Growing Organic Tomatoes Indoors

Quick facts about Tomatoes

Tomatoes are really great spice (fruits) for human food in a wide range of dishes, and a member of the deadly nightshade family which makes people get previously scared of eating it as it is thought to contain poisons because of its relation to belladonna plant. They are very popular in a lot of countries especially in Italy where it is given the name Pomodoro, meaning golden apple. 

They have lots of nutritional benefits as well as rich histories that position them among the most sought after crops in the globe. Tomato consumption has been considered very beneficial for a lot of reasons especially as it contains lycopene, a substance which is considered vital for the health of prostate gland in men. ​

Tomatoes are popular crop all around the globe, hence the popular acceptance by almost all cultures, nations and global communities. There are over ten thousand varieties of the crop and they come in colors which ranges from pink, yellow, black, purple and white. As a widely grown crop across continents, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recorded that as much as 161,793,834 tonnes of the crop was produced in 2012, with China being the largest producer with as much as 30.9 percent of the total output. Although much of the crop production are done outdoor, country like Israel have managed greenhouse production effectively, and with simple indoor agricultural practices, you can also add to the world total output as well as you feed yourself comfortably with them from your backyard. 

Things to know before Growing tomatoes indoor

Before you start growing tomatoes, you must have information about its climate requirements as that would help you to give it the proper care and management. Tomatoes are warm season crops and this means that they would die back when cold temperature threatens. That been said, it must be noted that growing tomatoes indoor in the winter is a bad try except you have access to greenhouse production. 

You may still try to manage some productions indoors during winter but be sure to have smaller outputs compared to when produced in the summer. Also, appropriate varieties of tomatoes that fit perfectly the climate of the growing region is really important a consideration. It is not just ending at this, learning tips and creative ways on how you can grow tomatoes indoors is really important as well. If you can manage all these, that fresh and sweet flavor you crave will most definitely be yours even all winter long.

How to grow indoor tomatoes

Varieties, temperature requirement and planting.

Tomatoes belong to those range of crops that need full sun and at least eight hours of light for fruit production. Therefore, growing temperatures should be kept in the range of 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) and more. This means that decisions on planting location should be strictly dependent on access to light. A south-facing window is largely ideal for indoor production. If you however do not have the window that suit this specification, you could install plant growing lights and grow the crop under them. 

You could go as far as painting the location surrounding wall white color if this is what you can afford. This will aid light reflection to help tomato flowering and fruiting. ​

Also, severe attention has to be paid to how large the plant will get and what volume of output to expect. This suggest that you have to have enough details on the variety of tomato that will grow indoor. Some suitable varieties to try indoor include;

• Toy boy
• Florida Petite
• Tiny Tim
• Red robin

The small patio tomato is a recommended variety as it is ideal for indoor tomato production. It would even survive in a hanging basket. It is also worthy of note that determinate tomato plant do not usually get as large as the indeterminate ones. Determinate tomato plants produce all of their fruits in one shot and they are done. If you cannot distinguish between determinate and indeterminate tomato and you want to ensure continuous production, the best approach to this is planting a few different varieties, such that fruiting will occur in them at different times. You could also sow fresh seeds every months to keep tomatoes in your house all year round.
​
Planting of indoor tomato is quite easy. Get a container of at least 12 inches deep for the task. Using a good quality organic potting mix is equally very important. This will allow you to bury the stem all the way through to the bottom set of leaves if the container in use is deep enough. If all these are ensured, root formation all along the stems give you a stronger plant overall. Some varieties of tomato require support. When this is the case, the best approach is to install stakes or tomato cage. Try as much as possible to give the plant enough water and place them in the bright areas of the house.

Caring for an indoor organic tomato

• Fertilization
  

Tomato is not one of those crops that need serious watch. Once you have selected the right spots considering brightness, and the right equipment are used in planting, caring for tomatoes are not different from any other houseplant. Further care involves fertilizing the plant every week.

Weekly doses of fish emulsion or liquids will keep the tomato growing healthily. Vermicompost, sea kelp and fish emulsions are the best selections of fertilizers for indoor tomatoes.

• Watering and Pollination
  

Watering of tomato plants are also very essential. The soils in use must be checked regularly for water by inserting your fingers into the potting soil. If you don’t feel water to the top of your knuckle, you might need to water the plant. Because tomatoes are self-pollinating, they do not need the help of insects or gardeners. However, you can assist pollination by shaking the stems gently every day or rather put a small oscillating fan in the planting area to mimic wind activities. If all these could be done, you would stop relying on supermarket tomatoes to feed yourself.
Summary
Indoor tomato production is one of those ways to have flavored dishes in your homes all year round, especially as getting tomatoes in the winter might be a little difficult. However, a coordinated step by step approach including;

• Identifying and choosing the suitable varieties
  
• Planting tomato seeds in starting mix
  
• Promoting germination with consistent heat and water
  
• Moving your sprouting seedlings to a sunny location or artificially lit environment
  
• Transplanting your seedlings to large pots in due time (after growing two sets of leaves)
  
• Ensure a consistent watering of your tomato when dry
  
• Creating your own day and night time light conditions for tomato growth
  
• Fertilizing of tomato seedlings
  
• Training your pot to grow or helping germination with sakes or tomato cages
  
• Assisting pollination as much as possible since they are self-pollinated plants
  
• Gathering your harvest in perfect conditions.
  

Will simplify the whole issue. No more need for refrigerators as you would always have your tomatoes ready and fresh in your garden.