Growing your own food became a big thing through Covid. It kind of reminded me of the war in a way. People were growing their own food to ensure they had enough to eat because supermarkets were running low due to panic buyers. They also took it up as a hobby, something to fill their furloughed days. One of the favourites (and possibly the easiest) to grow was tomatoes. But where do you start when you have never done it before? There is a simple answer, you start here. We will give you some tips and advice on how to grow tomatoes from home.
Preventing Cutworms
If you have problems with bugs killing your tomato plants, this can be easily remedied. Before you plant your seeding in the ground, wrap the roots in silver foil (aluminium foil). Leave room for the roots to grow, but seal it as much as you can. This will stop keep the foil about 5 cm above the soil. This stops cutworms from destroying your precious plants.
Home Made Tomato Fertilizer
If you fertilize your tomatoes, they will grow into stronger plants and provide bigger and better tomatoes. You can buy tomato food from your local garden centre, or you can make your own. When you have a banana next time, freeze the skin. Then before you put your seedlings out, lay the banana skins on the bottom of the hole. Add some dry leaves to the banana and soil. This helps your tomato plants to get a slow release of potassium and other minerals. The best part is that it is free.
Silver Foil Hack
Bury some flat silver foil in the ground and cover it with soil around your tomato plant. This reflects the sun off the plant and it stops the roots from drying out too much and killing the plant. Just cut small strips and lay them flat around the tomato plant as if you are making lasagna. It reduced the heat by about 10% and gives your plants a good chance to thrive.
Sweeter Tomatoes
When the tomatoes start to grow and form, add a spoonful of sugar to the watering can. This will help to make your tomatoes juicer and also sweeter to taste. This is a really good tip if you have found this make of tomatoes to be sour in the past.
Stop Calcium Deficiency In Tomato Plants
If your tomato plants have a calcium deficiency, then it will lead to something called fruit-spoiling blossom end rot. You need to stop the rot in its track before it even starts. This is easily done by pouring about 90g of Epsom salts into the bottom of each planting hole before you place your seedling in there. Epsom salts are available from pharmacies and drug stores and they contain magnesium sulphate which helps to carry calcium to the top of the plants and the fruit. Epsom salts will also help to absorb phosphorus and sulphur in your plants.
Use Hay To Grow Plants In
If you are not lucky enough to have a garden because you live in a block of flats, you can still grow tomato plants. Get a bale of hay from a local farmer and pop it on your balcony, in the sun. Water the hay bale daily and it starts to heat the hay up and become a nitrogen-rich compost. After 7 or 8 weeks the hay decays into the perfect fertiliser for your tomato plants. Stand some stakes in the hay bale and plant your tomatoes.
