Features of growing cherry tomatoes on the windowsill at home
Many gardeners extend the pleasure of growing their plants until mid-fall and even during winter. For example, cherry tomatoes on the windowsill have an aesthetic appearance and, with proper care, can bear fruit all year round. There are many types of these plants in various colors. They belong to the nightshade family, do not require much effort in caring for them and will bear many fruits in gratitude. Fresh miniature tomatoes on the dining table in winter look exotic and have an unusual, sweetish taste.
Care features
Creating favorable conditions for normal plant growth is a major concern for gardeners. To grow tomatoes in an apartment, you will need to create an environment as close as possible to the field. Let's consider the main criteria that should be taken care of first.
Earth
To grow tomatoes, you need a soil of neutral acidity, mixed with nutrients such as:
- humus;
- ash;
- superphosphate;
- peat;
- chicken droppings.
This is enough to plant seeds and grow seedlings. Top dressing for a further period is selected individually. The main thing is not to overfeed tomatoes, an excess of nutrients in the soil will lead to their accumulation in the fruits.
German gardeners use one trick when growing tomatoes at home. It turns out that seedlings can be planted in ordinary metal buckets. Iron ions interact with the ground and inhibit the vital activity of soil bacteria. As a result, the plant does not suffer from late blight and bears fruit better.
Before planting seeds, it is recommended to disinfect the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate.
Lighting
Lighting is an important factor in the life of tomatoes. They are very fond of light, and additional lighting is usually prepared. Without proper lighting cherry tomatoes do not grow intensively, the stems and leaves lose their rich bright green color. A small number of ovaries are formed and they fall off.
It is recommended to select special lamps that shine in the following ranges:
- blue;
- green;
- red.
But can ordinary incandescent bulbs be used? By heating the tungsten filament, they generate light in a range close to red. The violet spectrum is practically inaccessible for them. In addition, the lamps emit infrared rays that heat the soil and the bush itself, which can lead to plant death.
But how to grow Cherry tomatoes on a windowsill without using different temperature controls? It is recommended to prepare luminaires consisting of three LED strips - respectively blue, green and red.They emit monochrome light in the specified spectra. They must be installed at a distance of at least 15 - 20 cm to the bush. Some amateurs use bottom lighting, but this does not play a special role.
Blue and red light is very useful for the development of the stem and leaves in the initial stage for tomatoes.
Green light is required to grow fruit. The backlight is used in the daytime in a natural natural cycle. Plants rest at night, the inclusion of LED lights is not required.
Temperature
The most favorable temperature for the development of tomatoes is in the range of 18 - 22 degrees. Exceeding or lowering it will lead to the suppression of vital functions and the death of the plant. But how to grow tomatoes in an apartment if tomatoes are so sensitive to temperature? That is why it is recommended to use LED lamps for illumination. The working surface temperature of these devices does not exceed 40 degrees, otherwise they simply fail without causing any harm to the plant.
How to plant
How to choose the right seeds, because there are more than a dozen different varieties of Cherry tomatoes? It all depends on personal preference.
The method of growing seeds is no different from the field:
- Seeds are placed in a damp cloth prepared in advance at a distance of at least 1 cm from each other.
- Placed in a dark place.
- Maintain the required temperature and humidity.
- Germinate until the appearance of seed stalks up to 1-2 cm long.
We prepare plastic cups or boxes with earth. After that, you can plant the germinated seeds in a pre-prepared environment. Then we expose them to the light or to the greenhouse. We organize daily care and lighting.
The rapid cultivation of seedlings directly depends on the selected irrigation and feeding schedule. The earth should not be wet all the time - this will lead to rapid acidification of the soil and the development of phytophthora. It is best to wait until the soil is dry after watering, then loosen the soil. After a while, water the ground again.
In the autumn-winter period, growing seedlings has its own characteristics. One of the mistakes is the organization of a small vegetable garden directly on the windowsill of a private apartment. From under the window sill and windows, especially in winter, cold air comes in, which can seriously interfere with all beginnings. It is best to grow seedlings under plastic wrap, and start hardening before planting in an improvised garden. In this case, cold air will not enter through the cracks in the window, and the draft will not damage the plant.
If necessary, picketing of seedlings can be carried out - this will allow the rest of the sprouts to develop better. Cherry tomatoes are not houseplants, they need more living space to grow. After the hardening procedure, ready-made seedlings can be planted, having prepared a small garden in advance. Suitable for planting seedlings:
- Round earthenware pot with smooth edges. How Cherry tomatoes grow depends on the variety, some giants can grow up to a meter. Usually, the pot is hung in such a way that the bush forms not only upwards, but also hangs along the edges.
- An ordinary metal bucket will not cause additional trouble for its owner. The only thing that needs to be taken care of is the edges. Potted tomatoes have the advantage of not being damaged by the glossy surface of their home.
- You can grow Cherry on a windowsill or veranda using small wooden boxes. Choose the east side as tomatoes are very light-loving.
As you can see, there are at least several options, it all depends on the conditions and the gardener's imagination.
Growing fruits
If all of the above conditions are met, it is quite possible to grow Cherry tomatoes at home and get a good harvest. It remains only to agree on the schedule of watering and feeding and closely monitor the growth of plants.
For several days, the seedlings may look unsightly, all the bushes were grown in greenhouse conditions and have not yet adapted to their new environment. Gradually, the stems and leaves should acquire a rich, bright green color.
With a lack of light, the sprouts will stretch excessively, trying to reach the light source. Since they were planted in an unusual environment for them, it is important to immediately correctly position the backlight and main lighting. Bending in pursuit of light, the plant loses its strength. Uniform "washing" with light will give an additional stimulus to growth.
If you notice excessive elongation and stems, this could be a sign of insufficient lighting. One interesting method can be used. Plant two identical bushes next to each other as an experiment. Using a soft brush, lightly brush over the leaves and the stem of one of them. The leaves contain sensitive hairs that are deformed. Surprisingly, the growth of the bush slows down, and the stem thickens.
If you are carried away by the very process of caring for the plants, you will undoubtedly get a high yield of Cherry tomatoes at home or in a private greenhouse, on a veranda or even in a garage: with proper care and attention to nature, success will surely await you.
