In their homeland, tomato plants thrive perennially. In the local regions they are cultivated as annuals due to frosty winters. Under certain conditions, overwintering is still possible. Find out here what is necessary for a successful outcome.
How to overwinter tomato plants?
Tomato plants can be overwintered on the windowsill, in the greenhouse or as cuttings if they are he althy and robust. Overwintering requires a good supply of light, moderate watering and a constant supply of heat of at least 22-24 degrees Celsius.
Overwintering tomatoes on the windowsill - this is how the plan works
Instead of exposing tomato plants to the dangers of diseases and pests outdoors, many hobby gardeners grow the vegetables in pots on the windowsill. Given the limited space available, small cocktail tomatoes are recommended. Old varieties in particular have proven robustness to cope with temperature fluctuations and lack of light during wintering.
- Amish Cherry: numerous small, orange fruits
- Red Pearl: juicy red mini fruits with a sweet aroma
- Balconi Red: petite growth height up to 50 centimeters
- Better: German classic, red fruits, robust and resistant
On the warm windowsill, the temperatures should not become a problem for the tomato plants during the winter. Rather, a bottleneck is caused by inadequate lighting conditions. You can compensate for this with the help of suitable plant lamps (€89.00 at Amazon). A mirror on the south window should be enough to increase the amount of light thanks to reflection. Otherwise, all central care measures remain in place, such as regular watering, fertilizing and rooting out.
This is how tomato plants survive the winter in the greenhouse
Hobby gardeners who have a heated greenhouse do not have to go without freshly harvested tomatoes in winter. A mighty stick tomato will hardly survive the winter in this climate; There are good prospects of success for small varieties, such as cherry tomatoes or wild tomatoes. How to put the plan into action:
- move the pots from the balcony to the greenhouse in late summer or early autumn
- the tomato plants must be vital and he althy
- choose the sunniest place as a location
- additional lighting with plant lamps during the critical months of November, December and January
- Maintain temperatures of 22-24 degrees
- water and fertilize less
- watch out for diseases and pests like a hawk
As practical tests have shown, leaves and shoots bleach during the extremely low light phase. In the warm greenhouse climate, the tomatoes still ripen. After the solstice on December 21st, the appearance improves and the tomato plants recover.
Overwinter as cuttings
Robust wild tomatoes can, with a little luck, survive the winter as cuttings on the windowsill, in the winter garden or greenhouse. This is how it works:
- cut 8-10 centimeter long offshoots from he althy tomato plants in August
- defoliate the lower area
- root in water in a dark glass
- then plant in pots with nutritious substrate
- care in a bright, warm location, like adult specimens
Tips & Tricks
To prevent tomato plants from rotting during the winter, place the pot on a turntable by the window. You move this 20 degrees further every day so that the shoots on the side facing away from the window do not go looking for more light. Specialist retailers also offer solar or battery-operated turntables.
