How to grow potted tomatoes on a windowsill?

The summer cottage season is coming to an end, the harvest has already been harvested, a long, boring winter is ahead. And who told you that cherry tomatoes grow worse on the windowsill than in the garden? Funny bushes, hung with bright fruits, will delight you all winter, decorate the interior and add a pleasant variety to the menu. Such simple gardening will delight you and your loved ones, will add variety to the gray everyday life. And how wonderful it is to serve the New Year's table with bright red tomatoes, which can be plucked directly from the bush. Today we will talk about all the features and subtleties of home gardening.

How to grow cherry tomatoes on a windowsill?

The first thing you will need is to prepare special containers, buy good seeds and potting soil. To grow fruit plants in winter, in conditions of a lack of sun and nutrients (the pot is very limited in its resources), you will need specialized fertilizers and feeding. Cherry tomatoes grow on the windowsill as well as outdoors, especially if you choose a place with sufficient lighting. It is desirable that these are windows facing west or south. The air temperature must be above 20 degrees, otherwise the yield will decrease.

Soil preparation

Let's start with how to plant cherry tomatoes. It is better to buy land in a store, be sure to be loose and fertile. If you decide to make the soil mixture yourself, then you will need garden soil, leaf humus, peat. Be sure to disinfect the ground before planting. To do this, you can spill the pots with boiling water with potassium permanganate dissolved in it. Some gardeners prefer to roast the soil in the oven, but this option is suitable if you need a small volume.

Choosing a pot

Windowsill cherry tomatoes will grow in whatever pots you choose for them. But in order for them to actively bear fruit, the volume of land for one bush must be at least 5 liters. It is advisable to choose containers that are not too deep and wide. Pay attention to the drainage holes to drain excess moisture, without them the roots will suffocate without oxygen.

For every 2 pots, or 10 liters of soil, you need to add a matchbox of urea and potassium sulfate, a handful of wood ash. In such conditions, your tomatoes will feel just fine.

The best varieties for home cultivation

Not all cherry tomatoes are undersized. Varieties are represented today in such an abundance that you should take the time to study their features, so as not to accidentally buy a garden giant. There are varieties of Russian selection that grow successfully both in the open field and on the balcony.There are tomatoes that bear scarlet fruits, these are the already famous Winter Cherry, Andryushka and Businka. They are successfully grown on balconies and loggias, as well as simply on window sills. Today this company has been supplemented with red cherry tomatoes. These are varieties such as Sparrow, Queen Margot. In order to diversify the winter table or prepare a beautiful assortment of vegetables, you can plant varieties of cherry yellow and orange. These are Lemon, Golden Bead and Noon. From cocktail tomatoes of domestic selection, we can recommend the varieties Sunny Bunny, Marishka and Rosita.

Hybrid Ampelny

Growing cherry tomatoes on the balcony, I want the bush to take up as little space as possible, but at the same time give a lot of fruits. The Ampelny hybrid is perfect for these criteria. It will grow beautifully in a pot, old barrel or hanging planter. A distinctive feature is the formation of a bush. Instead of stepchildren, it forms brushes, so the bush resembles a Christmas tree, which is all hung with bright red toys. Like all of the above small-fruited hybrids, it forms fruits weighing up to 50 g, has a high yield and excellent taste of tomatoes. They are delicious, dense and very beautiful.

Growing seedlings

Cherry tomatoes on the balcony are grown in the most common, seedling way. So you have the opportunity to observe the growth of seedlings and select only the strongest, strongest and healthiest for picking. The picking itself contributes to the development of additional roots and the correct formation of the bush. For growing seedlings, you will need any wide containers with a depth of 8-10 cm. Fill them with earth, water them well and place them near the battery. Before sowing, seeds must be soaked in a growth stimulator in order to achieve more friendly shoots.

After sowing the seeds into the soil, cover the sowing container with plastic wrap. Until the first shoots appear, the pot will be warm, near the battery. After the sprouts appear, the film must be removed and the box with the seedlings must be transferred to the windowsill. It is desirable that it be lighter here and a little cooler so that the seedlings do not stretch out. This period lasts about 20-25 days, and it will end with the formation of two true tomato leaves. You now have real cherry tomatoes growing. The seedlings are ready for the first pick. Since we are preparing seedlings for growing on the balcony, there will be several transplants.

Seedling picks

Transplanting tomatoes is almost painless, but you need to be careful not to damage the fragile stalk. The first pick is performed in pots with a diameter of 8-10 cm. The tip of the root is pinched at the same time so that the root system develops better. The pots should be placed on a light windowsill, the air temperature should be around 23-25 ​​degrees. Now it is necessary to constantly look after the seedlings, water, loosen the soil and apply a complex mineral fertilizer to the soil every ten days.

During this period, a disease called black leg is especially detrimental to plants. For prevention, it is necessary to periodically water the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate. The second danger is the lack of sunlight. In winter, the daylight hours are short, so the lighting of the tomatoes should be organized, otherwise the seedlings will stretch out and die.

At home, cherry tomatoes are transplanted a second time when the plants form 6-8 true leaves. Now you need to allocate an individual pot for each seedling with a volume of at least 5 liters. When transplanting, tomatoes should be buried 10-12 cm in order to form a strong root system.

Further care

Now the plants have transferred the final potting, where they will grow throughout the growing season. Cherry tomatoes at home need regular watering as the soil dries up. To prevent the formation of a crust on the surface, the soil must be loosened regularly.10 days after transplanting, you need to apply a complex mineral fertilizer to the soil. Each plant will require approximately 250-300 ml of solution. The concentration is indicated on the individual packaging. It is necessary to repeat feeding every two weeks to provide conditions for normal fruiting.

Stepping

Almost all varieties form stepchildren during growth - these are lateral shoots that develop in the leaf axils. Low-growing houseplants form in two or three stems. To do this, leave the top of the central stem and one or two stepsons. The rest are removed. Ideally, a low-growing plant will have a central stem and two stepsons at different levels. In addition to the stepsons, sick and yellow leaves, as well as the foliage covering the fruits of the lower brushes, must be removed. By the way, the number of brushes also needs to be limited. On each stem, you can leave four bundles of ovaries, and then pinch the crown.

Pollination

Tomatoes are self-pollinating plants, but you can increase the yield by hand pollination. To do this, during flowering, it is recommended to open the balcony so that a fresh breeze walks in the room, or just shake the flowering twigs. When the majority of the brushes are formed, the tops and flowering branches are removed so that the fruits can fully develop. To accelerate the growth and development of fruits, use another technique. The plant is taken by the base of the stem and pulled upward, as if trying to pull it to the surface. This is necessary to break off small roots. Then the plant is spud and watered. The root system responds with the powerful development of additional roots, and this has a positive effect on the growth and ripening of fruits. Don't forget about the benefits of fertilizers. With a lack of nutrients, it will be difficult to wait for a good harvest, because the pot is a closed and limited ecosystem.

Today I will tell you how to grow tomatoes on a windowsill. If, three years ago, they told me that I would grow tomatoes on the windowsill ... But there is a simple explanation - it is worth growing one unusual herb and away we go ... After successfully grown oregano, thyme, lavender, tarragon, chives, lemon balm, watercress -salad, it seems, the turn of heavy artillery has come :).

Armed with the recommendations of my grandfather, a seasoned gardener, I decided on this adventure. Available: a large, light balcony on the southeast side, cherry tomato seeds (positioned as balcony varieties), soil of dubious quality and 2 pots of 2 liters each (may be too small).

How to grow tomatoes on a windowsill

I offer my own version of growing tomatoes on a windowsill, in detail and in pictures. So far so good!

1. Seeds of balcony tomatoes, which are involved in the experiment.

2. Seeds Balcony gold. She took a cotton pad and moistened it with warm water, poured a dozen seeds, moistened them from a spray bottle.

3. Seeds Tomato Cherry. Same procedure as for Balcony Gold Seeds.

4. Moistened another cotton pad and covered the seeds. The moist environment allows the seeds to wake up and swell a little. One day is enough, I got 2 days. Additionally did not wet. It was not etched with manganese, since it is impossible to buy it at the pharmacy.

5. Components for the soil mixture: ready-made soil on peat and humus, perlite and vermiculite. The soil was pre-calcined in an old pan in the oven - about 2 hours. I wrote here how to disinfect the soil.

6. Ash as the first potash fertilizer and additional soil disinfection.

7. The phytocide returns the necessary bacteria to the sterile soil, without which the plant will not assimilate nutrients. I prepare the solution according to the instructions, moisten the soil (not abundantly, in no case should the earth be turned into mud). With the remaining solution I water all the plants in the house - most likely the bacteria in the water quickly die, so this watering cannot be called fertilizer.

eight.I always add perlite and vermiculite to the soil. No more than 30% of the soil volume. Vermiculite is a mineral that has been processed at ultra-high temperatures, making it porous. The pores in vermiculite are filled with oxygen, absorb a lot of water and gradually release it into the soil, preventing the roots from rotting. It is a natural source of potassium and magnesium. Perlite works in much the same way as vermiculite, loosens the soil like sand. The combination of these minerals improves the quality of the soil.

9. Introduced ash. It is recommended to add a heaped teaspoon per liter of soil.

10. I made holes in 100 g cups and filled them with earth. Seeds were applied by 2 per cup, pressed quite a bit into the ground, 3-5 mm. Moistened the surface with a spray bottle. I marked the cups with the letter of the grade. It is convenient when all the cups are in one tray to rotate them at the same time, behind the sun.

11. Quickly built a greenhouse out of a bag, bamboo sticks and scotch tape. The sowing of thyme also fell under the film, for the company :). In the greenhouse, the seedlings sit until the first shoots - loops. The temperature should be about 18-20 degrees, it is advisable to place the seedlings in the shade until they emerge. I covered it with a greenhouse for the night for a few more days, look at the weather and trust your intuition.

12. 4th day after sowing. The first time we irrigate the seedlings - carefully, from a sprayer, do not fill. We take it out into the light, but watch the temperature - the cups are warming up, you can cook weak roots in the hot sun.

13.7 day. Yellow tomatoes look much healthier, hatch faster and stretch well. I irrigate the crops a little every day.

14. 14 days. The first real leaves appeared. You can make the first fertilizing with mineral fertilizer. But if you are adding ash, you can get by before potting. We irrigate the soil and spray on the seedlings - either early in the morning or in the evening. If the weather is cloudy and damp outside, do not spray the leaves (so as not to provoke fungi).

15. First true leaves on yellow tomatoes.

16. First true leaves on red tomatoes. The sprouts are not stretched out, everything suggests that they have enough light and nutrition. Can be moved to pots.

17. I have 2 l pots. Most likely, for the root system of these varieties of tomatoes, this volume will not be enough and they will have to be transplanted before they decide to bloom. Moreover, I felt sorry for the handsome men, and decided to shove a couple of them into the pots. The pots should have holes for draining water, 3 cm of drainage (expanded clay).

18. Poured prepared soil (the same as for seedlings).

19. Remove the seedlings from the cup, turn it over, hold the seedlings. Everything is very easy.

20. We put a soil cup in a pot.

21. I poured soil into the pot, around the tomatoes.

22. Marked varieties in pots with pictures cut from seed bags.

23. We could have waited some more, the seedlings were too small. But through the glass I saw the roots that reached the bottom, I decided not to torment the plants.

24. Yellow bushes are likely to be larger.

25. A little less than a month has passed. This is Cherry.

26. This is Balcony Gold. Both varieties are equal in size and look healthy.

I water in moderation, daily. I will prepare the next photo report in 2 weeks.

The promised report. I water it once a day, I don't water it (I'm afraid the fungi will also like it).

Tomatoes grow by leaps and bounds. No problem yet.

The tomatoes are blooming!

Tomato flowers

Tomato buds

Flowering tomatoes

So the unbearable heat has come ... I hope the tomatoes are pollinated despite the high temperature. I shake the flowering brushes twice a day, and the petals curl outward - they say this indicates that pollination is going well.

Because of the heat, I water it very early in the morning and after sunset, but I don't water it. The pots are white and reflect light well, but you should probably cover them with paper. In the hottest period of the day, I put the tomatoes in the shade, I'm afraid to burn them.

Little by little, the stepsons are growing, whether to remove them is not yet decided.I would like to grow greens and taste tomatoes ... We need to read more on this topic. Advise what to do with the stepsons?

In general, I decided not to pinch. And here are the tomatoes we have

Cherry cherry

Balcony gold

Today is October 28th. Total: the bushes of Balkonnoye Zolotoy planted for wintering, and Cherry is no longer there.

April 8th. The tomatoes have wintered well, they are blooming with might and main:

Tomatoes after wintering on the windowsill

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 (ripens 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, Room 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 off 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 irrigate 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 without pollination, but if desired, pollination can be carried out with a brush, carefully brushing it over the flowers.

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

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.

Recently, growing tomatoes on the windowsill has become a popular activity among amateur gardeners. However, due to a lack of knowledge, it is not possible to harvest a good harvest: tomatoes are sick, grow poorly, or set few fruits. What conditions need to be provided for tomatoes in an apartment so that they bear fruit well at home?

Features of growing tomatoes on a windowsill

The technology for growing miniature indoor tomatoes is very similar to the cultivation of ordinary tomatoes on the site. At the same time, there are several features that must be taken into account when deciding to acquire low-growing tomatoes in an apartment:

• for good fruiting, they need to be supplemented with phytolamps;
• in the room where the pots are located, you need to maintain a stable temperature and humidity;
• you cannot pour tomatoes, otherwise they will get sick with a black leg;
• growing containers must match the size of the plant;
• tomato flowers need to be pollinated on their own: during the flowering period, a soft brush is applied to the flowers 2-3 times a day.

Taking into account the specified nuances, which are described in detail below, the chance that growing tomatoes on a window in winter or at any other time of the year will be crowned with success at times.

What varieties are suitable for growing on a windowsill

For growing in an apartment, it is better to choose determinant (undersized) varieties of tomatoes that do not need tying, are unpretentious to the composition of the soil and the length of daylight hours. Most varieties with such characteristics are standard hybrids. Depending on your wishes, you can plant super early or mid-season varieties. Excellent characteristics are possessed by such varieties of tomatoes as Bonsai, Balconnoe miracle, Pygmy, Pinnochio, Room surprise.

Despite the fact that the tomatoes of these varieties do not grow more than half a meter, the plants form about 2 kg of yellow or red fruits weighing from 15 to 100 g.Among the many tall varieties of tomatoes for growing on a windowsill, cherry tomatoes are suitable, which do not require special conditions.

How to plant and grow - features, conditions and step-by-step instructions

Growing tomatoes in an apartment is quite simple if the recommended requirements are followed exactly. Anyone who will take proper care of the plants will be able to enjoy bright juicy tomatoes in the middle of winter.

Video: how to grow tomatoes on a windowsill

What should be the place

To ensure that plants receive as much natural light as possible, tomatoes are best placed on south or east windows. If this is not possible, you can put the pots on the west window, but the culture will have to be supplemented. It is not recommended to grow light-loving tomatoes on northern windows.

Temperature

When growing tomatoes on a window, it is very important to maintain the correct temperature regime. Deviations from the established ranges are fraught with slow development and poor productivity of the vegetable crop. When growing tomatoes on the window at home, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

• Seeds germinate quickly and amicably at a temperature of + 23- + 25 C.
• When the seedlings are 7 days old, the temperature is reduced to + 20- + 22 C. Being in colder conditions, the seedlings will not stretch out, which often happens with tomatoes in closed rooms. You can lower the temperature by airing the room for half an hour - the plant is not afraid of drafts.
• The optimum temperature at night is + 15- + 16C.

Important! On the coldest days, when the batteries are very hot, in order to protect the leaves of tomatoes from the influence of warm air, the heating devices are covered with a wooden shield from above.

Humidity

It is necessary to spray tomatoes grown on the window only if the air in the room is very dry. When the temperature in the apartment is below +20 C, it is not at all possible to spray the plants: excessive humidity and cold air are the main reasons for the appearance of a black leg.

Lighting

Due to the fact that tomatoes are plants that need a long day of light in order to form many high-quality fruits at home, they need to be highlighted. The lamps turn on from 8 to 11 am and from 16 to 19 pm. The latest invented hybrids are unpretentious in the amount of light, however, for better yield, it is even recommended to supplement them in the shortest days of winter.

Important! Indoor tomatoes can be grown without additional lighting from mid-February.

Despite the fact that tomatoes love to live on light windowsills, the leaves of young seedlings can get burned under the influence of bright spring rays. To protect the plant from such injuries, the pots are transferred to the east and north windows. If it is impossible to make such a rearrangement, in the brightest hours they are shaded with gauze or paper.

Tying and pinning

The vast majority of hybrids and varieties of tomatoes intended for growing in an apartment on a window or windowsill do not need to be tied up, since they are endowed with a low, powerful stem. Only some varieties, the height of which exceeds 50 cm, need support. Medium-sized tomatoes are formed into 2 stems, tall ones - into one.

What container to plant

Tomato seedlings are initially planted in seedling containers, and as soon as they become cramped, they are transplanted into separate peat pots or plastic cups with a volume of more than 200 ml. Using peat cups, you need to control the amount of watering, otherwise the containers may simply fall apart.

During the next transplant, when the plants have 4-5 pairs of true leaves, the tomatoes are planted in a permanent pot. The size of the planting container must be selected based on the characteristics of the cultivated variety: the more compact the plant, the smaller the planting container volume should be.

Based on this rule, for planting dwarf varieties, you need to use pots up to 2 liters. Indoor tomatoes are recommended to be planted in 3-4 liters containers, ampelous - in 5 liters. Regardless of the size, the bottom of the planting tanks should have drainage holes to drain excess water.

What soil to plant

For planting low-growing tomatoes in an apartment, use a special substrate of industrial production or a self-prepared mixture: mix garden soil, rotted compost and peat in a ratio of 5: 5: 2: 1. A potassium sulfate matchbox and about the same amount of urea are added to a bucket of potting soil. Pour a handful of wood ash into the mixture and mix thoroughly. The finished substrate is poured into a container and proceeds to planting.

Important! Regardless of the origin, the soil must be calcined or frozen: high or low temperatures will destroy pathogenic bacteria and insect larvae. Moreover, in order to prevent tomato contamination with dangerous diseases, you need to calcine the tool that will be used when working with the soil at home.

Preparing seeds for planting

First of all, bad planting material is discarded. Seeds are poured into a container with salt water and mixed thoroughly. A few minutes after the water stops spinning, good seeds will sink to the bottom, and bad ones will remain on the surface. The floating seeds are drained along with the water, and the remaining ones continue to be prepared for planting in the apartment.

To destroy pathogens on the surface of seeds, planting material is soaked for 15-20 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After the end of the time, they are taken out of the container and laid out on a paper towel. After drying, they are treated with a growth stimulant in accordance with the instructions. The substances contained in such preparations accelerate the germination of seedlings and increase the resistance of seedlings to diseases.

Direct landing

Indoor tomatoes are planted in the same way as ordinary ones, intended for growing in the open field. Landing is carried out in the following sequence:

1. The disinfected planting material is laid out in a damp cloth and placed in a warm place so that they hatch. Please note that if the fabric dries out, it needs to be sprayed, otherwise the embryos will dry out and the seeds will not hatch.
2. A prepared soil mixture or a special substrate is poured into the seedling container and grooves are made with a depth of 1 cm. It is not recommended to plant tomatoes at a depth of more than 2 cm: the seedling time is doubled. Seeds are laid out at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other.
3. The crops are sprinkled with earth and slightly moistened. Until the emergence of shoots, the box is covered with film or glass, which are removed from time to time so that the soil does not become moldy.
4. As soon as the seedlings throw out 2-3 pairs of true leaves, they are transplanted into pots of appropriate size, the bottom of which is laid with drainage material.

Video: how to grow indoor tomatoes in winter

How to care after planting and before harvest - tips

The health of tomatoes and the volume of the crop depend on the quality of care. In order for indoor tomatoes to develop quickly in an apartment and set the maximum number of fruits, they need to be watered and fertilized in a timely manner.

Watering

The soil in the pot must be slightly damp for the fruit to form and ripen. Tomatoes react poorly to both drought and overflow: in the first case, the fruits can be sprinkled during formation, in the second, the plant gets sick with a black leg, late blight.

Since chlorine is harmful to plants, you need to water indoor tomatoes only with well-settled water. In order for the particles of a chemical element to sink to the bottom, the water must be defended for a week. Using a filter, you can reduce the water preparation time to several hours.As soon as the soil dries out, the seedlings are watered moderately.

Subject to the temperature regime and normal air humidity, watering is carried out 1 time in 5 days. Out of turn, tomatoes are watered the day before transplanting: removing the rhizome from moist soil is much easier and less painful for the plant.

Top dressing

At the beginning of development, upon reaching the age of one week, indoor tomatoes in pots are fed with nitrogen fertilizers, which stimulate plant growth. During the setting of fruits and pouring them into the soil, potassium dressings are added.

You can fertilize seedlings with ordinary mineral mixtures diluted in half with water. In order not to burn the roots, top dressing is applied 2 hours after watering. The optimal time for manipulation is cloudy weather. All types of fertilizers are applied no more than once every 2 weeks in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

Worth knowing! For adult plants, fertilizing can be applied to the leaf or under the root. For young seedlings with delicate leaves, leaf feeding is contraindicated.

Terms of germination and harvesting

When the right conditions are created in the apartment, tomato seedlings appear on the surface 6-10 days after sowing. The germination time may be delayed if the room is too cold or the seeds are sown too deep. In such cases, seedlings begin to emerge only on the 14-17th day.

Window-grown tomatoes ripen 85-110 days after planting, depending on the variety selected.

Growing tomatoes on a windowsill is not only fun, but also a useful activity, thanks to which you can replenish the supply of vitamins for the whole family, which is especially important in winter.

Video: growing tomatoes on a windowsill