Cherry tomatoes on the windowsill: how to grow at home

Many gardeners extend the pleasure of growing plants until mid-autumn and even into 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 of various colors. They belong to the nightshade family, do not require much effort to care for them and will bring many fruits in gratitude. Fresh miniature tomatoes on the dining table in winter look exotic and have an unusual, sweetish taste.

Features of care

Creating favorable conditions for the normal growth of plants is the main concern for gardeners. To grow tomatoes in an apartment, you will need to create an environment as close as possible to the field. Consider the main criteria that should be taken care of first.

Earth

Growing tomatoes requires neutral acid soil mixed with nutrients such as:

• humus;
• ash;
• superphosphate;
• peat;
• chicken manure.

That's enough to plant seeds and grow seedlings. Top dressing for a further period is selected individually. The main thing is not to overfeed the 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 earth 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 the 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 form and fall off.

It is recommended to choose special lamps that shine in the following ranges:

• blue;
• green;
• red.

But can ordinary incandescent bulbs be used? By heating the tungsten filament, they produce light in the range close to red. The violet spectrum is practically inaccessible to them. In addition, the lamps emit infrared rays that heat the soil and the bush itself, which can lead to the death of the plant.

But how do you grow cherry tomatoes on a windowsill without using different temperature controls? It is recommended to prepare fixtures consisting of three LED lines - blue, green and red, respectively. 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 fans use the backlight from below, but this does not play a special role.

Blue and red light are very useful for the development of the stem and leaves at the initial stage for tomatoes.

Green light is needed to grow fruits. Illumination is used during the daytime in the natural cycle. Plants rest at night, no LED lights required.

Temperature

The most favorable temperature for the development of tomatoes is in the range of 18 - 22 degrees. Its excess or decrease will lead to inhibition of vital functions and 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 temperature of the working surface 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 comes down to personal preference.

The method of growing seeds is no different from the field:

1. In a pre-prepared damp cloth, lay the seeds at a distance of at least 1 cm from each other.
2. Place in a dark place.
3. Maintain the required temperature and humidity.
4. Germinate until stems from seeds up to 1-2 cm long appear.

Preparing plastic cups or boxes with earth. After that, you can plant germinated seeds in a pre-prepared environment. Next, expose them to the light or to the greenhouse. We organize daily care and lighting.

Quick growing of seedlings directly depends on the chosen schedule of watering and top dressing. The earth should not be constantly wet - this will lead to rapid acidification of the soil and the development of phytophthora. It is best to wait after watering until the soil dries, then loosen the ground.After a while, water the soil again.

In the autumn-winter period, growing seedlings has its own characteristics. One of the mistakes is the organization of a small garden directly on the windowsill of a private apartment. From under the windowsill and windows, especially in winter, cold air enters, which can seriously interfere with all undertakings. It is best to grow seedlings under a plastic wrap, and before planting in an impromptu garden, begin to harden. In this case, cold air will not enter through the cracks in the window, and the draft will not damage the plant.

If necessary, you can picket seedlings - 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, the finished seedlings can be planted by preparing a small garden in advance. Suitable for planting seedlings:

1. Round clay 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 is formed not only upwards, but also hangs down along the edges.
2. An ordinary metal bucket will not give its owner additional trouble. The only thing to take care of is the edges. Tomatoes grown in a pot have the advantage of not being damaged by the glossy surface of their home.
3. You can grow Cherries on a windowsill or porch using small wooden crates. Choose the east side as tomatoes love the light.

As you can see, there are at least a few options, it all depends on the conditions and imagination of the gardener.

Growing fruits

If all the above conditions are met, it is quite possible to grow Cherry tomatoes at home and get a good harvest. It remains only to coordinate the schedule of watering and fertilizing and carefully monitor the growth of plants.

The seedlings may look unsightly for a few days, 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.

If there is 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 the main lighting. Curving in pursuit of light, the plant loses its strength. Even "washing" with light will give an additional incentive to grow.

If you notice excessive elongation and stems - this may be a sign of insufficient lighting. One interesting method can be used. As an experiment, plant two identical bushes side by side. Using a soft brush, lightly brush the leaves and stem of one of them. On the leaves are sensitive hairs that are deformed.Surprisingly, the growth of the bush slows down, and the stem thickens.

Fast in the process of caring for plants, you will undoubtedly get a high yield of Cherry tomatoes at home or in a private greenhouse, on the veranda and even in the garage: with proper care and attention to nature, success is sure to come.

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