Planting tomatoes on the balcony offers a happy snacking experience for the whole family. Who else misses a garden? The following lines describe how the gardening adventure succeeds in an understandable and practical way.
How can tomatoes be successfully grown on the balcony?
To plant tomatoes on the balcony, grow the plants indoors from the end of February, put them on the balcony in mid-May and choose a nutrient-rich, permeable substrate. Make sure there is enough sunlight, climbing aids and rain protection for optimal growth.
The weather doesn't cooperate before mid-May
The tomatoes that need warmth are only allowed on the balcony once the risk of frosty night temperatures has passed from mid-May. If you want to devote yourself to growing tomatoes by then, you should prefer to plant them indoors. The starting signal for sowing is given at the end of February/beginning of March. Germination begins within 2 weeks under ideal temperatures of 18 to 24 degrees Celsius.
In order for tomatoes to thrive on the balcony, they need a nutrient-rich, humus-rich and permeable substrate. To prevent waterlogging, cover the bottom of the pot with drainage made of pebbles, pottery shards or grit. Plant the plant you have grown yourself or purchased ready-made up to the lower leaves and water generously. Place the tomato in a sunny, airy balcony spot.
Create harmonious unity from tomato variety and planter
Choose the planter carefully, as a tomato plant can grow to considerable dimensions. Ideal candidates are cocktail tomatoes, also known as cherry tomatoes. The smallest varieties even find space in a balcony box. It is important to note that there is an opening in the bottom so that excess irrigation water can drain away easily. Avoid dark-colored pots because they generate killer heat in summer.
Trellis gives tomatoes support
If you plant tomatoes on the balcony, an adequate climbing aid should not be missing. You can only do without a climbing aid when growing bush tomatoes. Experienced hobby gardeners use this useful support at the same time as the young plants. Here's how to do it:
- A bar thickness of 15 to 25 millimeters is ideal
- the minimum length fluctuates between 1, 10 and 2 meters
- used women's tights cut into strips are suitable as binding material
- alternatively, tie the shoots with raffia or special plant ties from specialist retailers
- Tomato vines must never be tied or injured
Not without rain protection
Protection from rain is just as essential for tomato plants on the balcony as it is outdoors. Skilled hobby gardeners quickly build a protective roof themselves. Garden centers and hardware stores offer inexpensive models. If you only cultivate a few apples of paradise on the balcony, an innovative tomato cap protects you from moisture and thus from the lurking fungal spores of late blight.
Tips & Tricks
Place the tomatoes in the soil at a slight angle to just below the first pair of leaves, this trick promotes the rapid spread of the roots. If you also add a few nettle leaves to the planting hole, the nutrients will provide additional growth energy.
