Tomatoes are delicious and nutritious vegetables that can be grown in greenhouse conditions. But many are interested in the question of how to grow tomatoes on the balcony in an apartment. This will not be difficult, you just need to follow the recommendations for sowing seeds and caring for plants.
Growing tomatoes on the balcony is best of all suitable varieties, focusing on the area of free space. If space permits, you can grow both short and tall tomatoes. On a small loggia, it is better to grow tomatoes with miniature bushes.
Balcony-grown tomatoes are of high taste
The first step is seed germination. It should be held in February-March. Seeds can be germinated in two ways:
- A 200 ml plastic beaker or cut plastic bottle is filled with soil and boiled over. After the earth has cooled, they make depressions in it and place the seeds there. The container must be covered with plastic wrap and placed in a warm place. Sprouts will begin to appear in 2-3 days.
- The seeds are treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Then they are wrapped in a damp cloth and placed in a saucer, which is wrapped in polyethylene. They need moisture and warmth to germinate quickly. Seeds with sprouts are separated and planted in a plastic container one at a time.
After the first shoots have appeared, the seedlings must be taken out to a well-lit place.
In the spring, plants are fed with mineral fertilizers. Then the plants are transplanted into a large container with pre-prepared drainage holes. This is necessary to avoid stagnant water and ensure air circulation.
For planting seedlings, you must first prepare the soil. It should be a mixture of humus and turf. To increase the looseness of the soil, sawdust or peat is added to it.
You can grow tomatoes on the balcony on the south side, as these are heat-loving plants
The roots of the seedlings are buried 2-3 cm and watered. Tall plants need a garter. After transplanting to the balcony, the tomatoes are left for a week to get stronger. If low temperatures are maintained on the balcony, then the tomatoes need to be brought into a warm room for the first time.
Tomatoes need to be watered and fed regularly. When side shoots appear on the plant, they must be removed. The stepchildren are removed by hand so as not to damage the stems.
In order for the balcony tomatoes to pollinate faster, you can knock on the stem with flower tassels. Additionally, the balcony is ventilated so that pollen spreads to all inflorescences.
It is recommended to regularly inspect the bushes for the presence of pests, otherwise it will be difficult to get a good harvest. Homemade tomatoes grown in this way are not inferior in taste to greenhouse plants.