Not everyone has the opportunity to grow tomatoes in garden beds for the simple reason that they do not have their own plot of land. Residents of apartment buildings are deprived of this opportunity. In addition, I would like to consume my own juicy vegetables in winter, without buying them in the store. In both cases, there is a way out - to grow indoor tomatoes at home. It's not that difficult, and the result exceeds all expectations, as you can do it all year round with your own tomatoes. But in order to start planting and growing a plant, you need to choose the variety of the best indoor tomatoes. Currently, quite a lot of them have been bred.
Indoor tomatoes - features
- Of course, not every variety of tomato can be grown at home. There are a number of criteria under which indoor plants develop normally and produce a good harvest.
- These varieties are mainly standard varieties. That is, they have a powerful stem, a dense crown, they do not need to be tied up or any operations performed to form the correct bush. Everything contributes to a bountiful harvest.
- Such tomatoes should be low-growing, because they grow in a limited space (pot, box), where there are not many nutrients. Therefore, only low-growing plants have a chance to bear fruit.
- Another feature of growing in an apartment is the lack of light, especially in winter. Indoor tomatoes are adapted to this in such a way that they develop well even without additional lighting.
It is also important that such varieties are resistant to the most common diseases, such as leaf mold.
Among indoor varieties, there are those that are grown as ornamental plants; this must be remembered when choosing tomatoes. Ornamental ones bear few fruits; they are small, although edible. If planting is carried out specifically for the purpose of obtaining a good harvest, then it is necessary to select the appropriate varieties.
Pitfalls when growing tomatoes at home
There are also factors that are often overlooked.
The temperature on the loggia is too low. Tomatoes are heat-loving plants. Comfortable temperature for them is +22° during the day and +16² at night. In winter, on an unheated loggia, the temperature can drop to sub-zero.
Lack of opportunity for pollination. In the windless space of the loggia, pollen cannot get from one flower to another. There are no pollinating insects either. Therefore, during flowering, it is recommended to periodically shake the balcony tomato bushes so that the pollen scatters and pollinates the flowers. You can also use hand pollination.
Late blight disease. In the description of the Balcony Miracle tomato variety, one of the characteristics was “resistance to late blight.” In fact, this is not entirely true. More resistant to disease, a tomato bush of this variety may become diseased if the humidity in the room is too high. If dark spots appear on the leaves of the plant, it is better not to take risks and immediately get rid of the diseased tomato bush. If you start the problem, the bacteria will multiply and infect not only garden plants, but also “ordinary” indoor plants.
Unsettled water. When growing tomato bushes at home, you cannot water them directly with tap water. Although they are now moving to more advanced water purification systems, in many cities there is still chlorine in the water. In addition, the tap water is too cold. It should warm up to room temperature and the chlorine should evaporate from it. The water must stand for at least 3 days.
Fattening plant. If the tomato plant is too tall, dense and has dark green foliage, it means it has been overfed with nitrogen fertilizers. Such a plant will not bloom or bear fruit. To make it bloom, you need to stop watering for a decade and raise the temperature on the loggia by a few degrees. After the flowers appear, pollination is done manually.
The appearance of stepchildren. This variety of balcony tomatoes should not produce stepsons, but sometimes they appear. You can immediately cut off the sprout. You can wait until it grows up and then root it separately.
Although the Balcony Miracle tomato variety is well suited for growing in apartment conditions, it gives a good harvest when planted in open ground, as in the video.
Indoor tomatoes - general characteristics
The description of each variety has its own characteristics of a particular tomato. However, a number of characteristics for indoor tomatoes have common features:
- very tasty, contain a lot of sugar and vitamins;
- the fruits are small in size from 15 to 130 grams, often tightly clinging to the bush, and can bear up to 2 kg of tomatoes per year (from the bush);
- these tomatoes are perennial, after harvesting, leaves appear on the stems again after a while, the lifespan of such tomatoes is five years, all this time they can bear fruit, but the largest harvests are harvested in the first two years.
Indoor tomatoes adapt perfectly to the home environment, and the listed characteristics indicate that throughout the year there will always be juicy, nutritious fruits on the table.
Indoor tomatoes from which I didn’t expect a harvest
a room surprise from these seeds.
Atata "Gavrishu"! It is written: height - 50 cm, for indoor, balcony growing and compacted plantings in the open air.
Yeah!!! I sowed 3 or 4 seeds. Two big guys grew up, stretching out no worse than the indeets. In March I had to break it in half and plant it again. The first brush got knotted at home and all fell off. In short, I got rid of this misunderstanding and don’t want it anymore.
Pygmy
This one grew correctly. It did not stretch, was short, with a thick trunk and well-leafed.
I don’t know what I did wrong, but after sowing in January, the first buds appeared only in mid-May - after 4 months. A very strong slow-witted person. And I began to set fruits after planting them in June.
I planted it with the Siberian date and in the thickets of this crazy variety I completely forgot and lost the Pygmy.
I talked about the Siberian date with a photo in the article:
Low-growing tomatoes for open ground: 9 varieties, grown myself
Caramel
I sowed 4 seeds the year before last.
Not a single shoot! I didn’t re-sow because the other indoor ones sprouted and I had enough of them. Last year I decided to sow the remaining seeds. You never know, maybe last time I didn’t sow on a lunar day? or missed watering.
But alas, nothing came up again.
Low-growing tomatoes with fruits up to 100 g
Indoor tomatoes - photos and descriptions of the best varieties
The number of varieties of this type of tomato is not as large as that of ordinary tomatoes, but there are also a lot of them. Every year, breeders develop new varieties or get another hybrid with improved characteristics. You can make a list of the most common varieties that are most often grown by indoor plant lovers. First of all, we list the standard varieties.
Indoor tomatoes - Tini Tim variety
Bred in the Netherlands. Its height is 30 cm, if planted in the ground, it grows up to 50 cm. It bears fruit throughout the year. The fruits are spherical, red, weighing from 12 to 14 grams. This is not to say that these tomatoes taste too sweet.
Window yellow
This is a new product on the tomato seed market. Its name itself suggests that the fruits of this plant are yellow. They taste very sweet. During the ripening period, they tightly cling to the tomato branches, their weight is 30 grams, and the height of the plant is 25 cm.
Honey bunch
Another variety of yellow tomatoes, perfectly suited for growing both on a windowsill and in open ground. Height 40 cm, yellow fruits form on the branches and really look like bunches of grapes. It has a high yield, and the fruits have a very thin skin and a sweet taste.
Indoor tomatoes - Florida Petit variety
Fruits well in winter. The fruits are red in color with very sweet pulp, weighing no more than 40 grams. This variety is valued precisely for its high yield. The ripening fruits are collected in dense clusters, so that the leaves themselves are not visible.
Variety Pygmy
This variety can be classified as an ornamental one, but the plant bears fruit quite abundantly, although the fruits are small, about 25 grams, and there can be both yellow and red tomatoes on the branches. Well adapted to short day conditions, this does not affect its development.
Variety Pinocchio
Just a universal variety, with dense foliage and a lot of red fruits, and although they are small, up to 20 grams, you can collect up to 2 kg of these fruits from one bush, which are great for salads and also go well in pickling. The moderately sweet taste of these tomatoes makes it indispensable in winter, when you really want fresh vegetables. In summer, the plant can grow in beds, in the fall it is transplanted into pots and it develops at home, bearing fruit in winter.
Indoor tomatoes - variety Micron NK
The smallest of all currently existing indoor tomatoes. Its height is no more than 15 cm. It fits into a regular flower pot. The yellow and red fruits are very small, one might say pea-sized, weighing 10 - 15 grams. These tomatoes produce a small harvest, but there are fresh, sweet tomatoes on the table all year round.
Bonsai variety
From the seeds of this tomato variety, a very neat, low bush grows (up to 30 cm), which can easily be placed in an ordinary flower pot. The fruits are bright red, weighing 25–30 g, spherical. With good care, you can harvest 1 kg of tomatoes from the bush within a year.
Variety Indoor surprise
Refers to early ripening varieties. The fruits are red, elongated with aromatic, sweet pulp, weighing up to 30 g. Unlike the listed varieties, which are capable of producing crops even in short-day conditions, this tomato needs lighting in winter, otherwise there will be no harvest in winter.
Balcony miracle
It is not by chance that this name was chosen. It grows up to 50 cm and bears fruit all year round, does not require good consecration. Its round fruits are the largest of all indoor tomatoes up to 100 grams. weight, if you take good care of it, you can harvest 2 kg of tomatoes per year from one bush.
Variety Garden Pearl
This variety is a hanging variety; they are planted in flowerpots or pots, from which shoots hang down as the plant grows. These tomatoes have a very decorative appearance. Their yield is lower than that of standard tomatoes, and it is more difficult to care for them, but these tomatoes have excellent taste and become a decoration for the home. From the seeds of the Sadovaya Zhemchuzhina variety, a bush grows up to 50 cm tall with thin but very strong stems, on which round, crimson-colored fruits ripen with very delicate skin, so that they appear transparent. Fruit weight 15-20 g.
City dweller F1
This is a hybrid bred exclusively for indoor growing conditions. It can be kept in an upright position; to do this, you need to tie the stems. Red, round tomatoes reach a weight of 30 grams.
Cherryfingers F1
Another hybrid recently bred. Its strong shoots reach a length of 50 cm. The elongated, red fruits are collected in clusters and contain 8-10 tomatoes weighing up to 30 grams. From one bush you can get 2 kg of tomatoes, but only with good care.
Variety Tumbler
The spreading bush of this tomato bears 2 kg of small red fruits weighing up to 20 grams; it belongs to the very early ampelous varieties. Possessing good fruitfulness, it, at the same time, looks very decorative, that is, it brings benefits and creates beauty.
Variety Talisman
The result of the work of Russian breeders. The shoots reach a length of 55 cm. The fruit is red, similar in appearance to an egg, the weight of one tomato is up to 40 grams. But if you plant the plant in the ground, the weight of one tomato will reach 80-100 grams.
Red abundance
The shoots of this tomato grow up to 60 cm, and they grow quickly, so this must be taken into account, since the plant will take up a large space in the room. The fruits are collected on clusters, one can contain up to 12 pieces. They are round, deep red in color, weighing 20 grams. every. An important circumstance should be taken into account when growing tomatoes of this particular variety - additional lighting is needed in winter, if, of course, the goal is to get a good harvest in winter.
Tomato Balcony Miracle: description, planting, care, comparison, reviews
Greetings, friends!
Today we’re talking about tomatoes) If you don’t already know, I have an experimental vegetable garden in the window. I'm trying to grow everything. Well, except that I won’t try cabbage and carrots, they still need normal beds. But I’m thinking about mini watermelons)
What am I talking about? Oh, about tomatoes and experiments. Last summer, the tomatoes grew well in my window. Not counting the attacks of aphids and spider mites. But I talked about this in detail in my review about TerraMaster soil. So, inspired, I decided to plant tomatoes in winter. What if a miracle happens and for the New Year we will eat fresh and self-grown tomatoes? So, said and done, and here in my hands is a packet of seeds with the quite appropriate name Balcony Miracle. In my case - a window sill miracle, apparently)
I planted them at the beginning of September.
I wrapped them in bags so that the seeds would think they were in the greenhouse. And I began to wait for a miracle)
Here is a photo of sprouted and already planted tomatoes, taken on September 16th. Such little bastards)
And this photo was taken a month later - October 19. As you can see, there are quite a lot of bushes, although they are all of different heights. Don't pay attention to creative chaos)
I replant them into pots by eye and I’m not sure if it’s according to the rules. That is, when it begins to seem to me that the current pot is becoming too small for the plant, I plant it in a larger pot. I don’t plant it in a large one right away so that the root system is well formed. I have no idea if I’m doing the right thing) But tomatoes don’t argue with me.
The photo above clearly shows that the growth of tomatoes is different. Why this is so, I have no idea. I take care of everyone the same...
I didn’t get tomatoes for the New Year (I actually thought that my idea had failed. By January, all the tomatoes had caught up in growth and froze. They didn’t dry out, but they didn’t grow, they looked great and perfectly replaced indoor flowers. And that’s all. No flowers, anyway more fruits. A couple of times I had thoughts of throwing them away and that was it. Probably only the reluctance to admit that I was a loser made me continue to water them every morning, no longer hoping for anything. And then on February 19, I saw the first tomato! Tiny, the size of a pea! But she was!
These are the bunches that made me happy already in March) I had to hastily tie the branches to the twigs so that they wouldn’t break off under the weight of the tassels.
This is what my beauties look like now. Today I specially arranged a photo shoot for them)
Look at the bunches. Like grapes. Only tomatoes.
Some of my tomatoes have bald trunks. I read on one of the tomato forums that all branches up to the first branches with ovaries should be cut off. Then it seems they will bear fruit better. Honestly, I didn't notice the difference. But I don’t keep statistics either.
Yes, and it’s difficult to keep statistics when in the morning a little harvester drags a chair to the window in search of red tomatoes that can be picked and gobbled up) But the search must be carried out carefully, small tomatoes hide very well behind the leaves)
In general, part of the harvest goes straight into the mouth, I don’t have time to count how many kg were collected in the end) Only approximately. Starting in March, 5-10 tomatoes ripen every day. The maximum weight of the fetus was 10 grams. I have 10 bushes in total. Well, I probably collected 5 kilograms)
In my palm is this 10 gram baby.
It is 2-3 grams larger than the others.
Over time, I stopped paying attention to the stepsons and the shoots, which everyone advises to cut off, remove, etc. They grow and grow. Moreover, they not only grow, but also bear fruit. You see, this is a shoot at the very root. And there are already tomatoes.
At the end of the review, let's go over the characteristics of the seeds. There are 20 seeds in a bag. Of these, 14 bushes have grown and are doing well. In my opinion, given the far from ideal growth conditions, this is quite a worthy result.
If you look at the packaging label, it says that these should be low-growing bushes, 25-30 cm high. Mine grew twice as tall))) The length of the bush reaches 60 cm. How did this happen, can anyone tell me?)
Further it is written about 4-5 brushes. I have 2-3 brushes on each bush at the same time. One turns red, we cut it off, another grows. I couldn’t count how many there were in total. The weight of the fetus is stated to be 30-40 grams. I have never had more than 10 grams) The fruits are fragrant and very sweet - I confirm this! Delicious, infectious)))
They grow up like little orphans for me. Without sun, on the shady side, but under a phytolamp. Even through the winter) They have grown! As soon as the first ovaries appeared, I fertilized it twice with regular fertilizer for 50 rubles. The variety is self-pollinating, manages on its own, without bees.
In winter, they still lacked the sun. Or maybe at the genetic level they somehow understood that it was not time to bear fruit. Or maybe they were freezing, after all, it was a window, not a greenhouse. Moreover, I opened it periodically to ventilate it. Just imagine - you are a tomato and love warmth, but they open a window on you, and it’s minus 30 outside. I would offend them and would not bear fruit in their place.
In general, I'm happy with everything. The experiment was successful and is not over yet. The Balcony Miracle tomatoes still delight me with new flowers, which means there will be new tomatoes. And this, let me remind you, has been since March! And it’s already June outside. You see, they will delight us with the harvest until the fall.
Costs of growing homemade tomatoes:
- Seeds 28 rubles.
- Several purchased pots for 20 rubles each, several simply cut five-liter water bottles.
- Priming. 197 rub.
- Fertilizer - 50 rub.
Total: no more than 500 rubles.
And I once saw cherry tomatoes in Maria-Ra, well, they looked exactly the same as mine. 90 rubles per box weighing 300 grams) And although I do not grow my tomatoes for profit or savings. But somehow my soul felt good.
I will recommend the seeds. I don’t really have anything to compare it to, but they performed well. If only the fruits were bigger.
And I wish you more pleasant moments in life, friends!
Indoor tomatoes - planting and care
There are some features associated with growing indoor tomatoes. Like ordinary tomatoes, they are grown using seedlings, but we must take into account the fact that indoor tomatoes begin to bear fruit after 100 days, which means that the seeds need to be sown in pots in September if we want to get a harvest in January, just in time for the New Year's table.
Before planting the seeds, they are dipped in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes to destroy possible viruses. Then they are laid out on a napkin and within about two days they germinate.
The seeds are sown in a box filled with soil. Alternatively, you can buy a special substrate for seedlings in specialized stores. The seeds are planted to a depth of no more than 1 cm, the distance between the planted seeds is from 2 to 3 cm, this is done so as not to thicken the seedlings too much.
As soon as the sprouts reach a position where they have 2-3 leaves, they are planted in pots or other containers. Their volume depends on the variety. For Bonsai, a volume of no more than 1-2 liters is suitable. But hanging varieties require a volume of up to 5 liters. We must also remember that the bottom of the pots must have holes, this is a prerequisite.
How to grow tomatoes on the balcony
The process of planting and caring for tomatoes on the balcony differs from those growing in beds in open ground or in greenhouses. This is due to different crop growth conditions and the characteristics of the selected varieties and hybrids.
Tomatoes are planted through seedlings. The time for sowing balcony tomatoes is at the beginning of spring. At this stage, you can sow them in one container. Before this, the seeds are soaked for rapid germination and disease prevention. A great way to disinfect seeds is to soak them in a weak (slightly pink) solution of potassium permanganate for several hours.
Advice!
Soil with a low acidity level is ideal for seedlings of balcony tomatoes. It can be purchased at a specialty store.
BALCONY TOMATOES - COMPLETE GROWING - video
After soaking, the seeds of balcony tomatoes are placed in the selected container almost on the surface of the soil, only sprinkled with a little soil. Watering is carried out by spraying from a spray bottle. Cover the plantings with film to create a greenhouse effect. Place the container in a warm place. The temperature should be above +25 degrees.
Immediately after germination of the seedlings, the film is removed so that the plants do not begin to turn yellow. Now you can place the planting container in a cooler and brighter place. Daytime temperatures are from 23 to 25 degrees above zero. And at night it’s not lower than +10.
Attention!
In order for tomato seedlings for balconies and windowsills to develop and grow normally, lighting is required for 12 hours. If natural light is not enough, artificial light is used.
Photo of growing tomatoes on the balcony
The picking stage begins after several true leaves appear. Tomato seedlings are placed in separate pots. Fertilize with urea.
Seedlings of balcony tomatoes are planted in a permanent place of growth in the first half of May, when there will definitely be no drop in temperature or frost, and the thermometer will be set at a constant level. For planting tomatoes on the balcony, cylindrical pots are preferred. Roots are better placed in such containers.
Important!
When growing tomatoes on an unglazed balcony or loggia, the seedlings must first be hardened off by taking them out to the future planting site for 10-30 minutes every day or by opening a window in the room.
Soil selection
The next point that you need to pay attention to is the soil. The fruitfulness of the plant directly depends on it. For indoor tomatoes you need to select it in the following proportions:
- garden soil 5 parts;
- sand 2 parts;
- compost 5 parts;
- peat 1 part.
Urea, potassium sulfate and wood ash are added to this mixture. Everything in the volume of one matchbox. Having prepared the soil, you can start planting seedlings:
- The bottom of the pot is filled with a drainage layer - gravel, expanded clay, then soil is poured in, a small depression is made in the center;
- Before planting in pots, seedlings are watered and carefully dug up so as not to damage any part. Then they are planted in pots, after which they are watered again. It is necessary that the soil is well saturated, this is a guarantee that it will fall on the roots;
- pots with seedlings are placed on the windowsill on the south side of the room; lighting is needed in the evenings, and it is also required on cloudy days;
- after a week, fertilizing is applied - nitrogen fertilizers, they are necessary for plant growth;
- when the tomato blooms, to promote pollination, the stems are shaken and a small brush or feather is passed over the flowers;
- when the ovaries appear, apply potassium fertilizers at least once every two weeks;
- in cases where it is necessary to form a bush, excess stepsons are cut off. Remove inflorescences that are superfluous, all this increases fruitfulness.
- Too tall bushes are tied up.
About flowering and fruiting of tomatoes Balcony miracle
When Balcony Miracle tomatoes are actively growing, they need a good amount of nitrogen, that is, nitrogen fertilizers are needed. As soon as the plant blooms, nitrogen supplements must be reduced and potassium added.
If your bush is too tall and the leaves are dark green, then this indicates an excess of nitrogen. In this case, all the nutrients go to the leaves and not to the flowers, which means the harvest will be low.
To avoid mistakes with various fertilizers, you should purchase special ones and follow the instructions for use.
Tomatoes Balcony miracle: photo
General recommendations
General recommendations for caring for the plant are to loosen the soil, water at least twice a week, but under no circumstances overwater it. When the plant begins to bloom, watering stops. Every ten days, fertilize in the form of mineral fertilizers or manure diluted in water.
In order for the air next to the tomato to be moist, you need to place a glass of water near the pot with the plant. This will be enough to moisturize. It is best to remove only the reddening fruits from the branches, then they will ripen.
How to choose a tomato variety for a balcony and window sill?
The best guide for a buyer in a store is the manufacturer’s marking on the seed packaging: “balcony variety.” However, not only this mark will help you figure out whether the bag you like is suitable for you or whether it’s worth studying the characteristics of others. The key set of characteristics of a suitable variety looks like this:
- Early ripening of tomatoes is optimal in the range of 75-100 days.
- Compactness - such bushes are easier to form.
- Self-pollinating - on the pack it may be indicated: parthenocarpic variety (this is the same thing).
- Taste – here you should focus on your own preferences.
- Resistance to fungal diseases - in apartments and on balconies there are optimal conditions for such diseases.
- Shallow root system - only one that will fit in a container or tub.
Today, the assortment of the largest manufacturers includes up to several dozen varieties, among which you can choose the one that suits all or some specific characteristics from this list.
Attention: you cannot place containers with plants of different varieties on the same window or nearby on the balcony. This will lead to cross-pollination and deterioration in fruit quality. .
Diseases
When a fungal disease occurs, the entire plant is sprayed with phytosporin or another antifungal agent. If the goal is to have tomatoes all winter, then you need to constantly ensure that there are no ripe fruits or dry leaves left on the branches, all this must be removed in time and then the indoor tomato will delight you with good harvests almost all year round.
It is quite possible to grow indoor tomatoes at home.
Not only as an ornamental plant, but also a real help in the household. Modern varieties make it possible to grow plants that bring a bountiful harvest both in winter and summer, and to have a tasty and sweet tomato on the table, even in the most severe frosts. In addition, these tomatoes are great for canning. Post Views: 3,947
Reviews
Elena Sokolova, Moscow
I think that the reviews about the Balcony Miracle tomato variety are completely fair. Fresh tomatoes from your balcony for New Year are much better than plastic ones from the store. I have been growing different varieties of tomatoes for several years now. It happened, in the first years I made mistakes, then froze, then burned. Everything is fine now. For New Year's salad from fresh tomatoes, I prefer “Balcony Miracle”. My balcony tomatoes taste similar to Cherry tomatoes, but are larger in size and easier to cut. Balcony tomato bushes bear fruit all winter.
Anna Severkova, Voronezh
I liked the tomato variety “Balcony Miracle” based on the photo and description. But when I tried to grow it, I only got a few tomatoes. I don't know what I did wrong. Although now I think it’s the small pots. My window sills are too narrow and you can’t put others there. On the forum, people told me that this variety of tomatoes is called balcony because it grows well at home. I'll try to grow it again this summer on the balcony.
