Types of Tomatoes
Select the tomato seeds you would like to grow in February or March. Many varieties of tomatoes are excellent choices for container gardens. There are even varieties of tomatoes called dwarf/container tomatoes, which are perfect for growing in small places. Make sure to pay attention to what type of plant you are choosing, as there are two main differences.
The determinate type will be easiest to maintain without having to use many stakes or tomato cages. This type of plant grows to a set point and then stops growing.
The indeterminate type of tomato plant, has more vines. It will continue to grow even after producing flowers and fruit. It will need more support for its extending vines. This type does however continue producing tomatoes into the fall.
The most popular dwarf/container, determinates are Tiny Tim, Cherry Gold, Red Robin and Small Fry. These varieties take from 45- 70 days to produce tomatoes. Other cherry-type tomato plants, like Large Red Cherry and Super Sweet 100, are indeterminates, needing tomato cages or stakes to keep the vines supported. The larger popular indeterminates are Husky Hybrid versions, which have larger fruit and longer extended harvests.
Start seeds early in small pots, or containers like Jiffy peat pots and pellets, which work excellent for this, as they are a pot and soil all in one. Plant the seeds according to directions on the seed packets, paying attention to seed depth. After sowing the seeds, water pots generously until soaked. Find a warm, sunny location, but not direct sun, for the pots. Moisture and warmth are ideal for starting seeds.
Make sure the soil remains damp but not drenched. Tomatoes take about 5-7 days to start. When the first leaves begin to show, make sure the plants have air circulating, if they were covered by plastic or a Jiffy greenhouse dome. Place the pots in a sunny location to ensure their growth. If these seedlings do not receive enough light, they will become tall and spindly, resulting in the plants toppling by not being able to hold up the weight of their leaves.
Planting in containers
When the plants have developed their leaves fully, it is time to transplant them into the permanent containers, which will be their home for the rest of the growing season. Each plant should have about a gallon-size pot. You can plant several plants in one pot but make sure they have adequate spacing and room for growth. Dry out the small pots by ceasing water for a day or two. If the plants have become spindly, bury the stem deeper in the soil, but make sure the roots will have enough room to extend. Surround each plant with soil, patting down the loose soil. Water each plant until soaked. Apply Miracle-Gro or other fertilizers if you so wish. Place the plants in a sunny location that will get regular daylong sun. Water the plants regularly, an important key to producing healthy tomatoes. Also, make sure to provide stakes or cages for those plants that need to grow vertically.
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