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54-Container Gardening Tomato
from:Tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetables, or fruits to be precise. In ancient times tomatoes were known as the “love fruit”. Today we use tomatoes in a large variety of different dishes and its culinary appeal spans almost every cuisine on the planet. There are over 4000 varieties of tomatoes ranging from the cherry and grape versions through to the huge beefsteak kind. High prices in the grocery store have led a lot of people into the habit of growing their own produce. Those living in apartments or condos aren’t left out either. One of the most popular ways to grow them is container gardening tomato style.
The first thing a new gardener needs to decide is what type of container they want to use for their tomato plants. It needs to be a bucket ranging from 3-5 gallons and have adequate drainage. Any type of container in that size requirement will work as long as it has holes in the bottom. Container gardening tomato plants is sure to be a success in the event that water can properly run off the container. Some people have chosen wooden buckets or old watering cans as homes for their container tomatoes.
The next consideration is the kind of soil to be used. Most experts recommend using an artificial soil, like potting soil. This way you avoid transplanting any disease or lack of nutrients from getting to your tomato crop. Using artificial soil also eliminates any soil compaction that often happens in the middle of the growing season. Container gardening tomato plants will often die or produce less if the soil becomes compact. The roots simply can’t grow if they have nowhere to spread.
Two other helpful hints include the use of fertilizer and the practice of staking. Tomato plants are notorious for being greedy when it comes to food. They like it – a lot. Feeding the plants every few days is optimal for the best results. At the very least, tomato plants should be fed once a week. The option of staking the plants is entirely up to you. Some gardeners swear by the practice and others don’t believe it helps. If you do choose to stake your container gardening tomato plants be sure to use twine or some other method to secure the branches to the stake. Also find a way to secure the stake itself. Failing to do so may result in the stake doing more harm than good in a strong wind.
To beat high prices in the grocery store and have the satisfaction of growing your own “love fruits” consider container gardening tomato plants. A little care will produce huge benefits.
Annual Container Gardening News