How to grow tomatoes all year round at home?

Tomatoes all year round are no longer a wonder. But if not from a supermarket package, but from a windowsill in your own apartment, this is exclusive. Juicy, ripe, sweet and, most importantly, environmentally friendly fruits on your table will delight the whole family. At the same time - no expenses, neither money, nor time. This review provides a description and characteristics of the best varieties of potted tomatoes.

Tomatoes on the windowsill: is it real?

Thanks to the efforts of breeders, many different hybrid varieties of tomatoes have appeared, unpretentious, but very productive, which easy to grow on a windowsill at home in an ordinary flower pot... By maintaining a suitable microclimate for tomato growth, you can pamper yourself with the unique taste of homemade tomatoes in winter.

Growing a tomato on a windowsill

As the ripening time of various early ripening varieties varies from 90 to 110 days, it is easy to calculate the date of planting seeds so that fragrant fresh tomatoes ripen to the New Year's table. The main thing is to choose the right variety that meets all your wishes. You will be able to harvest a large crop from a limited area at any time of the year.

The best indoor varieties for a mini-garden at home

For a window bed of tomatoes, standard and ampel varieties are suitable. They develop in height no more than 35-45 cm, do not branch, which means that they do not need to be tied up. Many hybrids are adaptable to short daylight hours and lack of sunlight, good resistance to the most common diseases (black leg, leaf mold).

From neat small bushes, you will receive 1-2 kg of fruit per season.... If planted in batches in several bushes with an interval of 20-30 days, you can provide yourself with vitamins for the whole winter. In addition, indoor tomatoes have excellent taste and a higher content of sugar and vitamins in the pulp (compared to ordinary ones).

The best standard hybrids for growing on a window at home are:

Balcony miracle

Tomato Balcony Miracle

Forms standard bushes about 0.5 m high, tolerates a lack of light well, fruits are round, red, weighing 70-100 g, with a high sugar content. Tomato Balcony miracle begins to bear fruit within 80 days after germination.

Micron NK

Tomato Micron NK

The smallest of the known varieties, the height of the bush barely reaches 15 cm, sweet fruits of red or bright yellow color, weighing 10-12 g, ripening period 100-110 days. This variety is more decorative and does not depend at all on the length of daylight hours.

Pinocchio

Tomato Pinocchio

Compact bushes, one of the best indoor tomatoes, sweet, round fruits, weight - up to 20 g. You can grow it in the garden in the summer, and in the fall, transplant it into pots, bring it home. And if you sow the seeds after September 20, you will harvest the first harvest by the New Year. Pinocchio is mid-season, ripens in 105-115 days.

Bonsai

Tomato Bonsai

Early ripening variety (matures in 85 days), unpretentious to light, the yield is not the highest - 0.5 kg, but the fruits are very tasty and sweet;

Bunch of honey

Tomato Honey Bunch

Early ripening standard bush with a dense crown, height - 40 cm, fruits are sweet, juicy, yellow. Differs in high productivity.

There are a lot of indoor and balcony varieties, and they all enjoy well-deserved popularity: Cherripals F1, Balconies Elo, Pearl yellow, Bonsai micro, F1 Balcony red, Indoor surprise, etc. A unique feature is that they can grow for more than one season. Dried bushes can be left in pots, watered occasionally, and after a while green leaves will begin to appear again. Tomatoes can grow like this for up to 5 years, but the yield will decrease. The bushes bear fruit most abundantly in the first 2-3 years.

Proper seed preparation for planting at home

The principle of growing a tomato at home is no different from growing in a garden: first we get seedlings from the seeds, then we dive them into the pots to a permanent place. In advance, you should worry about preparing for planting seeds and soil.

It is better to buy seeds in specialized stores to be sure of the quality and compliance with the variety indicated on the package.

But nevertheless, before planting, it is better to check again and sort out full-fledged grains from empty ones. To do this, dip them in salted water for 10 minutes (1 teaspoon per 200 g of water). Semi-dried or empty seeds will float, and healthy, full-fledged seeds will sink to the bottom. They need to be soaked for 20-30 minutes in a manganese solution, to protect future plants from late blight.

Manganese solution preparation

To accelerate the germination of seeds for a couple of days, you can put them in a damp cloth for "pecking". Tomato seeds prepared in this way are sown in a container for seedlings in moistened soil to a depth of 1 cm and at a distance of 3 cm from each other. After that, the soil is lightly tamped, covered with plastic wrap and removed to a warm place until shoots appear. The film must be chopped in several places so that excess moisture does not accumulate under it, as this can cause seedling diseases. It is desirable to maintain the daytime temperature + 22-25 degrees, the nighttime - + 15-17.

After about a week, the first leaves (false) appear, the temperature at this time is lowered to 20 degrees and the room is occasionally ventilated. It is also necessary to monitor the humidity - do not overdry, but also do not overmoisten, so that the seedlings do not get sick with a "black leg".

After 7-10 days, you can observe the first shoots of the tomato

You can prepare the soil yourself or buy a ready-made substrate. For healthy plant growth and a good harvest, the following mixture is most suitable:

• the soil itself must be from 50% humus, 45% black soil, 5% sand;
• to enrich 1 glass of wood ash is added to one bucket of soil, 1 matchbox of superphosphate, potassium sulfate, urea.

Fill containers with this mixture - plastic cups with drainage holes or wooden boxes with pallets 10-12 cm high.

Transplanting tomato seedlings and further care

After 2-3 true leaves appear on the seedlings, it is necessary to pick the seedlings, i.e. you need to choose the strongest and most developed sprouts and plant them in pots or other containers specially prepared for this. The container size should be 8-10 liters, for the smallest decorative varieties of tomatoes, you can take a container of 4-5 liters. In the process of caring for plants, you need to follow the elementary rules and technologies of agricultural technology:

For growing indoor tomatoes in winter, choose containers with a volume of 2 liters (for dwarf varieties), 4 liters (for medium-sized varieties) or 5 liters (for ampelous plants)

• Lighting. Tomato pots are placed on the windowsills on the south side. Once every two days, they are turned 180 degrees so that the plant is even and does not lean towards the sunny side. In cloudy weather, as well as in the mornings and evenings, it is necessary to provide plants with additional lighting - phytolamp or even ordinary electric lamps (except for those varieties whose growth does not depend on the length of daylight hours).

With a lack of sunlight for indoor tomatoes, additional lighting is equipped

• Watering. Indoor tomatoes are very sensitive to watering. Regular moistening of the soil promotes good growth, ovary formation and fruit ripening. Lack of moisture will lead to the falling of the fruit, but the excess of it leads to the spread of various diseases - rot, late blight, fungal infections. You need to water 2 times a week, in moderation and not watering the stems. With the beginning of flowering, watering must be stopped and resumed with the appearance of ovaries.
• Top dressing of tomatoes. Three weeks after the dive of the seedlings and then every 10-15 days, we fertilize the plants with special mineral and organic fertilizers, which we apply to the moist soil on the second day after watering.
• Tying whips. Low standard bushes with a stable trunk usually do not need support. The branches of medium-sized tomatoes are tied to pegs, which are stuck into the ground, trying not to damage the root system.

As they grow, the stalks of the tomatoes are tied to pegs.

• Stealing. It is imperative to carry out pinching, i.e. removal of “stepchildren” shoots in the leaf axils throughout the entire growth of plants for its correct formation. Stepsons thicken the plant, take away nutrients, and reduce the yield of tomatoes.

After the formation of the main ovaries, it is also necessary to rip off the top.

• Pollination. Indoor varieties yield a fairly good harvest even without pollination, but if desired, pollination can be carried out with a brush, carefully brushing it over the flowers.

Airing will help to improve the ability of a tomato to self-pollinate.

Growing hybrid varieties of tomatoes on a windowsill in winter - this is not only a benefit, but also a great pleasure, a very interesting activity. With a little attention and free time, you will get a harvest of exclusive varieties of bright, sweet and very healthy tomatoes from your windowsill. It will be easy to care for such a plant even for novice gardeners.

Many years of research by breeders have made it possible to grow tomatoes all year round in indoor conditions. Enough varieties have been bred that delight in harvests and are a natural decoration of the interior. Taking care of such tomatoes is no more difficult than taking care of garden bushes, which sometimes suffer from a lack of moisture and pests. To grow fresh tomatoes in a pot on a windowsill or in a flowerpot, you need to know some agronomic nuances and, more importantly, choose the correct variety.

Productivity of indoor tomatoes

Due to the compactness of the fruit with a high saturation of natural sugars, they are characterized by excellent taste. Some varieties have a pronounced decorative orientation and are not able to bring a significant harvest. Such bushes are very beautiful, but their fruits are too small, few in number, are not considered as a full-fledged food product, but are used to decorate dishes. But there are many tomatoes that can bear fruit with impressive size at home. Based on this, priority is given to one or another variety.

Tomato weight ranges from 15 to 130 grams. With the right approach, you can get an excellent result in the form of a low, dense bush, completely covered with fruits.Over the entire fruiting cycle, such a potted tomato delivers on average 2 kg of high-quality harvest.

Indoor tomatoes are perennial plants. After a while after collecting the last tomatoes, the bush throws out fresh leaves and prepares again for fruiting. The age of the plant sometimes reaches 5-6 years, but the highest yields are given in the first 2 years.

Properties of decorative varieties

Before you start growing tomato crops, you need to understand that the microclimate of the premises is different from the natural environment of the garden, and any tomato will not work. When selecting seeds or seedlings, it is necessary that the variety has the following properties:

• stuntedness: a flower pot will not provide the necessary nutrients for a tall, fruiting plant, moreover, the question of sufficient space for growth will arise. Only special dwarf and undersized tomato varieties are suitable for home cultivation;
• resistance to sunlight deficiency and diseases: short daylight hours and weak sun activity, especially on cloudy days, require additional illumination for normal plant growth. Indoor tomatoes can do without this and grow well in low light thanks to their short internodes that prevent the plant from stretching upwards. Breeders have developed hybrid varieties that are resistant to leaf mildew and black leg. It is they who demonstrate high indicators of endurance and productivity with a minimum of care;
• standard (tree): tomato crops need pinching and tying. Such problems are unusual for standard varieties with the structure of a small tree - one strong central stem and a lush crown;
• Ampelling (hanging): some varieties of dwarf tomatoes are intended for planting in tall pots or pots. Fruiting stems grow from top to bottom, forming a sprawling plant shape.

Indoor tomato varieties

Due to the popularity of growing tomatoes at home, several varieties stand out that are unpretentious and demonstrate stable yield results.

Standard varieties

"Room surprise"	early-ripening salad variety with bright red elongated fruits (25-30g), which are collected in bunches. The height of the tree-bush reaches 50 cm, and the best yield is achieved when using backlight
Florida Petite	high-yielding variety with red round fruits (25-40 g) characterized by sweetness, juiciness and strong aroma. The plant thrives in low light conditions. The height of the bush does not exceed 30-35 cm
"Balcony miracle"	an early ripe large-fruited variety with round and sweet tomatoes weighing up to 100 g. An unpretentious standard bush grows up to half a meter high and adapts well to short daylight hours and low light
"Pinocchio"	universal low-growing variety (30 cm) with an abundant amount of small sweet fruits (20 g), collected in bunches. The yield is up to 1.5 kg. "Pinocchio" grows well in beds and in pots, not picky about light, suitable for canning
"Window yellow"	the variety is new, but very promising. A low standard bush (25 cm) is resistant to low light and during the fruiting period is completely covered with clusters of golden berries weighing up to 30 g

Ampel tomatoes

The choice of ampelous varieties is more modest than that of standard counterparts. But still, there are a number of plants that agronomists liked:

"Cherryfingers F1	Hybrid tomato with small elongated red fruits, collected in 8-10 clusters. Low-leafed stems grow up to 50 cm long and are capable of yielding up to 2 kg
"Citizen F1"	Early ripening variety with round red fruits (30 g), which are distinguished by a rich taste. Easy to maintain, can be used for vertical growth (with tying) and tolerates reduced lighting well
"Tumbler"	A very early tomato with a cascade-shaped bush and round tomatoes weighing 25-30 g. The yield reaches 2 kg, but may decrease with a lack of light

Ampel varieties are also popular - "Talisman", "Garden Pearl", "Red Abundance F1".

How to grow indoor tomato

The practice of agricultural technology for potted tomatoes is based on growing a bush from seedlings. On average, the period from germination to harvesting the first ripe fruits takes up to 3 months. This is important to consider if the goal is to get fresh tomatoes by a specific date. For example, the February harvest will give a plant sown for seedlings at the end of October.

Sowing seeds

In order for the bush to grow strong and healthy, a 20-30 minute disinfection of seeds is performed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate). Before processing seeds, it is necessary to discard half-empty and dry seeds. To do this, they are placed in salt water for 10 minutes (1 teaspoon per glass). The floating ones are thrown out. Disinfected seeds are sown in a box (general container) to a depth of 1-1.5 cm with an interval of 2-3 cm. Garden soil or purchased substrate is used as soil.

Planting seedlings

The appearance of 2-3 true leaves in seedlings indicates the readiness of the plant for planting in a separate container. A cylindrical pot with drainage is optimal, the volume of which depends on the type of tomato:

• for dwarf ones - 2 liters;
• for rooms - 3-4;
• for ampelous - from 5.

Properly prepared nutrient soil is of great importance. The following composition is considered universal:

• 5 parts of compost (rotted);
• 5 - garden soil;
• 2 - yellow sand;
• 1 - peat soil.

When making 8-10 kg of soil, it is necessary to add half a glass of wood ash and 30 g (matchbox) of potassium sulfate and urea (urea) each.

When planting seedlings, the stem must be buried not lower than the cotyledon leaves. Pots with planted seedlings are installed on the windowsill (preferably on the southern windows) and turn the other side to the sun 3 times a week. In the morning, in the evening and on cloudy days, the seedlings are additionally illuminated with a phytolamp. After 7-8 days, nitrogen fertilization of tomatoes is performed (half dose).

Plant care

For the effective cultivation of tomatoes in indoor conditions, a clear and uncomplicated schedule of events has been developed:

1. Watering every 3-4 days without wetting the stems. The earth should not be waterlogged so as not to provoke rotting of the roots. Watering is not carried out during the flowering period.
2. Regular loosening of the topsoil.
3. Daily unrolling of the plant with the other side to the window.
4. Once every 10 days - top dressing with soluble fertilizer (mineral or organic).
5. If the variety needs to form a bush, pinching and pinching of the top are carried out.
6. The flowering bush is easily shaken and brushed with a feather or soft brush. Manipulation will increase the pollination of the plant.
7. To increase fruiting, pluck ripening tomatoes regularly.

You need to carefully monitor the health of the bush, remove dried shoots and leaves in time. At the first suspicion of a fungal infection, the plants are treated with an antifungal agent (Fitosporin).

With the right agronomy, the winter table will have bright mini tomatoes that will decorate any dish. If you do not have a summer cottage, you can grow tomatoes in an apartment on a window or an insulated loggia all year round.

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Thanks to the efforts of breeders, tomatoes can be grown on the windowsill, and at any time of the year. There are many varieties that can produce good yields indoors. Growing them is no more difficult than ordinary tomatoes in the garden, moreover, they are not afraid of either drought or the Colorado potato beetle. To enjoy fresh tomatoes in the winter cold, you need to study all the nuances of such cultivation, but the most important thing is to choose the right variety.

Tomatoes on the windowsill in winter

Features of indoor tomatoes

Indoor conditions differ significantly from those in the garden, so not every variety of tomatoes will be able to grow and bear fruit normally indoors. Varieties for growing on a windowsill have the following characteristics:

• short stature. Due to the limited space, only undersized and dwarf tomatoes are able to form a crop. Tall tomatoes require not only a lot of space, but also a large amount of nutrients, and there is too little soil in the flower pot for this;
• stamina. Not everyone knows how to form a bush correctly, but this is an important condition for the yield of a tomato. Standard varieties have a strong central stem and a dense crown; it does not need to be pinned or tied up;
• resistance to lack of lighting and disease. Indoor plants receive less light, especially in winter, and therefore really need additional lighting. But there are varieties of tomatoes that bear fruit normally in a short day, and they only need backlighting on cloudy days. Their genetic feature is short internodes, due to which the stems do not stretch. Of the diseases, tomatoes are most threatened by a black leg (during the period of growing seedlings) and leaf mold. The most resistant to them are hybrids, which make up 90% of the total number of potted tomatoes.

Cherry tomatoes on the windowsill

In addition to these features, indoor tomatoes are distinguished by the highest taste, and are rightfully considered the champions among tomatoes in terms of the content of vitamins and sugars in the pulp. But not all of them can boast of productivity, because some varieties are more decorative, and form very small, cherry-sized fruits. Of course, they are also edible, but there are too few of them, and therefore they are most often used to decorate dishes.

Indoor tomatoes

If you need tomatoes for daily consumption, choose large-fruit varieties that are high-yielding. As a rule, the mass of indoor tomatoes varies between 15-130 g, depending on the variety. The best of them form low bushes completely covered with fruits. On average, one bush can produce up to 2 kg of tasty, marketable tomatoes per season.

Potted tomatoes have one more feature - they are perennials. If, after collecting the last fruits, the bush is not thrown away, then after a while new leaves will appear on the stem. Usually such tomatoes grow and bear fruit within 5 years, although the most abundant harvests are given in the first 2 years.

Growing tomatoes on a windowsill

The best varieties of indoor tomatoes

The assortment of indoor tomatoes is smaller than usual, but also impressive. Varieties differ in shape, size and color of fruits, height and shape of the bush, ripening time and other parameters. Every year, new varieties and hybrids from leading breeding companies are added to their list. Below are the most popular windowsill tomatoes.

Balcony miracle	This early ripe variety forms standard bushes up to half a meter high. Its fruits are red, round, with a high sugar content. Unlike most potted tomatoes, this variety grows up to 70-100 g. With good care, the yield per plant is about 2 kg. The balcony miracle adapts well to a lack of light and can bear fruit perfectly in winter
Room surprise	Early ripening, standard. The height of the bushes does not exceed half a meter, and the weight of bright red elongated fruits, collected in bunches, is equal to 25-30 g. The pulp of these tomatoes is very tasty and aromatic, they are great for salads. In winter, the plant needs lighting, otherwise the harvest will be rather weak.
Bonsai	A neat lush bush up to 30 cm high.Tomatoes of this variety have a rounded shape and rich red color, the weight of the fruit is 25 g. With good care, each plant gives 1 kg of tasty commercial tomatoes per season
Micron NK	Today it is considered the smallest type of tomato, the height of its bushes is only 12-15 cm. Round, small fruits (10-12 g) are yellow and red. You should not expect a large harvest from it, but in terms of decorativeness, the variety is ahead of most potted tomatoes. Ideal for winter growing, as it does not depend on the length of daylight hours
Pinocchio	One of the best potted varieties. Plants are not tall, maximum 30 cm, densely leafy, compact. Fruit weight - about 20 g, red color. One bush yields from 1 to 1.5 kg of tomatoes, which are suitable not only for salads, but also for canning. In the summer, it can be grown in the beds, and in the fall, the bushes are transplanted into pots and brought into the house.
Pygmy	Its fruits ripen 85-90 days after germination. Standard variety, universal use, bears fruit well in a short day. His tomatoes are small, weighing 25 g, red, fragrant. The bush itself looks very decorative during the ripening period.
Florida Petite	A popular variety appreciated for its high yield. The bushes are compact, do not exceed 30 cm in height, do not need pinching. Its fruits are small (20-40 g), red, with very sweet pulp. The ovaries are collected in long clusters, and during the ripening period of the leaves is almost invisible under the fruits. The variety is resistant to low light and bears fruit well in winter.
Bunch of honey	Yellow-fruited and early ripening variety. Can be grown both on the windowsill and in the open field. The height of the standard bushes does not exceed 40 cm, the crown is dense, does not need to be formed. Tomatoes weigh about 40 g, the yield is very high. The peel of the fruit is thin, orange in color, the pulp is sweet and juicy
Window yellow	A new, still rare variety. The plant is a standard plant, 25 cm tall, during the fruiting period the entire bush is covered with clusters of yellow small round tomatoes. Fruit weight rarely exceeds 30 g, the pulp is very sweet. The variety is neutral to low light, therefore it bears fruit well in winter.
Teeny Tim	Early ripening popular Dutch variety. Bears fruit regardless of the season and the degree of lighting. The height of the bushes is about 30 cm, in the open field it can grow up to 50 cm.The weight of the tomatoes is 12-14 g, the color is red, the pulp is moderately sweet

Ampel varieties

In addition to standard varieties, ampel tomatoes are also in demand among fans of indoor tomato cultivation. They can be planted in hanging pots or in tall pots, from which the shoots will hang beautifully on the windowsill. Caring for them is a little more difficult than for ordinary varieties, and the yield is lower, but all this is offset by the excellent taste of tomatoes and the high decorative effect of the bush. The choice of ampel varieties is still small, and seeds can be purchased only from a few domestic agricultural firms.

Garden Pearl	A spreading bush with shoots up to 50 cm. The plant's stems are thin, but strong, and do not break under the weight of numerous fruits. You do not need to walk the bush. Round tomatoes weighing 15-20 g, when ripe, acquire a raspberry color and become translucent. One plant can have up to three hundred marketable fruits. The variety is very decorative, feels great indoors and outdoors
F1 Citizen	Spectacular early maturing hybrid. It can grow vertically (but then it is necessary to tie up the stems) and as an ampelous plant. His tomatoes are round, red, with a characteristic tomato flavor, weighing about 30 g. The hybrid is specially bred for indoor cultivation, therefore it develops well and bears fruit regardless of the season
Cherry Fingers F1	New yielding hybrid for ampel cultivation. Low-leafed shoots, up to half a meter long, strong. Small red fruits have an elongated shape, are attached to long clusters of 8-10 pieces.Tomatoes are suitable for harvesting for the winter; they do not crack during heat treatment. In good conditions, the yield of one bush is 1.8-2 kg
Toggle switch	One of the new ampelous varieties. Very early, has a cascading bush shape, the mass of tomatoes is 25-30 g. The taste of the fruits is excellent, the average yield is about 2 kg. With a lack of lighting, the number of fruits is slightly less
Mascot	Already a fairly well-known ampelous variety of domestic selection. Refers to medium early, the bush is quite compact, shoots up to 55 cm long. Egg-shaped fruits of red color, average weight about 40 g. When grown in open ground, the mass of fruits is almost twice as large. The variety is distinguished by extended fruiting, and very abundant. Tomatoes are juicy, tasty, can be preserved
Red Abundance F1	A very attractive yielding hybrid. Shoots grow up to 60 cm, the plant does not need pinching. The brushes are densely covered with small (20g) sweet red fruits, which are suitable for canning. The bush grows quickly, so it needs a lot of space. In winter, the plant must be highlighted, otherwise the yield will decrease

Agricultural technology for growing indoor tomatoes

As with regular varieties, indoor tomatoes are best grown through seedlings. And at this stage there are no differences, except that the timing of sowing seeds is different. On average, potted tomatoes begin to bear fruit in 90-100 days after germination, and if you want to get the first tomatoes by a certain date, take this factor into account. For example, to harvest the first crop in January, plant the seedlings at the end of September.

Two ways to test seeds for germination

Before sowing, the seeds are disinfected by soaking for 15-30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and then left in a damp cloth for a couple of days for pecking.

Tomato seed preparation

Sow in a common container with ordinary soil or purchased substrate to a depth of no more than 1 cm. The distance between the seeds should be within 2-3 cm so that the seedlings are not thickened.

Capacity for growing tomatoes

Tomatoes in a box

Seedlings are transplanted into separate containers as soon as 2-3 true leaves are formed in the seedlings. The sizes of pots are selected depending on the variety of tomatoes: for dwarf tomatoes, a volume of 1.5-2 liters is enough, for ordinary room ones 3-4 liters, for ampelous ones - at least 5 liters. All pots must have drainage holes. It is very important to properly prepare the soil, because the development and fruiting of the bush depends on its composition.

Soil preparation

The best option is the following composition:

• 5 parts of garden soil;
• 2 pieces of sand;
• 5 parts of rotted compost;
• 1 part peat.

On a bucket of such a mixture, it is necessary to add a matchbox of urea and potassium sulfate, a handful of sifted wood ash. All this is thoroughly mixed. Now you can start planting seedlings.

Step 1... A drainage layer of fine gravel, pieces of bark, expanded clay or other material is poured onto the bottom of the pots. Fill the containers to the top with soil and make a small depression in the center.

Filling the pot with drainage and soil

Step 2. The pre-watered seedlings are carefully removed one at a time and planted in pots, deepening to the cotyledonous leaves. Water gently.

Planting tomato seedlings in a pot

The soil must be saturated with moisture for the water to get to the roots.

Step 3. They put the pots on the windowsill (preferably on the south side) and regularly turn them on the other side to the light every 2 days. In the mornings and evenings, as well as in cloudy weather, plants should be supplemented with a phytolamp.

Supplementary lighting of tomatoes with phytolamp

After a week, the plants are fed with half the nitrogen fertilizer required for growth. During the flowering period, in order to increase the percentage of pollination, the stems of the plant are very lightly shaken and carried over the flowers with a feather or a soft brush.After the formation of ovaries, potash fertilization is required every two weeks.

In varieties that need to form a bush, remove stepchildren, pinch the top of the main stem, cut off excess inflorescences to increase the size of the fruit. Tall bushes are tied to supports, which are stuck into the ground along the edge of the pot.

Tomato care

If signs of fungal infection appear, all plants are sprayed with phytosporin or another anti-fungal agent. To prolong fruiting, regularly pick ripe fruits, remove dried leaves, do not forget about dressing and watering. The soil in pots should be periodically loosened, being careful not to catch the roots. With this care, your tomatoes will delight you with an abundant harvest of sweet, tasty fruits all winter.

Video - Tomatoes on the windowsill in winter: the best varieties

Video - Tomatoes on the windowsill in winter: the best varieties and order of growing tomatoes at home

With the arrival of autumn, the season for fresh vegetables is coming to an end. This fact is of little joy to lovers of tasty and healthy food. However, you can always find an alternative. For example, growing tomatoes on a windowsill will allow you to harvest all year round. What varieties are suitable for growing in an apartment on a windowsill and what is the agricultural technique for growing this crop? All secrets and technology are described in the article.

Growing tomatoes on a windowsill in winter is easy

Growing tomatoes on a windowsill in winter

There are many advantages to growing tomatoes on a windowsill in an apartment. The grower and his family will be able to harvest a generous harvest of sweet, natural, environmentally friendly fruits all year round. Their taste and health benefits compare favorably with tomatoes bought in the winter market. The amount of the harvest will not be affected by bad weather.

Growing tomatoes on a windowsill in winter is easy. The hostess is absolutely not required to know and perform complex agrotechnical techniques. However, there are still some tricks. According to experts, the harvest will be rich, and tomatoes ripen faster if you place the plants on the windowsill on the south side. In this case, the tomatoes will receive enough sunlight and warmth to provide the whole family with tasty fruits.

Every year breeders bring out new high-yield varieties that are perfectly adapted for growing in a city apartment.

What about those housewives who live in an area with short days or if all the windows in the apartment face north? The use of electrical equipment for the organization of artificial lighting is a good way out. So you can install a fluorescent lamp or purchase a special agro lamp. Lack of light will no longer be a hindrance. It is recommended to install additional lighting during prolonged cloudy weather, since tomatoes are a light-loving culture.

Lighting devices are installed at a height of about 30 cm from the top of the bush, and the duration of daylight hours is 15 hours.

Tomato varieties for growing on the windowsill all year round

When choosing a variety for growing in an apartment, you should give preference to dwarf, undersized, hybrid tomatoes. Tall tomatoes are more difficult to care for when they are grown in a confined space. In addition, tomatoes with long tops and the root system are quite powerful. In an apartment, it will not work to provide the plant with a large amount of soil.

However, if you need to grow a tall variety, then the plant can be planted on the balcony. It is important that there is heating on the loggia, and that the containers with the ground are sufficiently deep and voluminous. It is worth considering the possibility of a tomato garter, as well as support for large fruits. The soil itself must be nutritious. The use of organic fertilizers will have a positive effect on the yield and taste of the fruit.

High-quality planting material is a guarantee of successful cultivation of tomatoes on the windowsill

Plant breeders recommend planting the following varieties of tomatoes on the windowsill:

• Micron NK;
• Minibel;
• Balcony miracle;
• Little Florida;
• Balcony red;
• Garden pearl;
• Bonsai micro.

Breeders bring out new high-yield varieties every year, perfectly adapted for growing in a city apartment. Specialist store employees are always ready to advise customers.

Growing tomatoes on a windowsill: planting seeds and care

When buying seeds, it is worth checking their expiration date. Expired seeds may not germinate. High-quality planting material is a guarantee of successful cultivation of tomatoes on the windowsill. When starting sowing, it is worth adhering to the following sequence of work, namely:

1. Pre-planting treatment includes mandatory disinfection of seeds by soaking for 15-20 minutes in a weak pink solution of potassium permanganate. You can also use biostimulants "Epin" or "Zircon". After soaking in a solution, the seeds germinate faster, get sick less often, yield and plant immunity increase.
2. Germination. For germination, the seeds are placed on a moistened gauze and kept in a humid environment for 4 days. This time is enough for the seeds to sprout.
3. Seeds are planted in peat cups or shallow trays with fertilized soil. Each seed is placed at a depth of 1 cm and at a distance of 2 cm from each other. To create a microclimate, the "bed" on the windowsill is covered with cling film. The soil needs to be slightly moistened daily.
4. Planting seedlings. Tomatoes are transferred to a permanent place of growth after the plant has formed 2-3 leaves. When transferring, each bush is dived.
5. Plant care. Caring for tomatoes growing on the windowsill is simple. It is necessary to provide the plant with warmth and sufficient light. The optimum daytime temperature is about +23 degrees, and at night - +18. Tomatoes do not like drafts and watering with cool water, otherwise they can get sick. Regular watering and fertilization will provide the bush with the necessary nutrients.

Do not forget about loosening the soil. Then the horses will receive enough oxygen, and moisture and fertilizers will easily seep to the roots. As a result, the plant will be healthy, strong, well-groomed.

Growing tomatoes on a windowsill in winter, video:

Growing tomatoes on a windowsill, especially in winter, is not a difficult and at the same time exciting process. However, armed with simple tips and tricks from the article, everyone can do the job. Then beautiful and juicy tomatoes will not disappear from your table, but will delight you all year round.

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