What container to plant balcony tomatoes in. We grow tomatoes on the balcony with our own hands. Growing tomatoes on an unglazed balcony

September 14, 2016
Specialization: master in the construction of plasterboard structures, finishing works and styling floor coverings. Installation of door and window units, finishing of facades, installation of electrical, plumbing and heating - I can give detailed advice on all types of work.

In this article I will tell you how to grow tomatoes on the balcony; this crop is well suited for urban conditions, but to get good harvest, need to be created for plants optimal conditions. In fact, there is nothing complicated in the work process, and all problems most often arise from the fact that people do not know the important nuances of growing or use dubious advice, of which there is a lot on the Internet.

The process of growing tomatoes on the balcony

This will be a kind of step-by-step instructions, divided into 4 main stages. There are no trifles in work, every action has great importance and has an impact on the final result, so do not ignore any of the recommendations.

Step one - choosing quality seeds

If I say that almost half of the success depends on the choice of planting material, I am unlikely to be mistaken. The fact is that specially bred varieties are suitable for balconies, which are adapted to the conditions of city apartments; they are distinguished by such characteristics as small plant size, shortened ripening times and unpretentiousness to external conditions.

I will tell you about the varieties that I used when growing, but this is only a small part of the possible options:

"Balcony Miracle"	Perhaps the most famous and popular option for growing in an apartment. The fruits are round, bright red, ripen in about 85-90 days. The bushes do not require garter; one plant bears an average of about 2 kilograms of fruit. Tomatoes are suitable for both salads and pickling
"Angelica"	One of the fastest ripening varieties - the fruits ripen within 80 days after germination, which allows you to get a harvest before an outbreak of late blight, which usually occurs in August. The plants are not tall, the fruits are medium-sized - from 40 to 70 grams, does not require staking
"Pearl"	My favorite variety due to its unpretentiousness - the plants tolerate cold and heat, lack of moisture and nutrients in the soil. The fruits are slightly elongated and small in size; their characteristic feature is that the content of mineral salts and sugars in them is twice as high as in other varieties
"Bonsai micro"	This variety is distinguished by its decorative properties - the bushes grow only 12 cm high, they all have the same shape, up to 1 kg of tomatoes are harvested from a bush, they are small - they weigh about 15-20 grams. The advantage of this option is that it can be planted in small pots volume 2.5-3 liters

I do not rule out that there are many other excellent varieties; when choosing, you need to take into account the following factors: purpose (special options for window sills are best), size of the bushes, ripening period. Buy seeds only from trustworthy stores, otherwise you may end up with one and a half meter giants instead of stunted plants.

Balcony tomatoes of Western selection can also be considered; very often they even exceed our options in terms of yield, but they are more difficult to purchase, and the cost will be several times higher.

Step two - preparing everything you need

As I noted above, we will consider growing tomatoes on the balcony step by step, we have dealt with the first stage, but in addition to seeds you need to have a set of necessary items on hand, we will deal with them too:

• The easiest way to grow seedlings is to use conventional plastic cups , if you wish, you can buy special boxes for seedlings, but if you want to save money, then the first option is perfect. There is no need to make any holes in the bottom, the plants grow well just like that;

• Nowadays there is no need to prepare a soil mixture, just buy ready soil V the right amount . Remember that one adult plant should require approximately 5 liters of soil (for the Bonsai Micro variety, 3 liters is enough), based on this, the required volume is calculated;
• For mature plants, pots or flower boxes are used, you can build containers yourself; this option is good because you can make structures to suit the parameters of your balcony.

Don’t forget to prepare a place for plants in advance; ideally, if they stand on a hill for the best results, you can build simple benches for this. Balconies facing south and southeast are best suited.

Step three - sowing seeds

Now let’s figure out how to grow seedlings from seeds; the process can be done in two ways: without germination and with germination seed material. Let's look at each of the options in more detail and start with planting without germination:

• First of all, you need to soak the seed material in a solution of potassium permanganate, this is necessary, firstly, for disinfection, and secondly, in order to separate low-quality seeds. It is very simple to distinguish them: good seeds will sink to the bottom, and empty ones will remain on top, and they need to be drained after 15 minutes;

• Next, you need to fill our cups with soil and pour warm water over it.. A hole is made in the middle with a depth of 1-1.5 cm, no more is needed, 2 seeds are placed in it, which are covered with earth, there is no need to compact anything, as this will complicate the germination of seeds;
• If you sow seeds in a large container, then the distance between them should be at least 3 centimeters, and between the rows you need to make a gap of at least 6 centimeters;

• The crops are covered with transparent polyethylene and placed in a warm place; shoots will appear in 5-7 days. You can transfer the containers to the windowsill, as the sprouts need light. Optimal temperature for seedlings – 20-23 degrees daytime and 16-18 degrees at night, try to maintain just such a regime;
• If you planted in cups and you grew 2 plants, then the weaker sprout must be carefully cut off from the soil; you cannot pull it out, as you can damage the roots of a neighboring tomato;
• Watering is done approximately once a week, water is used for this room temperature , standing for at least 24 hours. You can additionally spray the plants with a regular sprayer;
• Hardening of seedlings can begin about 2 weeks after germination; to do this, first simply open the window, then you can take the containers out onto the balcony and keep them there for a long time. open window, if the weather is warm and calm. There is no need to check what temperature the seedlings can withstand and take them out into the cold; such extreme actions can ruin the fruits of your labor.

The second planting option differs from the first in the way of preparing seeds, I will only talk about initial stage, since further actions will be the same as in the above option:

• First of all, the seeds are soaked for 15-20 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate, all floating elements are removed;

If your seeds have been processed (this is easy to see by their characteristic color), then there is no need to disinfect them.

• Then you need to prepare a solution with a growth regulator; personally, I usually use Epin, but it can be any other similar option. The instructions will tell you how to make the composition; seeds are placed in it and left for about 10 hours, this will improve their germination and accelerate growth;

• Soaked seeds should be placed on a damp cloth or gauze, covered and left in a warm place.. After three to four days, sprouts should appear; all seeds that have not begun to grow can be discarded;
• Next, you need to make holes in the prepared containers and drop one seed in there.. To avoid damaging the sprouts, I usually use a toothpick; wet seeds cling well to it and can be carefully placed in the soil. Further actions are produced according to the algorithm described above.

Above we looked at how to plant and how to care for seedlings, now we will figure out how fertilizing is done, since this is also an important part of agricultural technology. The easiest way is to use a ready-made complex fertilizer for tomatoes; it can be purchased at any specialty store. The work is done as follows:

• The first feeding is done 12 days after the sprouts emerge;
• The plants are treated the second time 8-9 days after the first application of fertilizers;
• The third time is done approximately a week after the second and at least a week before transplanting the plants to permanent place.

To prevent fungal diseases, you can treat the seedlings twice with a milk solution (50 g per 500 g of water).

Do not forget about the fact that plants are always drawn to the light, therefore, in order for your tomatoes to turn out even, you need to turn them with the other side to the window every 3-4 days.

Step four - transplanting seedlings and caring for plants

Now let’s figure out how to properly grow full-fledged tomatoes on the balcony; the process begins with transplanting seedlings:

• As I noted above, it is best to use cups, since you can get a plant with a piece of soil and transplant it to a permanent place, this creates minimal stress for the plant during transplantation and ensures almost one hundred percent survival rate;
• The size of the pot should be approximately 5-7 liters; for dwarf varieties, 3 liters is enough. You can also use long boxes; tomatoes are planted in them at a distance of 30 cm from each other, so that as they grow they do not suffer from lack of space;
• 2-3 cm is poured onto the bottom of the containers drainage material, the easiest way is to use expanded clay, which is sold in bags and costs little. It will allow excess moisture to drain through the hole, which must be at the bottom of the pot or box;

• Next, you need to pour the soil into the pot, after which it is watered with warm water. Before planting a plant in a pot, you need to make a hole the size of the seedling with soil, after which the plant is placed there. The soil is compacted and watered again, at which point the work can be considered successfully completed;

• Now let's figure out how to grow a rich harvest at home, first of all you need to provide the plants sunlight, they should be located on the south or east side, this is ideal;
• Watering the plants is done as the top layer of soil dries; on hot days this is done every other day., in cooler weather less often. The soil should not be overdried, but overmoistening will not be beneficial either;

• Once every 10-12 days, fertilizing is done with the same complex fertilizer.. Good results brings foliar treatment - spraying with a solution boric acid(1 g per 10 liters of water), this prevents flowers from falling off and improves fruit set;

• The question often arises whether it is necessary to plant stepsons; most varieties do not allow stepsons, so there is no need for this work. But if your stepsons are growing, then you need to break them off with your hands at a distance of half a centimeter from the base;
• Another important question– Is it necessary to pollinate tomatoes on the balcony? I only looked at self-pollinating varieties, so you don't need to do anything, but to improve plant set, I still recommend shaking the plants lightly in the morning;

Treat the plants with the preparation “Ovary” before pollinating them by shaking, fruit formation will noticeably improve

• To speed up the formation of fruits and their ripening, the method of tearing the roots is used, for this you need to grab the base of the plant and slightly pull up. You shouldn’t be too zealous, you need to tear the small roots, and thereby improve the nutrition of the ovaries;
• In order for tomatoes to ripen faster, it is necessary to remove already ripe fruits, this will help increase the flow of nutrients to green tomatoes.

Traditional technology involves harvesting in the summer, but many people ask whether it is possible to grow tomatoes in the winter. This is possible if you follow the technology discussed above.

It is best to take the “Pinocchio” variety, as it grows well in indoor conditions, this is especially important if it is cool on the balcony in winter and you have to keep the plants indoors. The basic materials are the same as in the case described above, but you need to add a lamp to the list daylight, winter daylight not very good, so you will have to use an artificial option.

The work is carried out as follows:

• Let's figure out when to plant Pinocchio: if you need tomatoes for the New Year, then you need to plant them in early October. You can do this with both dry and sprouted seeds; the second option in this case is preferable due to faster germination;
• The seeds are planted in cups and placed near the window in order to provide them quality lighting, at a height of 25 cm you need to fix a fluorescent lamp and turn it on in the morning and evening, this will allow the plants to develop more intensively;

• In this case, there is no point in hardening the plants, because they will always be indoors; here it is much more important to ensure the required temperature for the plants;
• After transplanting into pots, you must again place a lamp over the plants, since tomatoes grow much slower without light;
• Do tomatoes need to be pollinated? Everything here is the same as in the first case: shake the plants slightly during the flowering period and use preparations to improve fruit formation; they are especially relevant in winter.
• When the fruits begin to ripen, do not wait until they are completely red; you can also pick brown tomatoes; they will ripen on the windowsill, but the rest of the tomatoes will receive more nutrients and they will ripen faster.

To grow a great tomato crop, you don’t have to have personal plot and a dacha outside the city. You can easily grow this vegetable crop on the balcony, getting an excellent harvest all year round. We offer you a step-by-step description of a guide to growing tomatoes on the balcony. We will tell you how to grow tomatoes on a balcony and on a glazed loggia.

Choosing tomato varieties for balcony growing

The key to getting a good harvest of tomatoes when growing them on a balcony is choosing the right variety and a specific variety of this vegetable. In each case, the choice will vary depending on the characteristics of your loggia. On it you can plant varieties of early, medium or late ripening, tall or short. Experienced gardeners recommend choosing the following varieties of tomatoes for growing on the balcony:

The Cherry variety and its varieties are also very popular when growing tomatoes on the balcony. Such tomatoes on the balcony are characterized small size fruits, while they bear fruit abundantly, allowing for an excellent harvest. Depending on their variety, cherry tomatoes can be pink, yellow, red or black. We can recommend growing such cherry tomatoes also for decorative landscaping of loggias and balconies. We offer you a detailed description of how to grow tomatoes on the balcony.

Proper preparation of seeds for sowing

The yield indicators when growing tomatoes on the balcony depend on how correctly the seeds are prepared for sowing. It is recommended to properly prepare seeds for planting. This work is carried out in February, and in early March, seedlings are planted on a windowsill in the house or on a warm glazed loggia. Every homeowner can grow tomatoes on the balcony, growing them step by step is not particularly difficult.

Preparing tomato seeds for planting on the balcony involves the following:

Stored tomato seeds have excellent germination rates, so there is no need to germinate them before sowing. After hardening and stratification, the seeds should be slightly dried, after which you can begin sowing seedlings.

How to grow on the balcony

The future largely depends on how strong and viable the seedlings are grown. future harvest. That is why the seedlings need to be provided with appropriate care, which will guarantee an excellent harvest on the loggia.

Seeds must be planted in a wooden or plastic box., whose height is 8-10 centimeters. A layer of drainage is poured onto the bottom, and a soil mixture of sand, peat and fertile soil is placed on top. The soil is watered generously with warm water, after which grooves are made with a small pencil to a depth of 1 centimeter. The distance between these grooves is 4 centimeters. Seeds are buried in the resulting depressions at a distance of 2 centimeters from each other. The containers should be covered with film and kept in a warm place until the first shoots appear.

Caring for seedlings is not particularly difficult. You will need to do the following:

• Once every two to three days, the plantings are watered with a spray bottle.
• The temperature should be maintained at least 20 degrees.
• When growing seedlings, additional lighting should be provided, and the daylight hours should be 15-17 hours.
• Seedlings can be fed with a mineral solution that contains nitrogen and phosphorus.
• Immediately before transferring the seedlings, hardening should be done, for which the bushes are taken out into the open air for 15-20 minutes, and then more.

Transplanting seedlings to the balcony

Around the beginning of April, when the seedlings have 5-6 true leaves and there is no chance of frost, the seedlings can be transferred to a glazed balcony.

When transferring seedlings to the balcony, they should be transplanted into containers bigger size. For this you can use flower pots or plastic boxes of similar size.

Can be used:

• Wooden boxes.
• Deep basins and plastic buckets.
• Cut plastic five-liter bottles.
• Flower pots.
• Balcony flower boxes.

During such a transplant, the so-called picking seedlings, for which the main root is cut by one third, which, in turn, improves the development of the root system, and, consequently, such seedlings become stronger, they grow faster and bear fruit better.

Important. Low-growing tomato varieties can be planted several in a box or pot at a distance of at least 5 centimeters from each other. But tall plants are planted exclusively one at a time in a pot and container.

After transplant The windows on the loggia should be slightly darkened and the temperature should be maintained at 18 degrees. Providing such conditions will allow the plants to better withstand the stress of replanting, they will quickly be able to adapt to a new place, the stems will straighten and the plants will begin to grow. After about two days, the darkening can be removed.

How to care for balcony tomatoes

Balcony tomatoes should be provided with conditions close to natural. P The following planting care will be required:

• Observe the correct temperature regime.
• Loosen the soil regularly.
• Water your balcony plants regularly.
• Carry out pollination.
• Feed fruit-bearing bushes.

All balcony tomatoes react poorly to lower temperatures. Even with a slight cold snap, growth stunting and even death may occur. Optimal temperature on the balcony when growing tomato seedlings is 20 degrees. Remember that it is necessary to maintain humidity at a natural level, so you will have to regularly ventilate the balcony, while avoiding the formation of drafts and a sharp drop in temperature.

For irrigation use settled tap water. It is recommended to water once every week and a half. Overmoistening should not be allowed, as this can lead to the formation of various fungal diseases.

For pollination of tomatoes grown on the balcony will need to attract pollinating insects, for which you should open the windows during the day and place various flowerpots with fragrant flowers on the balcony. Artificial pollination of balcony tomatoes can also be performed. You will need to spray the plants with Ovary, which stimulates the appearance of ovaries, and also gently shake the blooming flowers with a soft brush.

Regular loosening of the soil improves soil aeration, the root system receives the oxygen it needs, the plants will grow quickly and bear fruit well. Loosening should be carried out superficially, to a depth of several centimeters. This work should be carried out several hours after watering.

Top dressing tomato grown on the balcony is carried out using various mineral complexes. We can recommend you the Kemira universal fertilizer and the Solution product. If possible, organic matter should be used, including diluted chicken droppings and mullein. When feeding balcony tomatoes with organic matter and mineral compounds the plants bear fruit well, and the homeowner has the opportunity to obtain the maximum possible yield.

When growing tomatoes on the balcony, it is recommended to perform pinching, that is, removing excess shoots that can take away the vitality of the plants, impairing their fruiting. Such shoots are removed when they reach a length of 2-3 centimeters. After removing the shoots, the cut area should be sprinkled wood ash.

Diseases of tomatoes when grown on the balcony

When growing tomatoes on loggias and balconies, certain problems with fungal diseases may appear . In this case you should reduce the amount of watering, regularly ventilate the room, and also spray the plantings with Bordeaux mixture. This Bordeaux mixture is an excellent remedy prevention, it strengthens plants, improving productivity.

Growing tomatoes on a glass balcony

We'll tell you how to plant tomatoes on open loggia. On an unglazed loggia and balcony, tomatoes are grown using the same technology, the only difference is in the timing of planting seeds and removing seedlings to the open air.

Depending on the climate in your region, you can place grown tomato seedlings on an open balcony in mid or late May. At the same time, the gardener will also need to fertilize the plantings, water them regularly, plant them, loosen the soil and water the plants once every two weeks.

Harvesting

Harvesting when growing tomatoes on glazed and open balconies, this is done as the vegetables ripen. Planting on the loggia various varieties tomatoes, you can extend the fruiting period, getting the maximum possible harvest. By providing appropriate conditions and growing plantings on a warm glazed balcony, you can achieve fruiting from tomatoes from May to the end of October.

Conclusion

Growing tomatoes on a closed loggia and open balcony is not particularly difficult. It is only necessary choose the right tomato varieties and prepare them properly for planting, grow strong, viable seedlings on the windowsill and subsequently provide the plants with the care they need, which will allow you to get an excellent harvest.

Today, not only flowers and spicy herbs, but also various vegetables are increasingly grown on open balconies and glass loggias. You can often see green bushes with red tomatoes on balconies. Even tomatoes grown in small containers can produce a good harvest. However, to do this you need to select the appropriate variety, prepare the soil and fulfill all the conditions for growing tomatoes on the balcony.

You can grow almost any variety of tomatoes on your balcony. However, if the loggia area is small, then it is best to choose low-growing bushes of the Dubok, Malysh or Cherry varieties, which are distinguished by small fruits but good yield. You should also pay attention to special varieties of tomatoes for the balcony:

1. Balcony miracle - bred for growing at home hybrid variety differs in bush height of 50 cm. When good care it produces fruits weighing up to 65 grams. From one bush you can harvest up to 2 kg of tomatoes per season.
2. Balcony Yelou is a hybrid early-ripening variety up to 45 cm high. Tomatoes of this variety have a bright yellow color and are suitable for canning.
3. Pinocchio - an unpretentious balcony variety is different early maturation fruits
4. F1 Balcony Red is an early ripening variety with medium-sized fruits and a bush height of up to 30 cm. The advantage of this variety is that it does not need to be cut off. The fruits have a sugary, pleasant taste.

If space allows, you can also grow tall bushes on the balcony, tying them to supports. It is recommended to grow in closed loggias self-pollinating varieties or pollinate plants yourself.

Growing tomato seedlings

At home, growing tomato seedlings for a balcony is no different from growing seedlings for a vegetable garden.

When to plant tomatoes for seedlings

The timing of sowing seeds depends on the selected variety and on which balcony the tomatoes will grow. If the loggia is glazed and it is already warm in April, then sowing can be done at the end of February and early March. Tomato seeds that will grow on an open balcony should be sown later. Here, the time for sowing seeds depends on when it becomes warm in the region. If pots of tomatoes will be taken out onto the balcony only at the beginning of June, then sowing should be done in April.

Preparing seeds and soil

Today they sell in stores planting material, which does not require pre-treatment. If you use seeds from the market or collected yourself, it is recommended to first disinfect them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, then wrap them in a damp cloth, place them in cellophane and place them in a warm place. Planting can be done after the seeds have sprouts.

Soil for tomatoes can be purchased at a specialty store or made with your own hands from humus and turf (1:1) or compost and old garden soil. For nutritional value, superphosphate or wood ash is added to the substrate, and for looseness, sawdust or peat is added.

If soil from the garden is used, it is recommended to disinfect it by heating it in a water bath or calcining it in the oven. After such treatment, all pest larvae and spores of harmful fungi present in the soil will die. Then the soil must be placed in a container with a lid and kept warm for two weeks so that bacteria beneficial to plants can grow and multiply in it.

Sowing tomato seeds with step-by-step photos

To grow seedlings of balcony tomatoes, you can prepare common containers or individual pots. Even juice boxes can be used as common containers, and instead of pots, you can take disposable cups.

Sowing tomato seeds is done as follows:

The containers are filled with pre-moistened substrate.

If containers or boxes are used, small indentations are made in them with a pencil or stick at a distance of 3-5 cm.

Tomato seeds are placed in the prepared holes and covered with soil on top.

The crops are sprayed with warm water from a spray bottle and covered with film or cellophane.

Containers with crops should be placed in a warm place. Every day, the polyethylene should be removed for a few minutes to ventilate the soil. If the soil on top begins to dry out, carefully moisten it with a spray bottle using warm water.

Caring for tomato seedlings - photo

From high-quality seeds under the right conditions, seedlings will begin to appear within a week. They will need to be placed in a well-lit place, for which you can use a window sill. It is not recommended to place seedlings on southern windowsills, where young plants can be burned by direct sunlight.

Caring for tomato seedlings includes the following procedures:

Regular watering. You need to make sure that the soil does not dry out, otherwise the still fragile seedlings will simply dry out. It is best to spray the soil around the seedlings immediately after it dries upper layer. But don't overdo it with moisturizing! Seedlings growing all the time in damp soil are often infected with blackleg and die.

Picking tomatoes.

When two or three true leaves appear on the tomato seedlings (about 2 weeks after emergence), they are planted in separate pots. To do this, you can use plastic disposable cups or special containers.

After picking, water the plants less frequently, using only settled water at room temperature.

1. Feeding tomato seedlings. If the tomatoes were immediately planted in separate pots, then when two true leaves appear on them, the seedlings are fed with mineral fertilizers. can be used universal fertilizer Hello turbo. Pickled tomatoes do not need to be fed for the first week, since they were planted in nutritious soil. Then the seedlings are fed every week.

Remember! To prevent the seedlings from stretching out, they are placed in a well-lit place where it is not very hot. After picking, tomato seedlings can be left on glass loggia, if the air temperature there at night does not drop below +15 degrees.

How to grow tomatoes on the balcony

Transplanting tomatoes into pots - step-by-step photos

After about a month, the grown and strengthened tomato bushes can be transplanted into large pots or other containers, where they will grow all summer:

• for low-growing varieties, containers with a volume of 3-5 liters will be sufficient;
• tall varieties are transplanted into pots or other containers with a volume of 8-12 liters.

You can also grow balcony tomatoes in deep boxes. Even a thick, large one can be used as a container. plastic bag, having previously made drainage holes at the bottom.

First, drainage is placed at the bottom of the pots, and then moist soil. Tomato bushes along with a lump of earth must be carefully removed from the pots and placed in a pre-prepared hole. In order for plants to have a powerful and well-developed root system, it is recommended to tear off the cotyledons and several lower leaves

And deepen the bush to the remaining leaves. The seedling is sprinkled with a nutritious soil mixture up to the lower leaves and watered well.

For the first week, the transplanted bushes should be kept in the shade, and when they adapt, they should be moved to a well-lit place.

Caring for balcony tomatoes

When growing tomatoes on a loggia, you should remember that their roots are in a limited space, and therefore require more frequent moistening and fertilizing than in open ground.

Watering tomatoes 2-3 times a week with settled water. During the hot season, you may need to water the bushes more often.

Feeding tomatoes should be carried out every 10 days. For this purpose, both mineral and ready-made organic fertilizers are used. Immediately after transplantation, the plants are fed ammonium nitrate, urea or other nitrogen-containing fertilizer, which will promote the growth of green mass. In the future, fertilizing should be alternated and only those suitable for fruit formation should be used. If the fertilizer contains a lot of nitrogen, then only greenery will grow vigorously on the bushes.

- This is a mandatory procedure. If you do not remove the shoots developing in the leaf axils, then all the plant’s energy will be spent on their development. Pinching stimulates the development of main shoots, which further increases productivity.

If tall varieties have been chosen for growing on the balcony, it is recommended to put a support. You can stretch a rope over the loggia and tie the bushes to it.

Diseases and pests balcony tomatoes are less dangerous than plants grown in open ground. However, contaminated soil, dry air and other reasons can lead to the appearance of pests on tomatoes, which can be eliminated with the help of special insecticidal preparations. If tomato leaves appear dark spots, then this is the first sign of late blight. The plant requires treatment with fungicidal drugs.

Attention! In order for the inflorescences to form better, it is recommended to pick off the fruits after the cluster has formed. lower leaves .

When a sufficient number of inflorescences and fruits have formed on the bush, the top of the bush is broken off along with the flowers. Otherwise, the plant’s strength will be spent on growing the bush upward and developing weak inflorescences. After removing the tops of the bush and flowers, the remaining fruits will begin to set and develop faster and better.

Having studied step by step instructions By growing tomatoes on the balcony, you can get a harvest of delicious fruits without leaving your home. To do this, it is enough to follow all the tips and recommendations that were described in our article.

To grow tomatoes you don't need to have land plot In the countryside. Owners of city apartments can harvest tomatoes on their balconies. True, for winter preparations they may not be enough, but it is quite possible to satisfy the needs of a family of 4 with summer vegetable salads. You can grow tomatoes on a balcony with or without glazing by slightly changing the way you care for the plants.

What varieties of tomatoes to choose for growing on the balcony

You can plant any tomatoes on the balcony: short and tall, early, medium and late varieties maturation. But you need to take into account the possibilities of the balcony. Since it is impossible to allocate a sufficient area for a bed of tomatoes, you should choose varieties that are most suitable for growing in a limited space. For example, if you plant tall, late-ripening tomatoes, the bushes will take up a lot of space, and you will have to wait until August for the fruits. In addition, the developed root system of such tomatoes requires a large volume of soil, which in conditions small balcony difficult to provide.

Low-growing tomatoes for the balcony:

• Pearl. The height of an adult bush reaches only 40 cm, the fruits are round, small, and grow in clusters of up to 7 pieces. They have a sweetish, pleasant taste;
• Angelica. An early ripening variety of tomatoes, ideally suited for growing on the balcony. The ripening time from emergence is approximately 80 days. The fruits are ovoid in shape with a sharp tip at the end, medium in size, growing in clusters of 6-10 pieces;
• Minibell. Early ripening tomatoes with a short growing season. The fruits are red, small, grow in clusters, and ripen almost simultaneously;
• Florida Petit. A low-growing, early-ripening variety, fruiting lasts only 3 weeks, but during this time you can collect several dozen red, sweet-tasting salad tomatoes from one bush.

Popular varieties for gardening on the balcony are cherry tomatoes. In size and shape they really look like large cherries. They bear fruit abundantly, in long clusters, and come in red, yellow, pink and even black. Cherries are grown not only for the purpose of obtaining delicious tomatoes, they are very impressive and are often used for decorative landscaping on balconies.

Cocktail tomatoes are a piquant new product from breeders. Their fruits are slightly larger than cherry tomatoes and are suitable for canning and consumption. fresh and preparing pizza and other dishes. Cocktail tomato bushes are tall, require a large amount of land for cultivation, and are characterized by good yield.

Cocktail tomatoes for the balcony:

• Butterfly. The fruits are oblong and beautifully shaped with smooth surface. More than 20 small tomatoes of bright red-raspberry color can grow on highly branched inflorescences;
• Romantic. A high-yielding variety, the bush grows up to 1.6 m in height, the fruits are regular round shape, weighing about 50 g;
• Ballerina. Also a tall variety of tomatoes, it produces unusual pear-shaped fruits of bright pink color.

Preparing seeds for sowing

To harvest the first tomato fruits as early as June, you can begin preparing the seeds for sowing in February. If several varieties of tomatoes are taken for cultivation, you should not mix them - each variety goes through the preparatory stage separately. In order not to confuse the varieties, each of them is signed.

Seed preparation:

• A light pink solution of potassium permanganate is prepared, the seeds are dipped into it and pickled for 3 hours;
• You can replace potassium permanganate chemicals Fitosporin and Trichodermin. They have a bactericidal and fungicidal effect and destroy disease carriers located on seeds, the presence of which cannot be visually determined;
• After disinfection, the seeds are treated with biostimulants that increase germination and reanimate damaged seed. For biostimulation of tomatoes, the preparations Epin-Extra and Zircon are used;
• The seeds are placed in a moist environment (moistened cloth) and left on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for 2 days. Hardening will prepare future plants for unstable air temperatures and make them more resistant to nighttime temperature drops.

Tomato seeds have a high germination rate, so they do not need to be germinated before sowing. During processing and hardening, the seeds are already sufficiently saturated with moisture and swollen, so they can be slightly dried so that they do not stick to one another, and they are completely ready for sowing as seedlings.

Growing seedlings

At this stage of tomato growing, the goal is to obtain strong, healthy seedlings. The future harvest depends on how viable it is. It will be very sad not to get the expected result after all the hard work.

Sowing seeds

In plastic or wooden box a layer of expanded clay is poured 8 cm high, and a soil mixture of equal parts fertile soil, peat and sand. The soil is spilled with warm water, and when the liquid is well absorbed, grooves 1 cm deep are made across the entire width of the box. The distance between the grooves is 4 cm. Seeds are placed in these grooves at intervals of 2-3 cm from each other, sprinkled with earth and covered with film. Until seedlings emerge, the boxes should be kept in a warm room.

Advice. Lighting does not play a special role during seed germination, so the boxes can be placed on a low bench, closer to the radiator, and not on the windowsill.

Seedling care

If the seeds are sown at the end of February, seedlings can be expected to appear at the beginning of March. When the first “loops” of sprouts begin to hatch, the film is removed, and the boxes remain indoors until most of the seeds have sprouted. After this, the containers should be moved to the balcony and lighting should be provided for the crops. Additional lighting is important because the daylight hours are not yet sufficient for tomatoes, and the sprouts will begin to stretch. Also, the air temperature on the balcony is maintained at least +20 C. When all the sprouts emerge from the soil (usually tomatoes sprout together), the cotyledon leaves spread out well, and the first true leaves begin to be visible between them, the air temperature drops to +18 C.

Watering is not abundant - the soil is kept slightly moist, since at this time there is a high probability of plants becoming infected with blackleg. To prevent the soil from being washed away during watering, it is simply sprayed with a spray bottle. If water gets on the seedlings (and this will definitely happen), the balcony is ventilated, and the temperature rises slightly until the leaves dry.

Advice. If the balcony is not heated, it is recommended to grow seedlings in. It is easier to create a favorable microclimate for plants and organize lighting. You can make such a greenhouse with your own hands by building a rack and covering it with plastic film.

Seedling care

Hardening of seedlings is carried out regularly. On warm days, the windows on the balcony are opened for several hours, and closed at night. If the main stem, especially its lower part, has acquired blue tint, this indicates an increase in the plant’s immunity and adaptation to cold temperatures.

For irrigation, settled water is used drinking water room temperature. Watering, as before, is carried out moderately, without waterlogging the soil. It is also important to loosen the soil to maintain its aerating properties. Loosening is done carefully so as not to damage the roots located close to the surface. In order not to injure the plants, loosening can be replaced by mulching: a low layer of peat is poured between the plants, which will prevent the formation of a crust on the surface and will reduce the number of waterings.

Feeding seedlings

In the second week of growth, the seedlings are fed with complex fertilizers intended for vegetable crops. Fertilizing is carried out at the root with Kornevin or Heteroauxin, which stimulate the active growth of the root system. Before applying fertilizer, the soil is watered, and the next day the tomatoes are fed. The second and third feedings are carried out at intervals of 10 days, in total fertilizers are applied 3 times during the growing of seedlings. This intensive regime will strengthen the plants and help prepare them for transplanting and active fruiting.

Transplanting seedlings to a permanent place

In early April, when the seedlings reach a month of age, you can transplant them to a permanent place. By this time, from 4 to 6 true leaves are formed on the plants, they become cramped in total capacity, and the sprouts will stretch regardless of the degree of illumination and moderation in watering. Simultaneously with transplantation, tomato seedlings are picked - a mandatory procedure for tomatoes grown on the balcony. After picking, the root grows to the sides, becomes more massive and, naturally, better provides the plant with useful elements.

Picking seedlings:

• The soil in the boxes with seedlings is moistened abundantly so that the root extracted from it suffers as little as possible;
• Taking the stem close to the ground, the plant is pulled out of the soil along with a small lump of earth on the roots;
• Using scissors treated in an alcohol solution, 1/3 of the root is trimmed;
• A hole is pierced in the prepared container with a stick, and the root is placed in it up to the cotyledon leaves. This planting depth is normal for tomatoes, since additional roots form on the stem over time;
• The plant is watered, the soil near the stem is lightly pressed down with your fingers.

Low-growing tomatoes are planted two at a time at a distance of 5-10 cm from one another, and tall tomatoes are planted one at a time in a container. If seedlings are planted in large boxes, the plants are placed at intervals of 40 cm. Tomatoes are grown in any suitable containers.

What to plant tomatoes in:

• Flower pots;
• Cropped plastic containers from under water;
• Plastic buckets and deep basins;
• Wooden boxes;
• Balcony flower boxes.

Immediately after transplantation, the windows on the balcony are shaded, and the air temperature is maintained within 18-20 degrees - in such conditions, the plants will more easily tolerate a stressful situation and quickly adapt to the new place. When the tomato stems straighten and the leaves spread out (after about 2 days), the shading can be removed.

Caring for tomatoes on the balcony

For tomatoes grown on the balcony, conditions should be organized that are as close to natural as possible. The set of measures for caring for tomatoes includes providing plants with watering, loosening the soil, maintaining stable temperature and humidity, as well as pollination and fertilization.

Temperature

Tomatoes react sharply to cold weather, and as the air temperature drops, they stop growing. Taking this into account, the temperature on the balcony is maintained at least +20 C. Excessive air humidity also has a depressing effect on plants, and can also cause fungal diseases. Therefore, the balcony should be regularly ventilated, and if possible, leave the windows open as long as possible, closing them only at night. When a stable above-zero temperature at night is established, the windows can be left open around the clock.

Watering

Watering is carried out after standing tap water as the soil dries out. Because, unlike vegetable beds, the soil is not exposed to direct sunlight, watering tomatoes on the balcony is carried out less frequently than in open ground, and is regulated by the degree of soil moisture. Before the formation of the ovary and during the formation of fruits, the soil is maintained in a moderately moist state, and when the tomatoes begin to ripen, it is better not to over-moisten it. Slightly dried soil will promote faster ripening of fruits.

Interesting fact. Timely harvesting of reddened tomatoes helps other tomatoes ripen more quickly, so harvesting should be done regularly, regardless of whether the tomatoes are needed at that moment or not.

Pollination

Since tomatoes grown indoors do not have access to pollinating insects, windows should be opened regularly. To attract bees and other insects, you can place a couple of flowerpots on the balcony with plants that have a strong scent: nasturtium, petunia, lavender.

Important. The flowering time of ornamental plants and tomatoes must coincide, otherwise this technique will not be effective.

Spraying plants gives good results special means“Ovary”, stimulating the formation of the ovary. Irrigation with a stimulant is carried out when the seedlings get stronger after transplanting to a permanent place and during the budding period. Artificial pollination of tomatoes is also carried out. When the flowers bloom, shake them or brush them along the inside with a soft brush. The procedure is carried out twice daily.

Loosening

Soil aeration is important for good development of the root system. The dense crust that forms on the surface of the earth after watering does not allow the soil to be saturated with oxygen. When the soil dries slightly, loosening is carried out. For this purpose, a garden hand tool with a short handle and three teeth. Loosening is carried out superficially, at a distance of 5-10 cm from the stem, so as not to damage the root system of plants.

Advice. Mulching the soil with peat will help reduce the amount of loosening. A layer of mulch will protect the soil from crust formation and reduce the amount of liquid evaporating from the surface, so the frequency of watering will also be reduced.

Feeding

It is usually difficult to find organic fertilizers in urban areas, so mineral fertilizers are more often used to feed tomatoes grown on the balcony. For this purpose, Rastvorin and Kemira-universal products are used.

If it is possible to fertilize with organic matter, use mullein or bird droppings. 1 liter is diluted in 10 liters of water organic fertilizers and infuses for about 2 days. After this, the infusion is diluted at the rate of 1 liter per 10 liters of water and applied at the root.

Plants overfed with fertilizers can react in the opposite direction and begin to grow green mass, so when preparing solutions you should follow the proportions indicated on the packages and not exceed the recommended norms.

You should know. The organic infusion has a very unpleasant smell, which can annoy not only the owners of the balcony, but also the neighbors. In order not to disturb your own comfort and the residents of neighboring apartments, it is better to use store-bought fertilizers

Stepsoning

The shoots that form in the axils of the leaves exhaust the plant, its energy is spent on the formation of green mass, and the yield of the bushes decreases. Pinching, or removing excess shoots, is carried out regularly as soon as they reach 2-3 cm. The stepsons are simply broken out by hand, and the injured area is sprinkled with wood ash to avoid infection of the plants. Removal of excess shoots is carried out throughout the growing season. Also, during pinching, the lower leaves touching the ground break off. Thanks to this, air will not stagnate under the bushes and the likelihood of contracting infectious diseases will be reduced.

Tomato diseases

Tomatoes grown indoors are susceptible to infection with fungal diseases more often than those grown in open ground. During seed treatment, the plants have already received a reserve of resistance, but still, it is worth carrying out preventive actions to avoid plant contamination. The balcony should be regularly ventilated; if possible, the windows should be kept open around the clock, and closed only in damp weather with a drop in temperature.

In addition, the bushes are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture 2-3 times during the summer.

You can buy it at the store or prepare it yourself. In 1 l warm water 10 g of copper sulfate is dissolved, and then lime milk prepared from 100 ml of water and 20 g of fluffed lime is carefully introduced. The prepared solution is enough to treat all plants once and leave for next treatment Bordeaux mixture is not recommended. Spraying of tomatoes is carried out 10 days after planting the seedlings, then at the beginning of flowering and at the beginning of fruiting. The product is non-toxic and does not harm health, therefore, if bluish traces of copper sulfate remain on the fruits, they can be washed with water and eaten without fear.

Growing tomatoes on an unglazed balcony

If there is no glazing on the balcony, tomatoes are grown in the same sequence as on a glazed one. The only difference is in the timing of sowing the seeds and the maintenance of the seedlings.

Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out from the beginning to the end of March, depending on climatic conditions region. The further north the area is, the later the seeds should be sown. After germination, the boxes are placed on the windowsill and remain there until transplanted into permanent containers. At this time, illumination with fluorescent lamps is organized to extend daylight hours. Seedlings are cared for in the same way as if they were grown on a balcony. When warm days arrive, the boxes are taken out to the balcony for hardening, first for 30 minutes, and then for several hours. This is the most difficult procedure physically, since the seedlings need to be taken out and brought back into the room every day.

In early - mid-May, seedlings are picked, and they remain indoors for two more days, after which they are taken out to the balcony. Pots of tomatoes are placed on tables, shelves, and racks. At this time, you should carefully monitor the weather forecast, and if there is a threat of night frosts, bring the plants into the room at night, or cover them with film or blankets. You can also spray the leaves with water - this will prevent the death of plants from hypothermia.

To grow tomatoes on the balcony, you need to work hard. But the end result, when beautiful, tasty tomatoes grown by yourself appear on the table, will make up for all the effort expended.

A short video with tips:

Would you like to receive new experience, plant your windowsill in an original way, save your budget and surprise your friends? Then it's time to find out how to grow tomatoes on the balcony. Fortunately, this does not require much space, money or effort, and the result will definitely please you. It is unlikely that anyone will remain indifferent to the fragrant and bright fruits grown in close proximity to kitchen table. You just need to choose the right variety of tomatoes, as well as create suitable conditions for them.

You can grow tomatoes both on an open balcony and on a glazed one. Both options involve some restrictions and conditions for creating a comfortable microclimate for plants.

An open balcony is suitable if you plan to harvest in the warm season. Minimum night temperatures at which seedlings can be grown open space, are +8…+10°C.

It is important to understand that the lack of glazing makes plants vulnerable to precipitation, wind and temperature conditions. For this reason, it is better to foresee in advance the possibility of bringing tomatoes into the room or the presence of a windproof and shading structure. This could be curtains, a screen, etc.

Tomatoes on the balcony open type are taken out no earlier than April-May

The glazed balcony allows you to enjoy your own grown tomatoes even in winter. If you wish, you can adjust the ripening period of the fruits so that they decorate the festive table for the New Year or a family celebration. But for this, the balcony must be effectively insulated and landscaped.

High-quality thermal insulation allows you to maintain a stable temperature in the room, and good air ventilation helps control its humidity and prevent the development of infections on the bushes.

These tomatoes will decorate any balcony

Note! Regardless of which balcony you are going to grow tomatoes on, you need to evaluate in advance the possibilities of placing the planting container. You should have easy access to each plant.

Tomato varieties for balconies and windowsills

Not all varieties of tomatoes are suitable for growing on a windowsill or balcony. It is recommended to give preference to the most low-growing species. There are a number of reasons for this:

• Such plants have a small root system. For one bush, a planting container with a volume of 3-3.5 liters is sufficient.
• Fruit low-growing tomatoes ripen faster and more evenly.
• Small bushes absorb all nutrients from the soil better.
• They are easier to care for.

Low-growing varieties are ideal for any windowsill

Indoor tomatoes have the following characteristics:

• Small bush height. Usually it ranges from 20-60 cm.
• Standard building. This means the presence of a thick central stem around which the crown is formed.
• Abundant fruiting. The number of fruits on one cluster can reach 20 pieces!
• Modest size and weight of the fruit. Usually this is 15-70 g. Small round fruits, even without regard to the variety, are often called “cherries”.
• Resistant to lack of light. Although tomatoes are considered light-loving, most indoor varieties can be content with 5 hours of daylight.
• Determination. That is, stopping the growth of the bush after the formation of a certain number of flower brushes. This makes caring for the plant much easier.
• Precocity. Usually, within 80-95 days after planting the seeds, the first harvest can be harvested.
• High degree of decorativeness. Compact bushes with bright fruits between fleshy leaves are pleasing to the eye.

The most popular tomatoes cherry tomatoes for growing on the balcony: “Bonsai”, “Balcony Miracle”, “Room Surprise”, “Angelica”, “Pinocchio”, “Garden Pearl”, “Pearl”, “Baby”, “Oak”. In most cases, reviews of these varieties are not just positive, but admiring.

Step-by-step instructions for growing tomatoes on the balcony

It would seem that 80-95 days is not so much. Planted, watered, harvested - that's all! In fact, you will have to do much more during these days. Don’t be alarmed, growing indoor tomatoes will not require Herculean efforts from you. Just attentiveness, compliance with a number of care rules and a little love for what you do.

Soil selection and preparation

Soil selection and preparation are important for correct height and abundant fruiting of tomatoes.

Suitable for planting:

• Ready-made soil, which is easy to find in a specialty store. It is already enriched with essential minerals and is usually labeled accordingly, for example, “for tomatoes.”
• Personally prepared mixture: 1 part humus, 1 part turf land and 1 part peat. An alternative could be a mixture leaf soil, peat and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1.

Having chosen the soil, it is important to properly prepare it for planting seeds. Preparation involves disinfection. You can do this in several ways:

1. Ignite in microwave oven. For this, 1-2 minutes are enough at a power of 800-850 W.
2. Warm up in the oven. At a temperature of 200°C, 10 minutes is enough.
3. Completely spill the soil with small portions of boiling water or a solution of potassium permanganate.

Soil for indoor tomatoes should be nutritious and fluffy

Subsequently, the soil is slightly dried or cooled, depending on the chosen disinfection method.

Preparation of tomato seeds - disinfection and germination

Like the soil, the seeds also need to be prepared for planting - select the bad ones, disinfect them, germinate them, especially if you took them from friends or bought them second-hand. Seeds in sealed packages from well-known agricultural companies undergo a disinfection procedure in the factory and are characterized by a high percentage of germination.

To select seeds that are unsuitable for planting, pour them into a glass or bowl of water and stir. Good seeds will settle to the bottom, and the bad ones will float on the surface.

You can disinfect planting material using:

• Potassium permanganate – 1 g per 100 ml of water. It is recommended to soak the seeds in this solution for 15 minutes.
• Soda – 0.5 g per 100 ml. In this case, the seeds should be kept for at least a day.
• Special means. One of the most popular is Fitosporin. If you purchased it in liquid form, for processing it is enough to dilute 1 drop per 100 ml of water. In dry form, you will need ½ teaspoon for the same volume. The seeds are soaked for about 15 minutes.

Disinfection of seeds using potassium permanganate

You can plant the seeds immediately, or you can germinate them first. Practice shows that the germination rate in the second case is higher. For germination, planting material is wrapped in wet gauze or bandage and placed in a warm place. In a couple of days, sprouts will appear. After this, the seeds are ready for planting in the ground.

Note! As soon as the sprouts hatch, be especially careful that the gauze does not dry out.

Sprouted tomato seeds

Planting seeds and first picking of seedlings

At a distance of at least 3 cm from each other, holes or grooves 1-1.5 cm deep are made in the soil. Seeds are laid in them, which are then covered with earth and sprayed generously with water from a spray bottle. If you plant seeds straight from the package, they can be grouped in 2-3 pieces. But it’s better to lay out the sprouted ones one at a time.

The planting container is covered with a transparent moisture-proof material (film, plastic cover) and place in a warm place with an air temperature of +22…+24°C. This will create a greenhouse effect for better germination.

When sprouts appear, it is important to provide them with the following conditions:

• Be sure to ventilate the greenhouse so that the seedlings are not destroyed by fungal and other infections. To do this, remove the lid 1-2 times a day for 5-10 minutes, each time increasing the ventilation time.
• Make sure that the top layer of soil, where the tender roots are located, does not dry out. It is better to water with a spray bottle, since a regular stream of water can wash away the soil.
• Provide the seedlings with good lighting. Usually it is simply transferred to the windowsill.

The first picking of seedlings is carried out after the appearance of the third leaf, not counting the cotyledons. If you used a shallow container to sow seeds, then it is better to plant young plants in two steps: first in a regular 200 ml plastic glass, and then, after a month, in big pot for an adult bush 3-3.5 liters.

If you immediately planted germinated seeds in glasses, monitor the condition of the root system. If there are three normal sheets, it should occupy almost the entire volume of the container.

Important! Seedlings are planted one at a time. At the same time, stronger specimens are selected. The weak are disposed of.

When picking glasses, you should not make holes in their bottoms to drain moisture, otherwise there is a high risk of such a small amount of soil drying out. When planting in large pots, the presence drain holes and a drainage layer at the bottom of the container is a must!

For ease of picking, you can use a wooden spatula or a regular fork.

When and what to feed tomatoes

Seedlings need to be fed, as they require a large amount of nutrients to grow and bear fruit. For this purpose, complex mineral and organic fertilizers are used.

In stores you can find the following suitable compositions: “Emerald”, “Strong”, “Gumat +7”. From folk remedies you can use ash, banana peels, eggshells or infusion of onion peels.

The first fertilizing is carried out 12-14 days after the appearance of the first shoots. The second - 10 days after it, and the third - about a week before picking the seedlings into large pots. Tomatoes are also fed during flowering and fruiting – once every 10-12 days.

Important! Fertilizers are applied only to wet soil– a few hours after watering or even the next day.

Potassium and phosphorus, which are important for tomatoes, are contained in the ash.

When feeding tomatoes, it is important not to overdo it. All solutions are prepared in strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. For young seedlings, they use a dosage that is half the recommended one. Special attention give nitrogen fertilizers. If they are overdosed, there is a high risk that the bush will actively begin to grow green mass, “forgetting” about flowering and fruiting.

Caring for seedlings - watering and other activities

Caring for seedlings includes measures to create favorable microclimate and proper watering.

Tomatoes – warm and light-loving plants. They feel great on south and south-east windows. Most varieties easily tolerate short-term exposure to even direct sunlight. However, on the hottest days it is better to shade the windows.

If the windows are not lit enough sun rays, use fluorescent lamps. They make it easy to extend the daylight hours for tomatoes during the cold season or cloudy weather. To do this, lamps are installed above the plants, at a distance of 25-30 cm from the tallest bush. They are usually turned on 2-3 hours before dawn or the same time after sunset.

Illuminating seedlings using lamps

The daytime temperature for comfortable plant growth is +22…+26 °C, and the night temperature should not be lower than +16 °C. Regular ventilation of the room will help regulate the temperature. It is worth noting that tomatoes love this procedure, but they are afraid of direct flows of cold air.

As for watering, it is rare but plentiful. In the cold season, the bushes are watered once every 5-7 days, and in the warm season - once every 2-3 days. It is important to monitor the condition of the soil. You may need to adjust the watering regime taking into account the microclimate on the balcony.

Tomato seedlings need to be watered at the root

Formation of a bush - how to properly perform pinching

Growing balcony tomatoes involves timely removal of side shoots. Why is this necessary?

1. Thinning the bush allows light to reach all the leaves.
2. The plant is well ventilated, this reduces the risk of many infections and harmful insects.
3. The fruits after this procedure develop more fully.
4. The bush has a well-groomed and more decorative appearance.

It is easy to carry out pinching: the emerging shoots are broken off with your fingers, leaving a “stump” of 1-1.5 cm. To avoid infection, it is better not to use scissors.

Bushes are usually formed into 1-3 stems. One stem is left for standard varieties. It is thick and provides excellent support vertical position a plant that does not need support or tying up. If you want to form a bush with 2-3 stems, save the first stepsons.

Technique for growing tomatoes at home

Many indoor tomatoes are determinate. After releasing four to five flower clusters that appear after 2-3 leaves, they stop growing. In terms of caring for the bush and its formation, this is very convenient. In indeterminate varieties, even after releasing 8-9 clusters, stepchildren continue to appear. Such plants require more attention.

Pollination - is it necessary indoors?

For self-pollination balcony tomatoes There are enough air fluctuations when ventilating the room. But if you notice that they do not set fruit, look for a problem in the microclimate. This is what it should be:

• Air temperature within +22…+25 °C. At higher values, the pollen will become sterile, and at lower values, the flowering process will simply slow down.
• Soil humidity - at least 70%. Dry soil often causes flowers to fall off.
• Air humidity – 60-65%.

If you see that the tomatoes on the balcony are not blooming, try shaking the top brushes slightly. Then the pollen from them will fall on the lower flowers. But for the desired effect, the plant needs to be watered a few hours after this procedure.

Artificial pollination can be done by touching the brush to the flowers

Tomatoes can be grown not only in pots, when the crown of the plant traditionally points upward. There is an alternative and much more original version– planting in plastic bottles, but... upside down!

Bottle planting technology

Slightly grown seedlings are usually planted in bottles. At the same time, it is better to abandon standard varieties with thick stems. They will not look entirely aesthetically pleasing.

The sequence of actions should be as follows:

1. Cut off a clean 2-3 liter plastic bottle bottom part. The cut line is where the width of the container becomes stable, without narrowing or widening.
2. At the bottom of the cut part, make 1-3 small holes intended for drip watering of the plant. You can use a heated nail or a hand drill.
3. Turn this element upside down and insert it into the bottle. Mark and make 2-4 holes around the perimeter so that you can insert a strong rope into them and tie the planting container to the support. Disassemble the structure.
4. Take the seedling along with a small lump of earth and carefully insert it into the container through the cut off bottom. Insert the stem with leaves into the neck. To prevent the soil from falling out of it at first and to retain moisture, the roots of the seedling can be wrapped in a paper napkin or toilet paper. Another option is to make a plug for the neck from moss or foam rubber.
5. Fill the planting container with soil, lightly compacting it. Please note: it should not be laid to the top (the top in this case is the bottom of the bottle)! Leave free space, equal in height to the cut part.
6. Place it in the bottle so that the holes for the rope line up. Pull it through and securely tie the container to the support.

This may seem incomprehensible and complicated, but somewhat themed photos And the video will definitely help you figure it out.

Making a hole for hanging seedlings in a bottle

Placing a plant in a bottle

Advice! For the convenience of hanging planting containers, you can use plastic buckets. You just need to make holes in them for the seedlings.

Advantages and disadvantages of using hanging containers

Growing tomatoes upside down has its pros and cons. The advantages include:

• Convenient watering. You don’t have to focus on watering around the root or along the walls of the container. It is enough to pour water into the inverted bottom, and it will flow drop by drop into the ground.
• Decorative planting and its originality. A bush with its roots up is a mesmerizing sight in itself, and if it also bears fruit, the effect is doubly amazing.
• Saving space. Using vertical space allows you to free up the window sill for traditionally growing greenery.
• There is no need to tie up the bushes.

Bottles with soil can be placed in decorative flowerpots

With all the tangible advantages, this method of growing tomatoes also has disadvantages:

• While the root system is small, water can flow down through the neck of the bottle. The solution may be the above-mentioned plugs or substituting another pot with a plant under the planting container.
• A bottle with a fruiting bush can weigh up to 25 kg, so you will have to take care of reliable support for the plants. Most often, metal brackets are used for these purposes.
• A bottle of soil limits light access to the plant while it is small.

Thus, when choosing one or another method of growing tomatoes, you should carefully weigh its pros and cons.

Problems of growing indoor tomatoes - pests and diseases

To ensure a bountiful harvest, tasty fruits, and beautiful bushes, you need to carefully care for the plants. This will prevent the development of diseases and the appearance of harmful insects. However, you need to know the enemy by sight in order to understand how to deal with him if he appears.

The main diseases of tomatoes on the windowsill:

• Late blight. It is expressed in the appearance of brown spots on all parts of the bush and even the fruits. Reason – high level humidity combined with heat. Late blight easily affects neighboring plants, so it is better to dispose of the diseased plant.
• Blackleg. It affects young seedlings growing too densely and in an excessively humid environment. They turn black at the surface of the earth, become thinner and die. During this period, it is necessary to remove diseased plants, reduce watering and thin out the seedlings.
• Gray rot. Formed on tomatoes of any ripeness. First, small gray spots appear, which, as they grow, become watery in nature and emit a putrid odor. Affected tomatoes are thrown away along with the soil.

Manifestation of late blight of tomatoes

Common pests found on tomatoes include:

• Whitefly. An adult specimen does not exceed 1.5 mm in size and has a yellowish body. The larva, on the contrary, is green and flat. It is she who damages the leaves by sticking to them. Visually, the affected areas are characterized by black spots, as they are actively colonized by sooty fungi.
• Spider mite. Lives on back side sheets. The affected areas first resemble dots, which then grow into a “marble” pattern.

Adult whiteflies on the back of a leaf

Spider mite infestation

Effectively deal with harmful insects Special substances help - insecticides. They can be found in specialized stores.

Video master classes on growing balcony tomatoes

Vertical beds and other ways to compactly plant tomatoes and herbs on the balcony:

Details about growing tomatoes on the balcony and windowsill:

It is very exciting to watch how small seeds gain strength day after day, turning into beautiful fruit-bearing tomato bushes. Add potted greens to them in the form of lettuce, parsley, and basil. Plant a few decorative peppers– and you will create an amazing mini-vegetable garden on the windowsill with your own hands!