How to grow cherry tomatoes on the balcony from seeds at home

Stepsoning

Almost all varieties form stepsons as they grow - these are lateral shoots that develop in the axils of the leaves. Low-growing indoor plants form two or three stems. To do this, leave the top of the central stem and one or two more stepsons. The rest are deleted. Ideally, a low-growing plant has a central stem and two stepsons at different levels. In addition to the stepsons, it is necessary to remove diseased and yellow leaves, as well as foliage covering the fruits of the lower clusters. By the way, the number of brushes also needs to be limited. You can leave four bunches of ovaries on each stem, and then pinch the crown.

Types of Cherry for balcony cultivation

The bushes of the variety are divided into groups according to the height of the adult plant:

All low-growing varieties are suitable for growing on balconies and loggias. Plants are planted in pots or pallets. The tomato forms a neat bush with a sufficient number of fruits. Pots can be placed on window sills or shelves on the balcony.

Low

The Bonsai variety is popular. The height of an adult bush rarely exceeds 40 cm. Tomato weight is 20 g. The variety is most often used as a decorative one: asters, for example, look good together with vegetables in the same pot.

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Varieties Japanese dwarf, Minibel and Craiova have an adult bush height of up to 70 cm. The plant does not need pinching. During flowering, manual pollination is carried out (gardeners recommend shaking the brush). The bushes bear fruit until January. Tomatoes – up to 30 grams, with thick skin, sweet.

Japanese dwarf

Self-pollinating varieties of tomatoes for balconies and windowsills are marked “parthenocarpic” on the packaging.

High

The varieties Rowan Beads, Balcony Miracle, Garden Pearl can be classified as tall. Pinched bushes reach a meter in height. Up to 500 pieces are removed from one plant per season. tomatoes. The average weight of a tomato is 45 g.

Balcony miracle

These varieties are chosen for balconies and loggias. They are planted in shallow boxes or pots. Bushes require support and plenty of sunlight.

Growing tomatoes on the balcony

Usually, all the necessary information on growing a particular variety is located on the seed packaging

First of all, you need to pay attention to the length of the growing season. The timing of planting and such characteristics as the type of bush and its height depend on it.

When to sow seeds

Tomatoes are grown on the balcony from the end of May to September

. Tall plants are selected with a short growing season so that the tomatoes have time to ripen. For dwarf varieties, this characteristic is not relevant, since it is easier to protect them from autumn frosts by placing them in a warm room.

In any case, tomatoes are grown in seedlings. Seeds begin to be sown in the second decade of March, early ripening varieties - in early April

. By the time of transplantation to a permanent location, the plants should be 45-55 days old. To this you need to add 3-4 days for the emergence of seedlings and about a week for growth retardation when picking seedlings.

Preparation of soil and planting material

the seeds are soaked for 12 hours before planting

To do this, you can use plain water or add growth stimulants to it.

The soil is prepared in advance; the same components are used to prepare the mixture, but in different proportions

.

To do this take:

• peat – 60%, humus – 30%, river sand – 10%;
• turf soil, humus and garden soil 30% each, sand - 10%;
• turf soil – 60%, humus – 30%, sand – 10%.

To 10 liters of soil mixture add a glass of wood ash, 15 g of urea, 15 g of potassium sulfate, 30 g of superphosphate. For a small number of seedlings, the soil can be heated in the oven

at 80-90 degrees or disinfect with a solution of potassium permanganate.

If it is impossible to prepare the soil yourself

, complex fertilizers are added to the purchased soil, the mixture is moistened and left for three days to mature.

Important! A lack of air in the soil slows down the development of the root system, which impairs the nutrition of the entire plant. Therefore, the soil for tomato seedlings should be loose, with a good lumpy structure

Sowing seeds for seedlings and caring for seedlings

Sow the prepared seeds in pots to a depth of 1-1.5 cm, cover with a glass or film screen. As soon as most of the seeds sprout, the temperature for seedlings is reduced from 23 degrees

up to 15. To do this, place the container with seedlings under the window or closer to the glass.
During this period, plants need good lighting. If necessary, seedlings are illuminated
with fluorescent lamps.

Advice!

With the appearance of two true leaves, the plants dive, replanting each one in a separate cup. The soil should be kept moderately moist.

Feeding is carried out once every 10 days. 2 g of potassium salt and superphosphate and 1.2 g of urea are dissolved in a liter of water. Plants are watered before and after fertilizing

. A week before transplanting to a permanent place, the seedlings begin to be hardened by taking them out onto the balcony for 2-3 hours.

Transplantation into a container for further cultivation

The seedlings are transplanted to a permanent location when the danger of frost has passed.

. The land is prepared in advance. The composition of the soil is the same as for seedlings.

Pots or boxes should be appropriate for the size of the plant and contain drainage holes. If for For dwarf bushes, a 2-3 liter pot is enough

, then for tall tomatoes you need 5-8 liters of soil.

Planting plants is permissible either one or several per box. Drainage material is placed at the bottom of the container, and prepared soil is poured on top. Seedlings are planted at a distance of 30 cm

from each other. After watering, the top layer is mulched with peat or sawdust. The boxes are placed in a permanent place, immediately installing supports for tall varieties.

This video shows a clever way to grow tomatoes, which speeds up the growth of seedlings by 2 times.

Preparing and sowing seeds

• the seeds are treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and placed in a damp cloth;
• plastic cups with a volume of 200 ml. filled with soil (you can buy ready-made soil or prepare the soil mixture yourself from 1/3 peat, 1/3 turf soil, 1/3 humus);
• small depressions (1.5 - 2 cm) are made in the soil into which the seeds will be sown;
• after the seeds have hatched, they are sown in the prepared soil (one per cup);
• The cups are placed in a warm place and covered with film.

In order to grow tomato crops on the balcony in the summer, you need to germinate the seeds no later than March - early April. At the end of April - at the beginning of May, tomato seedlings can already be planted in containers prepared for permanent cultivation. Read the recommendations on how to arrange a cellar on the balcony.

Some useful tips on caring for cherry tomatoes

Many cherry varieties for planting in apartment conditions are self-pollinating. For pollination to occur, several bushes and air movement are needed in the place where the pots with them are located. You can place a fan near the plants.

Yellow cap

Experts also recommend helping tomatoes with pollination by using a small brush or cotton swab. It is necessary to collect pollen from the flowers of one plant with a brush and carefully transfer it to others. This should be done early in the morning, as pollen ripens at night. The fact that the flowers have been pollinated can be judged by the fact that the petals bend back slightly.

Like other houseplants, cherry tomatoes can become diseased or be attacked by insect pests. A sick plant will not produce a good harvest and will not be pleasing to the eye.

If harmful insects are found on the plant, it must be ventilated and sprayed more often. For preventive treatment, 1% Bordeaux mixture is suitable. When fruit ovaries appear, to prevent infection, experts recommend spraying the plants with garlic infusion.

If preventive measures do not help, it is necessary to treat the bushes with insecticides. In specialized stores you can select insect killers designed specifically for cherry tomatoes. You can also use broad-spectrum insecticides, calculating the dosage according to the instructions on the package.

When the bush grows, it needs to be supported. To do this, place a support in the pot to which the stem is tied. Shoots of ampelous cherry varieties can be let out on specially tied ropes.

Experts recommend picking the fruits from the bush after they are fully ripe. A tomato ripened on a branch is rich in nutrients and has a pronounced pleasant taste and aroma. As a rule, the fruits ripen evenly and can be collected in whole clusters.

Experienced gardeners recommend planting cherry tomatoes in metal containers. This is believed to reduce the risk of fungal infections.

Growing cherry tomatoes at home is quite easy if you follow all the care rules. It is worth spending time and effort on growing tasty and healthy fruits that will delight the whole family all year round.

The benefits of cherry tomatoes

Miniature cherry tomatoes contain more nutrients than regular tomatoes. Cherries are good for the heart and contain a lot of potassium. Phosphorus, which is part of them, improves metabolism, iron improves blood composition. The main benefit of growing cherry tomatoes is the antioxidant lycopene. The body needs it to prevent cancer and heart pathologies.

The scope of application of cherry tomatoes in cooking is wide:

• small tomatoes can be added to salads;
• they are a staple ingredient in Italian dishes;
• fruits can be dried, frozen, pickled.

Growing cherry tomatoes at home and caring for them brings many positive aspects to life, which has a good effect on the psychological health of urban residents.

Growing tomatoes on the balcony

Usually, all the necessary information on growing a particular variety is located on the seed packaging

First of all, you need to pay attention to the length of the growing season. The timing of planting and such characteristics as the type of bush and its height depend on it.

When to sow seeds

Tomatoes are grown on the balcony from the end of May to September. Tall plants are selected with a short growing season so that the tomatoes have time to ripen. For dwarf varieties, this characteristic is not relevant, since it is easier to protect them from autumn frosts by placing them in a warm room.

In any case, tomatoes are grown in seedlings. Seeds begin to be sown in the second decade of March, early ripening varieties - in early April. By the time of transplantation to a permanent location, the plants should be 45-55 days old. To this you need to add 3-4 days for the emergence of seedlings and about a week for growth retardation when picking seedlings.

Preparation of soil and planting material

To improve germination, the seeds are soaked for 12 hours before planting. To do this, you can use plain water or add growth stimulants to it.

The soil is prepared in advance; the same ingredients are used to prepare the mixture, but in different proportions.

To do this take:

• peat – 60%, humus – 30%, river sand – 10%;
• turf soil, humus and garden soil 30% each, sand - 10%;
• turf soil – 60%, humus – 30%, sand – 10%.

To 10 liters of soil mixture add a glass of wood ash, 15 g of urea, 15 g of potassium sulfate, 30 g of superphosphate. For a small number of seedlings, the soil can be heated in an oven at 80-90 degrees or disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate.

If it is impossible to prepare the soil yourself, complex fertilizers are added to the purchased soil, the mixture is moistened and left for three days to mature.

Important! A lack of air in the soil slows down the development of the root system, which impairs the nutrition of the entire plant. Therefore, the soil for tomato seedlings should be loose, with a good lumpy structure.

Sowing seeds for seedlings and caring for seedlings

Sow the prepared seeds in pots to a depth of 1-1.5 cm, cover with a glass or film screen. As soon as most of the seeds sprout, the temperature for seedlings is reduced from 23 degrees to 15. To do this, place the container with the seedlings under a window or closer to the glass. During this period, plants need good lighting. If necessary, seedlings are illuminated with fluorescent lamps.

Advice! With the appearance of two true leaves, the plants dive, replanting each one in a separate cup. The soil should be kept moderately moist.

Feeding is carried out once every 10 days. 2 g of potassium salt and superphosphate and 1.2 g of urea are dissolved in a liter of water. Plants are watered before and after fertilizing. A week before transplanting to a permanent place, the seedlings begin to be hardened by taking them out onto the balcony for 2-3 hours.

Transplantation into a container for further cultivation

The seedlings are transplanted to a permanent location when the danger of frost has passed. The land is prepared in advance. The composition of the soil is the same as for seedlings.

Pots or boxes should be appropriate for the size of the plant and contain drainage holes. If a 2-3 liter pot is enough for dwarf bushes, then 5-8 liters of soil are needed for tall tomatoes.

Planting plants is permissible either one or several per box. Drainage material is placed at the bottom of the container, and prepared soil is poured on top. Seedlings are planted at a distance of 30 cm from each other. After watering, the top layer is mulched with peat or sawdust. The boxes are placed in a permanent place, immediately installing supports for tall varieties.

This video shows a clever way to grow tomatoes, which speeds up the growth of seedlings by 2 times.

Transfer to a permanent place:

• containers intended for planting seedlings are filled to 2/3 of the volume;
• the seedlings are removed from the cups along with the earthen lump and placed in prepared containers;
• the plant is planted to a depth of two and a half to three centimeters and watered abundantly with water at room temperature;
• the plant is tied with twine to an installed wooden peg;
• at first, for about five days, while the plant adapts, it is advisable not to place it in direct sunlight;
• when the plant takes root well enough and its above-ground part begins to grow, gradually, as the plant grows, the pot is filled with earth;
• The tomatoes are taken out to the balcony when the weather is finally warm.

Planting cherry tomatoes at home

If you want to start growing cherry tomatoes at home, then you need to prepare properly: choose planting material, a place for your future home garden. These plants need light, so the pots should be placed in a well-lit place, near windows where the sun shines most of the day. It is also necessary to prepare the supports that the grown bushes will need. For this purpose, you can use sticks made of any material: wood, plastic, metal. Pots must be chosen high and quite voluminous, approximately 8-10 liters.

Cherry tomatoes are grown from seeds or by pinching adult plants.

Let's describe the process step by step:

• preparation: soil and site selection;
• seeds for planting;

planting seeds; diving of seedlings.

Having purchased seeds, you need to sort them out and then place them in a solution for 12 hours to stimulate growth (you can buy them at a specialty store). This will wake them up. After this, rinse thoroughly and wrap in gauze moistened with water until they swell.

After this, the seeds are placed in previously prepared soil, to a depth of approximately 1 cm from the surface. The most suitable soil for cherry tomatoes is a mixture of garden soil and river sand in a ratio of 1:3, to which peat and humus are added.

After this, for better growth and development of plants, you need to add mineral fertilizer or ash to the soil. Then pour in settled water at room temperature or a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Containers with planted seeds are covered with polyethylene or a glass cap, creating greenhouse conditions. After the sprouts appear, there is no need to keep the film or cap over the plants all the time. It is necessary to open them periodically to allow fresh air and hardening.

When two leaves appear from the ground, you should dive the root, pinching it. This will help the root system strengthen and develop well. Then the plants need to be watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and the surface sprinkled with a small layer of sand.

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You can also grow seedlings in small containers, and then, after a few leaves appear on the sprout, transplant it into a large pot. In such cases, two seeds are sown in small pots (you can take ordinary plastic cups). After the seedlings appear, they are assessed and a stronger and more developed sprout is transplanted into a large pot.

Also, many gardeners who grow cherry tomatoes at home use the pinching method. You need to separate a branch from an adult bush and place it in a container with water. After about a week, thin roots appear, after which the plant can be planted in prepared soil in a large pot.

Sow tomato seeds

Before planting seeds, they must be soaked in potassium permanganate for 20 minutes, then in a solution of “Epin” or a similar composition to stimulate growth for 10 hours. This solution allows you to increase seedlings, but as for the seeds, this will allow them to germinate faster.

After completing all of the above, the seeds must be transferred to a small container and covered with a damp cloth. After two to three days, roots will appear on the seeds. In this case, the sprouted seeds must be planted in a container with soil for seedlings. Tomato seeds sink to a depth of one centimeter at a distance of three centimeters.

Containers with seedlings, which are covered with an opaque lid, should be placed in a warm place. When the first shoots appear, the seedlings can be placed on the balcony closer to the light. Permissible temperature at night is +15 - +17°, during the day +22 - +25°.

This way you will have seedlings on your balcony. The main condition is to avoid drafts, the use of cold water for irrigation, as well as oversaturation with moisture, as the latter will cause the development of various diseases and fungi.

Planting indoor varieties

Tomatoes cannot be planted immediately in pots and cache-pots. They require preliminary sowing into forms or cups for seedlings. Make sure that there are drainage holes in the bottoms of the container for seedlings to allow free access of oxygen to the roots of the sprouts. Two to three days before sowing, the seeds are soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This is done to prevent the occurrence of bacterial infections in the future plant. Before planting, they are washed and dried.

To improve the growth of tomatoes, prepare special soil. Take 1 kg of black soil, add 200 g of fine sand and 100 g of peat. Instead of peat, you can take peat tablets - in addition to dried peat, organic fertilizers are added to them. A few hours before planting, treat the finished mixture with boiling water with the addition of 1 tsp. the same potassium permanganate. After placing the seed in the soil, cover the mold with cling film for a day. Then remove the film and place the glass on a lighted window. In about 4-5 days the first shoots will appear.

After 40 days, the lower leaves are removed and the plant is transplanted into a large pot. This is necessary because the first leaves often draw strength from the stem. Fertilize tomatoes with vitamin mixtures and superphosphate.

Reproduction by stepsons

Cherry tomatoes reproduce well by shoots - shoots growing from the axils. Having one mature plant on the windowsill, you can easily get new cherry tomato bushes. The stepson must be broken out along with a small heel.

You can root a tomato:

• in the ground, covered with a transparent plastic bottle;
• in a glass of water.

You can add a root formation stimulator to a glass of water. As soon as the tomato has good roots, it can be transplanted into a bucket (pot) like regular tomato seedlings. Further care for the tomato bush is standard.

How to grow

Growing cherry tomatoes on a windowsill is not difficult, although it is necessary to create suitable conditions for them.

Preparation

• The soil. Start preparing the soil in the fall. Collect some soil and add sand and humus to it, taking all the ingredients in equal proportions. Pour half a glass of shells (pre-crushed) and 1 tbsp into the mixture. ash. To remove microbes from the soil, it must be steamed. Then put them in plastic bags and store them. If this all seems complicated to you, buy ready-made soil in the store.
• Seeds. At the beginning of March it is time to take out the prepared seeds. Choose large seeds from the total mass. In prepared gauze bags, immerse the seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate for twenty minutes: 1 tsp per 1 liter of water. potassium permanganate. This is necessary for disinfection. Then they need to be washed under running water. Soak the fabric in a solution that stimulates root formation (1 g per 1 liter of water). Take a plastic container with bots and place it on a cloth, spread the seeds on it. Wrap the container in a plastic bag. Place in a warm place.
• Prepare dishes for seedlings. Take wooden boxes with sides at least 6 cm high. Lay polyethylene on the bottom of the box so that the water does not escape, but is absorbed into the ground. Pour soil onto it and compact it (4-5 cm).

For planting, you need to select the largest tomato seeds

Planting seedlings and caring for them

Make grooves in the prepared soil, the depth of which is 0.5 cm. Plant seeds in them, add 1 cm of soil. Heavy watering will be a mistake, lightly spray the soil with water. Cover the box with film and put it in a warm place. As soon as the seeds hatch, transfer the box to the windowsill.

If you want to grow strong and strong seedlings at home, take care of uniform lighting. To do this, opposite the window sill where the seedlings are located, you need to attach a board with foil. Place a lamp nearby. Turn the box over every day. When the soil dries out, water the seedlings with warm water. She also needs feeding. The first feeding is carried out on the 10th day after emergence, and then it must be fed every 10 days.

Transplanting tomatoes

When the seedlings have 3-4 leaves, the plants should be picked and transplanted into separate cups. After transplantation, the sprout will take root and will begin to grow within a week. Do not forget to water the plants and fertilize according to the same scheme as given above in order to grow strong tomatoes on the balcony. Wait until late April to plant your tomatoes in individual containers. For each plant you will need dishes from 4 liters, with a depth of 10-12 cm.

In order for tomatoes to grow well, each sprout should be planted in a separate pot.

Tomato care

Constantly loosen the plants and water them on the balcony. If they do not have enough water, the fruits may crack.

Tomatoes need to be tied up, no matter large or miniature plants. Otherwise, the ripe fruits will tilt the plants and touch the ground

Miniature varieties do not take stepson. If they are tall or medium tall, this is necessary. Then you will ensure a high harvest. There are no pollinators in the house, so you will have to do it yourself: when the plants bloom, you need to shake them gently.

When the ovaries form, there is no need to feed the plant. This is done at the beginning of planting, when the nutrients are used to form the ground part. Also, fertilizing is required during the period when the fruits have already set and small tomatoes have formed. Mineral fertilizers are used for feeding, following the instructions. If you prefer “organic”, then once every 3 weeks water them with a solution of chicken manure or mullein: 1 cup per bucket of water. Growing tomatoes on the balcony will not take much time and will not take much effort, but the tomatoes will delight you for several months.

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Who among us does not dream of fresh vegetables that can be eaten not only when they are in season? Why go to the supermarket in winter for imported tomatoes that don’t even smell like them, when you can grow natural tomatoes on the windowsill?! By moving indoor flowers and freeing up space for several pots, it’s easy to get fragrant and tasty tomatoes even at home. How to do this correctly in order to pamper your loved ones with vitamins all year round will be shown in a small selection of practical tips and recommendations, which we invite you to familiarize yourself with today.

Properly caring for seedlings

If you don’t know how to properly care for seedlings, then there is nothing easier. Everything is done in the same way as with seeds. It needs to be watered in the morning and in the evening, and it is better to water it in the morning more than in the evening. Keep the soil moist in the evening. If there is high humidity outside the window, then all the moisture may not be absorbed and may remain, and this suggests negative aspects of the development of seedlings.

Tomatoes are a plant that likes to be watered at the root, so plastic bottles are used to grow delicious tomatoes on the balcony. Growing step by step in plastic bottles, a video of the detailed process of which is presented in this article, will allow you to achieve the best results in gardening on the balcony.

Growing tomatoes on the windowsill

The first feeding should be 10 days of the month after planting. After this, it is necessary to fertilize three more times before transplanting into the main pot. Soil with humus will be an ideal fertilizer. If you don’t have one, you can buy special soil in the store. This soil should be added three times before the main planting. This solution is ideal for tomatoes: the roots sprout, absorbing the beneficial properties of fertilizers, the surface becomes larger, which allows them to receive even more oxygen.

The suitable temperature for seedlings is from 10 to 20 degrees. Once the outside temperature has reached a stable +25, you can safely take the tomatoes out into the open. If the balcony is glazed, this is not necessary; ventilate it.

Cherry tomatoes - cultivation

Cherry tomatoes have recently become very popular among gardeners, the cultivation of which has become widespread, despite their heat-loving nature. This happened largely thanks to the restaurant business. These baby tomatoes serve both as an excellent tasty decoration for a dish and as an independent ingredient in salads. They are also good in canning. Let's look at how you can grow cherry tomatoes.

Cherry tomatoes - cultivation

Planting and caring for cherry tomatoes is practically no different from caring for regular tomato varieties. They are grown by seedlings. From March to the end of April, we plant tomato seeds in prepared soil. After about 5 days, the first shoots will appear.

At the stage of 3-4 true leaves, tomatoes are dived into separate containers with a volume of 300-400 ml

Throughout the entire period of seedling growth, it is very important to water the plants correctly. They absolutely cannot tolerate drying out of the earthen coma.

Therefore, ensure that the soil in the seedling containers is moistened, while not allowing water to stagnate in them.

Cherry tomatoes can be grown both in open ground and in a greenhouse. If you have it heated, then you can enjoy the taste of baby tomatoes all year round. But often they are planted directly in the apartment, using flower pots, or in the warm season on an open balcony.

Cherry tomato care

You can plant cherry tomatoes for permanent residence from the end of April if you plant them in a greenhouse, and no later than the second ten days of June if they grow in open ground

To plant in open ground, it is important to wait until all frosts have passed. This is usually the second half of May

About a week before planting the tomatoes, we begin to harden them. To do this, we simply take the boxes with seedlings out onto the balcony every day, putting them back into the apartment at night.

Regardless of the variety of tomatoes and the size of the bush, it is important to maintain a distance between them when planting. It should be at least 70 cm for low-growing varieties and approximately 1 m for tall ones

This is necessary to ensure that access to air and sunlight is uniform throughout the entire bush.

During the growth of tomatoes, it is necessary to regularly loosen the soil and water. If there is not enough moisture, the fruits will crack, which is completely undesirable for us.

Regardless of whether the bushes of the variety you have chosen are tall or very miniature, they need to be tied up. This is done so that the fruits, collected in clusters, do not tilt the entire plant as they ripen and do not come into contact with the ground. Only hanging varieties, which are grown mainly in hanging baskets, are not tied to a support.

Now let's figure out whether cherry tomatoes need to be planted.

Cherry tomato bushes can be either very miniature - up to 30 cm in height, or gigantic - reaching 2 meters. Indeterminate varieties (tall) and semi-determinate (medium) varieties need to be pinched to increase fertility and produce a rich harvest. Cherry tomatoes are planted in such a way that the bush is formed into one or two trunks.

Cherry tomato varieties

These baby tomatoes are famous not only for the variety of varieties that differ in height. Breeders have developed species that differ from each other in shape (can be round, oval, pear-shaped) and fruit color (from yellow, red, to almost black). The choice of variety depends not only on the desired shape and color of the fruit, but also on the place of cultivation.

Low varieties that do not require pinching are suitable for growing on the balcony. Today they are especially popular

For open ground, cherry tomato varieties should be chosen from the following: White Currant, Beads, Honey Drop and Cherry. The popularity of cherry tomatoes is so great that it is impossible to count all the varieties. The main thing when choosing a variety is to remember that giants will not do well in pots for indoor plants. Low-growing varieties are absolutely unpretentious in their territorial preferences. By growing cherry tomatoes, you will not only enjoy their benefits and taste, but also the aesthetic beauty of this plant.

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Tomato varieties for the balcony

How to grow cherry tomatoes on the balcony? To get a guaranteed good harvest, you should choose varieties intended for cultivation at home.

Balcony miracle

A low-growing variety of tomatoes, with a height of only 40 cm. Balcony miracle is an early ripening variety, with good care it produces a bountiful harvest (up to 2 kg of tomatoes can be harvested from one bush per season). The average weight of one fruit is 20–25 g.

Room surprise

The dwarf variety grows up to 50 cm in height. The tomatoes are bright red, aromatic, juicy, weighing 50 g. The variety is distinguished by plum-shaped fruits. Tomatoes lend themselves well to storage and transportation.

Balcony bonsai

A low-growing, early-ripening variety with fruits of a rich scarlet hue. Ripe tomatoes can be picked from the bush already 80 days after the first leaves appear on the seedling. The fruits are fleshy, with a small number of seeds inside.

Butterfly

A mid-early variety with a height of up to 1.5 m. The tomatoes are small in size, weighing 30 g. The color of the fruit is raspberry-pink.

Romantic F1

High-yielding early ripening hybrid. A tall plant (up to 1.5 m), the fruits have a red-pink hue, weight 50 g, plum-shaped.

Cherry red, yellow

Tomato variety Red Cherry has an average fruit ripening period. The plant is medium-sized, 1 m high. Ripe fruits have a red tint, weight 15–20 g.

The Yellow Cherry tomato has the same characteristics as the Red Cherry. The main difference is the yellow tint of ripe fruits, the presence of two seed sections with small seeds.

Angelica

An early ripening variety of tomatoes - 75–80 days pass from the appearance of leaves to the harvesting of fruits. Angelica is resistant to late blight, which allows reducing the amount of fungicides used for spraying.

The color of the tomatoes is red, the average weight is 40–50 g.

Pearl

A low-growing variety with elongated red fruits. The tomato pulp is fleshy, the taste is tomato, sweet and sour. The average weight of one vegetable is 10–15 g.

Ballerina

Mid-season tall variety (grows up to 1.6 m). The plant has pear-shaped red fruits with two seed chambers. The average weight of cherry tomatoes is 35 g.

Garden pearl

The variety is distinguished by its long fruiting period, sweet taste, and good yield. The variety is suitable for growing in open ground, greenhouses, and for growing on the balcony. Tomato weight 15–20 g.

Balcony red F1

Early ripening tomato, resistant to diseases. The fruits are sweet, aromatic, weighing up to 30 g. They are characterized by low growth - 40 cm.

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Balconies yellow

A low-growing variety with round yellow tomatoes. The fruits have a thin skin and are distinguished by a sweet and sour tomato taste. The average weight of one vegetable is 20 g.

Pinocchio

This dwarf variety of tomatoes reaches a height of only 25–30 cm. Ideal for growing on a balcony or windowsill. The fruits ripen 70 days after planting the seedlings in the ground. The weight of one tomato varies from 15 to 25 g.

Philippok

The variety of Siberian selection is frost-resistant. Suitable for growing on unglazed balconies and loggias. It is characterized by early ripeness and high productivity. The average weight of one tomato is 30 g.

Care

You should be prepared that caring for tomatoes is not easy.

It is important to observe light and temperature conditions, ensure regular watering, but avoid waterlogging of the soil and stagnation of moisture. Of no small importance is the size of the growing container, as well as the nature and frequency of pinching

Caring for seedlings after diving involves maintaining a certain temperature regime - during the day it should be at least 22C, at night - 18C. Tomatoes need long daylight hours, up to 16 hours. In this regard, it is recommended to turn on additional lighting at night.

When growing cherry tomatoes at home, you should choose tall cylindrical pots with a volume of at least 5 liters. Tomatoes in small containers or boxes will not produce a good harvest. Using low containers can cause them to overturn under the weight of the bush and damage the plant.

For small-fruited ampel varieties it is better to use hanging pots

It is important to ensure that the edges of the latter are not sharp, otherwise the hanging branches of the tomatoes will be cut off. Pots should be placed in well-lit places where there are no drafts

If at night the temperature on the balcony drops below 18C, tomatoes should be brought home at night. Periodically it is necessary to loosen the soil using a wooden stick. If exposed roots are found, they should be sprinkled with humus.

Watering

Stagnation of moisture in the soil negatively affects the condition of tomatoes. Bushes may stop growing and then rot. A drainage layer at the bottom of the pot allows you to avoid this to some extent. It is better to take expanded clay of small or medium fraction for this. A layer of hydrogel, which is also placed in each container, allows you to reduce the frequency of watering and prevent the soil from drying out.

Although tomatoes do not tolerate stagnation of water, they should still be watered quite often. On warm sunny days this should be done 2-3 times a week. When it is cloudy and humid outside, 1-2 times during the same period is enough. Soft water at room temperature is suitable for irrigation. As a rule, it is enough to pour water from the tap and let it sit for 1-2 days. It is better to water in the evening or early in the morning, after the sun reduces its activity.

When growing a crop on a windowsill, you should periodically spray it with warm water, and also provide ventilation. It is better to ventilate after watering, but only if there are no drafts or cold air currents.

Top dressing

Cherry tomatoes are sensitive to the mineral content of the soil. The optimal feeding for them is ash, superphosphate, humus, pre-rotted. They can be applied every 2 weeks before watering during the formation of ovaries and ripening of tomatoes. But the use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers during this period should be moderate. Such fertilizer will only contribute to an increase in greenery on the bushes, which inhibits the formation of ovaries.

You should not overuse fertilizers, as this will affect the benefits of the fruit. If we talk about ready-made mineral complexes, then “Plantafide”, “Plantafol” and Aqua Drop are recommended. To spray the bush, you can use the anti-stress composition "Megafol".

Stepsoning

Planting tomatoes (both domestic and ground-grown) is necessary so that the crop does not waste energy on the formation of an excessively large volume of green mass. Cherries grown at home need to be planted a little less often. In this case, the plant gets an attractive head, looks like a miniature tree and acts as an interior decoration.

It should be remembered that round green bushes yield slightly less than those that grow more often. The choice of a specific option depends on the owner of the balcony mini-vegetable garden.

In any case, the lower stepsons should be preserved, and at the moment of formation of the ovaries, no more than 4-5 brushes should be kept on each stem. During the same period, you need to pinch the growth point by 3-4 cm. Diseased or dried, yellowed leaves should be removed regularly.

Stepchildren can be planted in water by adding a drop of flower food. After a root has formed on the stepson, you can plant it in the ground and grow a new bush.

Some varieties of balcony tomatoes do not require pinching. These include “Bonsai micro” and “Balcony red”.

Transplanting tomatoes into pots

If you grow tomatoes in winter, you should understand that this crop is heat- and light-loving, so it is still worthwhile for them, albeit artificially, to extend the length of daylight hours. This is achieved by installing lighting lamps at a level of 25-30 cm from the plant (not from the pot). Lamps should also be turned on if it is cloudy outside, not only at sunrise, but also after sunset.

When the seedlings are 3 weeks old, you should fertilize them with products intended for seedlings, strictly adhering to the instructions. To prevent various diseases and fungus, it is better to spray seedlings by diluting 50 g of milk in 500 ml of water.

Growing tomatoes on the balcony

After the third leaf appears, you should start diving. First of all, they should be planted in small containers with a diameter of 5 cm. If you transplant all the seedlings into a larger container, the roots will develop much worse.

After a month, tomatoes from small containers should be transplanted into larger containers - from 3 to 5 liters. An alternative is boxes with light soil into which plants can be transplanted at a distance of 25 cm.

An excellent solution would be to hang tomatoes. Hanging pots are used for such purposes. Some time later, the leaves and fruits will fall down, as a result of which you will have an original balcony fruitful decor.

Insect pests and common diseases

Balcony cherry tomatoes are susceptible to a number of diseases and harmful insects:

1. Late blight - every part of the bush and crop is affected by brown spots. Late blight occurs when heat is combined with excessive humidity. The diseased planting must be removed because the disease is transferred to a neighboring plant.
2. Blackleg affects young plantings that grow in excessively humid and thickened conditions. The plant turns black at the base, becomes thin and withers. Each diseased planting must be disposed of. Watering during this period should be reduced, and seedlings should be thinned out regularly.
3. Gray rot - tomatoes are susceptible to it at any stage of ripening. Symptoms manifest themselves in the appearance of gray spots of small diameter, gradually growing and acquiring a watery structure. In addition, such stains have a putrid odor. Diseased tomato bushes must be thrown away along with the soil.
4. Whitefly - the size of an adult is about one and a half millimeters. The color of the body is yellowish. Whitefly damages the leafy part of the seedlings. Black spots form at the site of the lesion.
5. Spider mite - settles on the back side of the leaf. The affected area first appears as a dot, gradually turning into a “marble” pattern.

LETS SOW ON TIME - IT WILL BE GOOD

Before sowing tomato seeds for seedlings, the gardener must realistically assess the conditions that he can provide for young tomatoes.
If the farm has a greenhouse covered with film or polycarbonate, which means that the seedlings will be planted in the garden very early (in April), the seeds can be sowed earlier - from February 20 to March 15. Growing tomato seedlings takes approximately 5-8 weeks (2.0-2.5 months). This allows you to calculate the expected sowing date. For example, if you plan to plant seedlings in the garden after mid-May, the sowing campaign should be carried out around mid-March.

Grown tomato seedlings are ready for planting if their height has reached 20-25 cm and the plants have 6-7 well-developed leaves. If the gardener is too late with planting, the tomato seedlings will overgrow and their stem will become excessively elongated. For overgrown seedlings, the adaptation period after planting in the ground is prolonged; tomatoes take a long time to take root, experience stress and get sick. It is not uncommon for seedlings sown in January or February to become frail and thin due to the lack of full sunlight, as well as dry indoor air and frequent watering. The yield of such seedlings is much lower than that of tomatoes sown a month or a month and a half later.

Where to begin

You need to start by analyzing tomato varieties. The right variety is not half the success, but a big part of it. Low-growing varieties and medium-sized tomatoes are more suitable for balconies and window sills, and tall ones are more suitable for loggias with a large area.

Once the variety has been selected, you can start preparing containers for planting. When choosing, it is important to consider the characteristics of the pot:

• volume;
• decor;
• material of manufacture;
• presence of drainage holes.

For the plant itself, only the volume of the pot and the presence of drainage holes are important. Two other characteristics must be taken into account if you want to create a cozy place to relax on your balcony (loggia), decorated with picturesque tomato bushes.

Have you chosen the pots, do you know their volume? You can go for the land. It’s better not to go to the dacha, but to the store. High-quality purchased soil for tomatoes matches the mechanical and chemical composition of the plant’s needs. But before planting Cherry, the purchased soil should be treated against fungus. To disinfect, you need to buy a proven fungicide “Fitosporin M”, prepare a working solution and treat the purchased soil.