Step-by-step instructions on how to grow tomatoes on the balcony for beginners

Growing tomatoes on the balcony starts with choosing the right variety. It is necessary to consider the size of the balcony and its comfort. Proper care plays an important role in the quality and quantity of the harvest.

Variety selection

Can I grow tomatoes on my balcony? You can successfully grow tomatoes on the balcony if you choose the right type. Requirements to consider when choosing seeds.

1. The ideal option is to choose low-growing seeds, the height of the bush will be approximately 60 cm. It is simple and easy to care for them, since there is no need to install a support for tying, there is no need to pinch and cut off side branches.
2. It is better to opt for varieties with early boundaries of fruit formation.
3. It is convenient to choose varieties of tomatoes for growing on the balcony, which form hanging brushes.
4. Do not forget such a criterion as resistance to diseases and pests.

To determine which tomato varieties are suitable for balcony cultivation, you need to get acquainted in more detail with the description of each proposed variety. If the balcony is spacious, then short or tall varieties of tomatoes are suitable. Among tall species for balconies, it is popular Bull heart, Angelica or White filling. They have late ripening periods, but the varieties are highly resistant to diseases.

Tall varieties of tomatoes for the balcony necessarily require additional vertical support. There is a need to watch out for the time when the side branches are cut and should be formed into two or three stems. Such varieties are especially demanding to care for, but the grown culture will endow large and juicy fruits.

Regardless of the size of the loggia, it is best to sow dwarf varieties, such as Kid, Dubok. The size of their tomatoes is small, the taste is excellent. Brushes hanging down with red round tomatoes look beautiful.

The oak tree is characterized by early borders of fruit ripening, from the moment of planting the seeds only 85 days pass. The stem stretches up to 55 cm and has a small number of leaves on it. The plant is highly resistant to many diseases. Bushes grown at home need to be artificially pollinated. The round fruit weighs about 70 g.

You can also grow special varieties designed for placement on the balcony, for example, the Balcony Miracle. The self-pollinated variety has an early maturity of fruits, and it stretches in height only up to 60 cm. The yield is high for home cultivation, about 2 kg of a tomato can be removed from one bush.

What variety can you pick up more? Such undersized varieties of tomatoes for a balcony, such as Pearl, Bonsai, Ballerinka, Minibel, Pinocchio, Red or yellow caramel, feel great. They are also suitable for the window sill in the room. It is best for a novice vegetable grower to opt for these types of tomatoes.

The Bonsai stem is only 30 cm tall and accommodates 3-4 clusters. Despite the small growth, about 3.5 kg can be harvested from one bush. Refers to mid-season varieties, fruits ripen after 110 days. The weight of one red-scarlet tomato is about 28 g.

Indoor varieties are supplemented by Minibel. The height of a strong bush is about 40 cm. The fruits begin to sing after 82 days. Smooth, round red fruits weigh about 23 g. They can do without sufficient lighting, are unpretentious to the composition of the soil.

Pinocchio's potted culture begins to bear fruit after 90 days. It grows only up to 30 cm in height. Sometimes it is necessary to install a support, as the stem can break under the weight of the fruit. Reddish round fruits weigh about 20 g.

Among balcony tomatoes, such varieties are also popular.

Tomato Balcony Duo is distinguished by its ultra-short ripening times. Fruits begin to form within 76 days. The bushes are not very branched, so they do not take up much space, they grow up to 35 cm in height. Looks beautiful in a flower pot, twigs are strewn with small red tomatoes.

Tiny tim grows in height only up to 40 cm. The Tiny Tim variety tolerates cool well and does not need tying, as the stem is strong and powerful. The plant is covered with red tomatoes 2 cm in diameter during the ripening period. Fruits begin to form early. It is best to plant Tim in a planter.

Tim prefers a sunny place without drafts. The soil should be fertile and well-drained. Regular watering is required.

The Mini star hybrid belongs to the very early varieties of balcony tomatoes. The tomato harvest can be started after 80 days. Sweet red fruits have an oblong shape and weigh only 15-20 g. They are stored for a long time and do not crack.

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Preparatory actions

How to grow tomatoes on a balcony, work begins with planting seeds. When to plant seeds, everyone decides for themselves. Usually, tomatoes for seedlings begin to be planted in early March. In this case, the harvest is traditionally harvested in the summer. But you can grow your tomatoes with seeds in the winter on the window. For this, seeds are planted in October. It is usually cold on the balcony at this time of year, so care continues in the room.

If you properly process the seeds of tomatoes and pick up the soil, then the tomatoes will bear fruit, and leaving will not cause unnecessary trouble. You can describe step by step the process of preparing seeds and soil for further cultivation on the balcony and windowsill.

You can buy soil, or you can mix it yourself. A composition of humus and turf is best suited; peat or sawdust can be added to improve the qualities. As fertilizers, you can use wood ash or superphosphate.

After opening the pack of seeds, you need to make a selection. Only large and dense seeds are suitable for sowing. The selection can be carried out manually using tweezers. You can put the seeds in water with salt. Empty seeds that are not suitable for planting will float to the surface.

Selected seeds must be disinfected. For this purpose, most vegetable growers use a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Being in such a solution for about 30 minutes, all pathogenic bacteria living on the shell of the grains are destroyed.

You cannot do without special preparations for planting tomatoes on the balcony. It is useful to soak seeds in preparations that stimulate plant growth and development. You can use Epin's solution.

Some experienced gardeners germinate seeds before planting.They are placed between two wet cloths. As soon as the sprouts hatch, the seeds are ready for sowing.

You can choose a wooden or plastic box as a container for sowing seeds. In case a suitable box was not found, you can use a plastic bottle. A 2 liter bottle will do. It is cut longitudinally and soil is placed in the resulting depression.

The soil is poured into the selected container and pits are made 1 cm deep. If the seeds are planted deeper, they will germinate for a long time or will not sprout at all. The distance between the holes should be 3 cm. One germinated seed or two or three non-germinated seeds must be planted in each hole. After planting, the box is covered with foil. As soon as most of the seedlings emerge, the film is removed.

Seedlings need to be watered regularly with settled water. A prerequisite for good growth is a sufficient supply of light. If it is not enough, then there is a need for additional lighting with a lamp.

Possible problems

If everything has been done correctly, the seedlings will have a strong stem, dark green leaves and a large number of ovaries. Otherwise, the condition threatens with a decrease in yield or death of the plant. Problems that may arise due to improper care:

• excessive watering can lead to rotting, infection of a fungal infection, stem elongation;
• lack of light leads to a thinning of the stem, pale leaves and a decrease in plant immunity;
• dry, hot air can cause yellow leaves, while the plant looks weak and lethargic;
• if seeds are planted too early, then they may not have enough daylight for development;
• an excess or lack of trace elements in the soil leads to a weakening of the stem and leaves, the ovaries will crumble;
• lack of space leads to interlacing of the roots, and the upper part will shade each other.

To correct the situation, you need to eliminate the unfavorable factor. Be sure to study the instructions for growing tomatoes and follow all the points of care for them.

Final stage

The plant must be fed with organic or mineral nutrients. The first feeding is recommended to be carried out after the first pair of true leaves have unfolded. Before transplanting seedlings to the final place, three additional dressings must be carried out. Additional nutrients strengthen the root system and promote proper plant development.

Tomatoes are planted on the balcony with glazed windows in early May. If the balcony is not glazed, then the transplant should be postponed until early June. You can grow tomatoes on the balcony in any container. Large flower pots, plastic buckets, spacious wooden boxes, planters will do.

If there is no such container at hand, then you can use an ordinary plastic bottle.

Step-by-step instructions on how to transplant seedlings from a common container into separate large pots or pots includes the following steps:

• soil is poured into the prepared container;
• seedlings are taken out of the old place along with an earthen lump that has enveloped the roots;
• after planting in a new place, the sprouts are watered and left for a week for adaptation and rooting;
• if it is cold on the balcony at night, then the plant is brought into the room;
• a comfortable temperature is 19 degrees;
• it is worth the first days to protect the seedlings from direct sunlight, for this purpose the balcony is shaded;
• tall varieties need to tie the stem;
• indeterminate varieties (varieties that have unlimited growth and can grow throughout the entire growing season) require pinching, if this procedure is not carried out, the plant will grow and yield will decrease;
• when pulling the stem strongly, it is recommended to pinch the top.

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Sick and yellow leaves must be cut off, they take away extra strength from the plant, and also contribute to the spread of infection.

Plant care

To grow tomatoes on the balcony, you need to get as close to natural conditions as possible. Planted tomatoes must be properly and carefully looked after. Do not forget to water and feed each bush. How to properly care for tomatoes, and what conditions need to be created for their good development?

Tomatoes react to changes in temperature levels. With a cold snap, they stop development and stop bearing fruit. A favorable temperature regime installed on the loggia is 20 degrees.

Excessive humidity can lead to the development of fungal infection and rot. It is important to air the loggia daily, if it is warm outside, then leave the window open for the whole day.

The soil should be watered as the top layer dries. It is better to defend water for at least 12 hours. The amount of watering is increased during the formation of ovaries and fruits. During their ripening, it is better not to overmoisten the soil.

During the formation of ovaries, it is useful to treat the tomato on the balcony with a special Ovary solution, which stimulates this process.

Despite the fact that tomatoes are self-pollinating plants, pollination should be assisted during flowering. Therefore, it is recommended to open windows so that pollinating insects can freely fly to plants. You can pollinate the plant yourself. To this end, you need to shake the stem with the bud twice a day or hold it with a brush.

You need to know other rules on how to grow tomatoes on the balcony. In order for the root system to develop well and receive a sufficient amount of oxygen, the earth must be loosened. After watering, when the water is slightly absorbed, shallow (5-7 cm) loosening is carried out.

Experienced growers carry out the mulching procedure, which reduces the need for loosening and frequent watering. A layer of peat, sawdust or straw is suitable as mulch.

How to grow a good harvest cannot do without fertilizing the soil. It is better to choose universal fertilizers. Suitable, for example, Kemira, Solution. Organic fertilizers are suitable for mullein or bird droppings. These components are poured with a bucket of water and insisted for three days. The finished solution is diluted with water and the plant is watered at the root.

A closed room on the balcony often causes the spread of diseases. Due to waterlogging of the soil, a fungus appears. To prevent illness, you need to ventilate the room and provide good access to light. Other common diseases that often affect balcony tomatoesare late blight, black leg, root or apical rot.

Insect pests can also appear. Spider mite and whitefly infestations are common. Wood ash or an infusion based on onion peels will help get rid of them. In the case of a massive invasion of pests, purchased chemicals will help.

Custom fit

It is possible to carry out growing tomatoes in plastic bottles on the balcony.

It is necessary to take a plastic container from under water or juice, with a volume of 1.5 liters. Then you need to cut off the third part, where the bottom is. Most of the bottle with a neck will be needed to plant the seedling.

The cover is removed, and two holes are made along the edges of the cut, into which a thick rope is then passed. With its help, an impromptu pot will be hung on a hook.

Planting tomato seedlings in plastic containers begins two months after sowing the seeds. A sprout with an earthen lump is removed from a separate container and placed upside down so that it crawls through the neck of the bottle. This way, the root system will remain inside the container and the stem will grow downward.The container is filled with soil, after which the bushes are watered. It is recommended to place a container under the suspended structure, where excess water will drain after watering.

You can also grow tomatoes on the balcony in 5 liter plastic bottles. To do this, cut off the upper part with a neck, place drainage on the bottom and cover with earth.