even start to measure up. Still warm from the sun and matured to perfection. No green tomatoes forced to ripen as they are taken off to the store. Perfect, red, sunripened tomatoes,what could be better?
So, what do you need to grow the perfect tomato? The is really not a lot to it. It just takes a little planning and a few easy tips. For the perfect tomato garden, just follow these easy tips and you will be on your way to enjoying a crop of delectable tomatoes!
Where to Plant
Just like real estate, location is everything for perfect tomatoes. Full sun is best for growing perfect tomatoes. Whether it is a sunny spot in your garden, or a sunny corner of a deck – be sure that your sun worshiping tomatoes get a lot of sunshine!
You don’t need a lot of area to grow tomatoes. You may discover you have enough space to produce a big crop of tomatoes that you can sell at a local farmers market. For those that have a small area, tomatoes are the perfect deck plant as well. Plant them in a container that is well drained and gets plenty of sun. A stake should be put in a container tomato to help it stand straight.
Which Variety?
There are more varieties of tomatoes than you can number! It will be tough to decide which one is the best to plant. Your local garden center or extension office can help you choose the best kind for your area. You generally don't have to be concerned because most tomatoes grow well anyplace, but it is good to have a qualified opinion. Think about planting a few small tomatoes as well. Cherry tomatoes are perfect for salads and just to eat fresh. Small varieties like cherry tomatoes grow great in containers and tucked in corners of your garden. The small red fruit really looks attractive planted amongst marigolds. In addition, the marigolds help to deter bugs from attacking the tomatoes!
Where to Start
Tomatoes need to be protected from frost so unless you plan to use hot caps, don't put them in the ground until you are sure frost danger is over. After the threat of frost is gone, put your tomato plants in the garden or plant them in containers. Most people buy tomato plants from a nursery, but you can start your plants indoors from seed. You will be further ahead on your tomato crop if you put plants in rather than seed directly into the garden. Starting seeds indoors will necessitate you to begin six to eight weeks before it is time to plant them outside. Starting seeds indoors is simple. Just fill a growing tray with a soil mixture made specifically for sprouting seeds and carefully place the seeds into the soil. The soil needs to stay moist, but don't get it soggy. Think of a moist sponge, you know it is wet but you can’t see water standing on it. Within one to two weeks your seeds should begin to sprout. Keep the plants in a sunny window or under a grow light. Once the plants are large enough and the risk of frost is over, plant them in your garden.
Don't Let the Pests Get You!
Tomatoes may be one of the easiest plants to grow, but they still can have some problems with bugs. Perhaps the biggest tomato pest is the hornworm. They like to feed on the underside of the leaves so you won’t really see them on the plant. When you come across one, make sure you kill it by stepping on it. Parasitic wasps can be released in your garden, they will lay their eggs on the worms and then the young larvae will eat the worm Check over your plants often to make sure you don’t get infested with the hornworm.
Some pests can be repelled by just planting other plants next to your tomatoes. Maybe you have seen that people have several rows of marigolds in their gardens. That is because marigolds are a great natural pest repellant.
As you can see, it is simple to grow the perfect tomato. Just follow this simple plan and take pleasure in your yummy crop!
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Author Bio Box: Piper Cox
Piper is a freelance writer who likes spending time with her kids, good food, and the outdoors. She loves to work in the garden with her garden cultivator. She loves nature, music and fitness. She enjoys writing about different subjects such as fitness, gardening, and families.
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