Yes its that time again, time to get ready and start to plant one of the most popular plants in a home vegetable garden. Tomatoes are actually quite easy to grow and they come in hundreds of colors and shapes depending on the variety.
The days to harvest depends upon the variety of tomato and of course the climate that you live in is an important factor. Very small types of tomatoes such as the cherry and grape tomato will usually mature and be ready for harvest in as little as 45 days, while other varieties generally take up to 90 days to reach maturity and begin to ripen.
If you like getting an early jump on your vegetable garden, its never to early, especially if you are starting from seeds. If you choose to start your tomatoes from seeds, remember not to plant them to close together, it will inhibit their growth. Make sure that they have room to branch out and when they start to get their first leaves, transplant them into pots as soon as possible.
Keep the young seedlings in plenty of direct sunlight if possible, if not, then the use of Grow Lights for a minimum of 14 hours per day will do just as well. Tomatoes love a breeze, so an oscillating fan turned on low for about 5 to 10 minutes a day will give them the breeze the need. The swaying will help them to develop strong stems and remember they are still small so a gentle breeze is all they need.
After the danger of a late frost has passed and you have readied your vegetable garden for planting, then its time to take them outside to be transplanted into your vegetable garden. Be sure that the ground temperature is warm because tomatoes love heat and the ground needs have a certain degree of warmth. As you plant them, plant them deep and put your tomato cages around your plants then to allow them to grow up into the cage and when they have reached about 3 feet tall, remove the bottom leaves. The bottom leaves get the least amount of sunlight and they usually pick up fungus problems and soil born diseases.
Water your plants regularly, especially when they are developing, you will need to gently pinch the suckers off (tiny stems that develop between two branches), because they don’t produce any fruit but they will take energy away from a thriving plant. As your fruit begins to develop, thin the leaves of your plants to allow sunlight to reach the tomatoes as they begin ripening. Harvest your tomatoes when they are fully colored and just beginning to soften, and with just a slight tug they will pull easily from the vine.
