Have you grown tomatoes yourself or bought them from specialist retailers and now want to put them in the tomato house or even in the bed? Then you have to pay attention to a few important things so that the plants grow well, thrive vigorously and bear lots of fruit later.
What should you consider when planting tomatoes?
When planting tomatoes, you should first accustom the plants to the outdoors, wait for the right time after the ice saints and choose a suitable, sunny location. In addition, ensure humus-rich, well-drained soil, sufficient planting distance and climbing aids and plant the plants up to the first leaf base.
Getting tomatoes used to the outdoors
Tomato plants are almost always grown in a greenhouse or on a window. They are therefore not used to sunlight and are quite sensitive. If you just put them in the bed, the young plants often don't get off to a good start.
Harden off the tomato plants as follows:
- If the weather is mild, place the plants in a protected, sunny spot for one to two hours.
- Extend this time every day and keep placing the young plants in the sun.
When to plant tomatoes
If you have a greenhouse or tomato house, you can put the plants in the ground as early as April. If you cultivate the tomatoes in pots on the balcony, terrace or even outdoors, you should wait until after the Ice Saints before planting the young tomato plants.
Which location is suitable for tomatoes?
The most feared tomato disease, brown rot, is favored by the wrong location. It can develop when leaves remain wet for a long period of time after a rainstorm. Tomatoes also love warmth and should be surrounded by sunlight all day long.
Therefore, unless you have a greenhouse or tomato house, it is a good idea to place the tomato plants under a roof on the south side of the house.
The Soil Claims
Tomatoes are heavy feeders and require a lot of energy to produce tasty fruits. They prefer medium-heavy, humus-rich soil that is as deep as possible. Ensure good water drainage through a drainage layer.
How are the tomatoes planted?
- Fertilize the bed with compost or special tomato fertilizer before planting and work everything in well.
- To ensure ventilation, the planting distance should not be less than 60 x 60 centimeters.
- Make sure that the leaves do not have permanent contact with foil or glass, as this promotes fungal diseases.
- Plant the tomatoes up to the first leaf base, this promotes root formation.
- Water heavily immediately after planting and then stop watering for two to three days. This measure also promotes root growth.
- Unless you are cultivating bush tomatoes, tomatoes always need a climbing aid. Spiral rods made of aluminum that you stick into the ground next to the plants are very suitable.
Tip
Clean all garden tools that come into contact with tomatoes, as well as the climbing aids, thoroughly with high-percentage alcohol. This kills fungal spores from the previous year that could be dangerous to the new harvest.
