One of the most widely planted plants in home gardens is the cherry tomato. These cultures require different care, such as tutoring. To perform this task well, you need to know some main aspects. We are therefore going to give you the keys to learn how to staking potted cherry tomatoes.
In this article we are going to talk to you about the different aspects of learning how to stake potted cherry tomatoes.
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cherry tomato cultivation
Before you know how to plant cherry tomatoes in pots, you need to know how they are grown. Cherry tomatoes are very quick and easy to grow, even if you’re a novice. They take fewer days to ripen than normal tomatoes. This is a huge advantage if you live in a cool climate with a short growing season, or if temperatures in your area are warming up too quickly to produce fruit in the summer.
Plant cherry tomatoes in the spring once the threat of frost has passed. Seeds can also be sown indoors about 4 weeks before the expected frost date in your area and then planted outdoors when seedlings are at least 6 inches tall.
Choose a location for tomatoes with full sun and well-drained soil. Once the plants sprout and lose their leaves in the spring, make sure there are no nearby plants that will shade the tomatoes. Additionally, crop rotation is practiced to prevent the spread of disease and excessive depletion of soil nutrients.
Do not plant tomatoes where other nightshade plants (such as potatoes, eggplants and peppers) were planted the year before.
Considerations
Space the cherry tomatoes at least a few feet apart to spread them out and ensure good air circulation. Cover the seeds with about 1/2 inch of soil and place the nursery plants at the same depth at which they were previously grown in containers.
Most varieties of cherry tomatoes are indeterminate, meaning they continue to grow vines and produce fruit throughout the season. To control them, it is necessary to provide the vines with a support structure, such as a tomato cage.
Full sun is essential for successful cultivation of cherry tomatoes. They need at least six to eight hours of direct full sun each day. Soil for tomatoes should be slightly acidic, well-drained, loamy and loamy. Do a soil test to determine soil nutrient levels and pH. If your garden has heavy soil that doesn’t drain well, it’s best to grow tomatoes in raised beds or containers.
Tomatoes should be watered regularly and abundantly. At no time should the soil dry out. During the fruiting season, keeping the soil evenly moist will help prevent blossom rot.
On the other hand, overwatering can cause tomatoes to crack. Drip irrigation is preferred because overhead irrigation can lead to the spread of tomato diseases, such as blight.
Tomatoes are very sensitive to cold. Be sure to harden off seedlings that start indoors by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions before planting them out in the garden.
Moisture is generally not a problem with tomatoes. But one factor to keep in mind is that wet weather will cause the leaves to stay wet longer. This can create a breeding ground for fungal problems and other diseases, especially if there is poor air circulation around the plants.
Use a specific fertilizer for tomatoes when planting. Adding compost when planting will also help stimulate tomato growth. Then continue to fertilize throughout the season following label directions. Tomato plants are self-pollinating and attract bees and other pollinators to the garden.
How to Stake Potted Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes belong to the family of climbing plants, that is, they grow vertically. So for this crop to continue to grow naturally, you need a support that will prevent the plant from bending under its own weight in the future and possibly splitting. Although there are different types of supports, we recommend that you get affordable bamboo poles or poles, an all-natural material that stands out as a strong pole, but at the same time very flexible.
In addition to guaranteeing the growth of cherry tomatoes, bamboo will also offer protection against possible bad weather and will save space in the garden because it will bring more order to your planting.
Before you start staking, purchase the following materials:
- bamboo: Although there are different supports, Bamboo Mentor is the most recommended option due to its strength and flexibility.
- Ribbon to tie: With this product you can fasten tomato plants to bamboo stakes quickly and easily. Although not necessary, using a tape tool will make gluing the stakes easier and faster.
- Hammer and rebar: You will need these two materials to make the hole you will insert the bamboo stick into.
- Other garden tools: It is recommended to have hoes, pots and other products at home.
Once you have all the gardening equipment we show you, just follow our simple steps:
- With a stick and a hammer, make two holes on each side of the plant.
- Now remove the rod and place stake into the hole as deep as possible.
- After inserting the tutor, You need to cover the hole to make it very secure.
- Once you have both posts in placeyou have to put a guide on it to connect the two supports.
- Now use the tape tool to attach the bamboo strips to the plants.
- You have planted your cherry tomatoes.
I hope with this information you can learn more about how to plant cherry tomatoes in pots.