Using pots to grow tomato plants from tomato seeds can be an interesting venture, especially for peri-urban farmer. Planting tomato seeds in pots is common in urban areas where people do not have large spaces.
Tomato seeds are usually planted in the field; however, they can also be planted in pots.
Steps to take to plant tomato seeds in pots
The following are the steps to take to plant tomato seeds in pots:
Choose the right pot
The pot to be used for the planting of tomato seeds should be 16 – 20 inches deep. Tomato plant is a vegetable plant that has extensive roots, the roots of tomato plants can extend for over 1 metre. This is the reason why the pot to be used for tomato plants should be big.
Choose the growing medium
To plant tomato seeds in pots, you will need to use the ideal or suitable type of growing medium. Coco peat, soil, manure and perlite etc are some of the planting media that can be used for the planting of tomato seeds.
Soak the tomato seeds
Tomato seeds sprout easily. However, you can speed up the time of tomato seeds’ sprouting by soaking the seeds in water. Potassium humate can be added to the water to further speed up the process of sprouting.
Plant the tomato seeds
After soaking the tomato seeds, the next step is to plant or sow the tomato seeds. The seeds should be sown in holes of 1 inch deep. The seeds should also be planted 5-6 inches apart. One seed should be planted per planting hole.
Watering
Sprinklers and drip irrigation pipes can be used to water the tomato plants in the pots. Watering cans can also be used to sprinkle water to the tomato plants in the pots. Watering is important; else the tomato plants in the pot may die.
Provide the right conditions
Ensure that the pots are placed where they will have access to 6-8 hours of sunlight every day. Growing lights can also be used to provide light to the tomato plants in temperate areas. The pots should also be placed in warm areas, tomato plants will not grow well in cold climes.
Fertilization
Types of fertilizers that can be used for tomato plants in pots are liquid fertilizers, manure, compost, potassium humate and granule fertilizers like NPK fertilizer, potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate and DAP etc.
Pruning
The tomato plants will need to be pruned. Pruning can help to prevent pests and diseases. It can also lead to an increase in the tomato yield.
Harvesting
Tomatoes are usually ready for harvest 65 – 90 days after transplanting. Big tomato fruits should not be left on the tomato plants as this can reduce the overall yield of the tomato plant. Sharp knife or shears can be used to harvest the tomatos from the vines.
Do you plant tomato seeds in pots? If yes, why not share your experiences with us in the comments’ section.
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