Growing Winter Tomatoes

Growing winter tomatoes is a popular hobby for many gardeners. This is probably because the tomato is without a doubt the most popular home-grown vegetable. No matter where you live, you can be growing winter tomatoes before you know it.

Wouldn't you love to enjoy the fresh taste of your own home-grown tomatoes all year long? You can. You just need to know how. Let's see what it takes.

You will start by choosing the right variety. Do some research and put some thought behind which variety you plan on growing indoors. Choose a variety that likes being grown in containers and one that suits your style or taste.

To get you through the winter, stagger your sowing about 2 weeks apart. You will need to use the proper soil. To start your seeds, find a flat tray with a clear lid. Mix up your potting soil mixture and line the tray about one inch thick. Sow your seeds about one to two inches apart covering them with your soil mixture between 1/8 and 1/4 inch. Water the seedlings and continue to keep them moist. Place the clear cover over the tray and place the tray in a warm, sunny location like a windowsill. Your seedlings should begin appearing in about one week.

Transplant your seedlings into their winter pots when seedlings are about 5 to 6 inches high. Fertilize your seedlings occasionally with the first application two weeks after transplanting. Water your plants enough to keep them moist but not too wet.

When the tomato plants begin to bloom, you can help them with pollination. Simply tap the plant gently being careful not to break any of the smaller branches. By doing this, you will dislodge the pollen from the blossoms and send it airborne. This pollen cloud will hopefully move to other blossoms aiding in the pollination process.

Since you have staggered your seeding process, you will be enjoying your own organically grown, fresh and tasty tomatoes all winter long.

Steve Haupt is a tomato growing enthusiast who enjoys helping others in getting started in this new "green" hobby. For more great information on growing winter tomatoes, visit our website at GrowingTomatoesForBeginners.com.

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