 |
Growing Tomatoes in A Container GardenNo room to plant tomatoes in open ground? Try a container garden. This is a great way to produce the homegrown flavor you are looking for! The following factors are worth considering when creating a container garden for growing tomato sauce. Varieties For best results, consider growing sauce tomato varieties designed for container growing. One variety I know of is called "Windowbox Roma" and is available through either Totally Tomatoes or Territorial Seed Company. When considering other varieties, definitely opt for the "Determinate" types. They are shorter and more bushlike so they don't require staking. Gary Ibsen of TomatoFest , an organic, heirloom seed company, recommends these heirloom varieties for container growing: Russian Big Roma, Long Tom, Andes, New Zealand Pink Pear, San Marzano Redorta, Amish Paste, Dad’s Barber Paste, Purple Russian, Soil Plants grown in a container garden are limited to the soil, water and nutrients that you add to the container as opposed to their counterparts in the ground that can send out roots in all directions to search for almost whatever they need. For soil, I prefer to use a ready-to-use mix that I purchase in a bag from my local plant nursery. My favorite brand is Intrepid Coco Coir Potting Soil. This product is not always easy to find. Click here to go to their website for a retailer. I buy the Intrepid potting soil at the City People's Garden Store in Seattle, Washington. Coir comes from coconuts and is a more environmentally-friendly alternative to peat. Another coir-based potting soil is "Perfect Start Natural Potting Soil" from Gardens Alive! I haven't tried this particular potting soil, however I use Gardens Alive Natural Beginnings Seed-Starting Mix exclusively for starting my tomato seeds and I have been very pleased by the results. Container Almost any type of container can be used to grow tomatoes, as long as it has never been in contact with a hazardous chemical. You may want to consider
where the planter will sit and whether it's style goes with your decor, if that is important to you. Another option is the new, upside-down planter. The Gardener's Revolution Planter available from
Gardener's Supply Company Other considerations include: --Weight. Will you be able to move it? Sometimes moving the plant to keep it in the sun can be helpful. There are wheeled bases available for placing under heavy plant pots to make them easier to move. --The type of material it's made from. More porous materials such as terra cotta or wood will evaporate moisture from them more quickly on a hot day, thus drying out the plant. Not a problem if you are home and available to keep it consistently watered. --Size. Larger containers can hold more soil providing more moisture retention and nutrients as well as more room for roots to grow. Keep in mind that in the ground, tomatoes need to be spaced at least a foot apart. --Covering. Would it be possible to cover the plant and container if the weather turns cool? Tomato plants that can be protected with a removable cover are more likely to produce fully ripened fruit especially in climates that are not always consistently warm and dry. Nutrients Some potting soils contain fertilizer for potted plants, check to see what type of fertilizer is used. Nitrogen-rich compost or fertilizer will produce more foliage than tomatoes. Tomatoes like plenty of phosphorous. Tomatoes in a container will do best with a liquid tomato food or liquid seaweed fertilizer. Drainage Make sure the container has drainage holes on the bottom. In addition, place large gravel or broken clay pot pieces in the bottom before filling with soil. I also like to put a scoop or two of castings from my worm bin on top of the drainage material before I add soil. Planting Place tomato plants deep into moistened (not wet) soil, covering most of the stem and leaving a small tuft of leaves sticking out of the top. The stem hairs will produce more roots to better support the plant. Enjoy a yummy tomato sauce harvest in 3 months or so!
|
