Growing Tomatoes In Your Home Garden
April 27, 2008
Tomatoes are native to North America and were first cultivated in 780. However, many believed that tomatoes were poisonous. This rumor persisted until around 1812 when the Creoles in New Orleans used tomatoes in gumbo and jambalaya. By 1850, the fear that tomatoes were poisonous, had faded away.
If you want to grow tomatoes in your home garden, place them in a sunny spot with warm temperatures. Tomatoes will grow the best when the daytime temperatures are between 70 and 80° and when the temperature drops to between 60 and 70 at night. Tomatoes enjoy well drained soil and will need about one to 2 inches of water per week.
When starting tomatoes from seed, there are a few important things to remember. When you place the seeds in the planting medium, remember that it is not important to soak the soil. Instead, spray the soil with a small amount of water. If you overwater your tomato seedlings they have a chance to be damaged by a phenomenon known as dampening off.
To prevent your seedlings from dampening off, make a strong solution of chamomile tea, or simply sprinkle the top of the soil with cinnamon. If you are starting your seeds in containers, in your home, It may be important to place a small fan near the plants to keep the area where the plants contact the soil dry.
Once the chance of frost has passed. You can then safely move your tomatoes out into your garden. Once the temperatures have warmed up your tomato plants will grow quickly. It is important to keep them well watered and fertilized.
If you’re plants receive good sunlight within 60 to 80 days you will have a bumper crop of fresh and delicious tomatoes.
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