How to transplant tomatoes on the balcony. We grow tomatoes on the balcony with our own hands

Citizens who dream of fresh vegetables from their own garden can recreate it on their own.

For cultivation tomato a sunny balcony is required - of course, it is not located to the north, and not in the shade of trees. Large, at least 5 liter containers with holes in the bottom and appropriate grades are also needed. Better suited varieties are not very growing and, importantly, resistant to late blight. For on the balcony, fit well stunted, cocktail, cherry varieties(Cherry). It is worth paying attention to varieties of tomatoes that do not require pinching and garters.

10 principles of growing tomatoes on the balcony

1. Seedling from seeds

We can get it ourselves by sowing seeds (bought in a store!) in boxes in March. After a couple of weeks, the seedlings are transplanted into separate small flower pots and grown on the windowsill until May. Then we gradually accustom the seedlings to balcony conditions, taking them out to the balcony for several hours during the day and bringing them into the house at night. Hardened seedlings are planted in containers on the balcony in the second half of May.

The disadvantage of independent is that the seedlings are drawn to the window and the pot must be turned frequently so that the seedlings receive even light from all sides.

1. Seedlings bought in the store

Instead of self-sowing seeds, we wait until when we can buy seedlings grown in a greenhouse of a garden farm. As a rule, it is compact and dark green in color. Such young plants should also be hardened off before planting on the balcony.

1. Container selection

Tomatoes can be planted singly in large flower pots (5 liters or more), or several in large containers, such as wooden boxes at least 30 cm deep. Each container should have a hole at the bottom (to drain excess water).

1. The soil

At the bottom of the flower pot we pour a layer of drainage (gravel or expanded clay).

For the base, you can buy universal soil or balcony soil in large bags (usually have a slightly acidic pH).

It is worth choosing a base mixed with a long-acting fertilizer.

If there is no fertilizer additive, then on the bottom of the container we pour a layer of several centimeters of granular fertilizer (dry and odorless).

1. Watering

Not for a minute can tomatoes be dry. We water them in the morning and in the evening, and quickly drying, due to small flower pots, soil - even 2 times a day.

1. fertilizers

With a weak solution, we can feed the seedlings that grow on the windowsill. After transplanting them into containers, we wait two weeks, after which we start regular feeding every 7-10 days, preferably with a special fertilizer for tomatoes (they contain a lot of potassium, phosphorus and trace elements and are appropriately balanced for these plants). If the base contained an admixture of fertilizer, then feeding the tomato during the growth process can be limited, for example, to two or three sprays of leaves with a nutrient solution, or fertilizer can be completely abandoned.

1. Tying up

Immediately after planting the seedlings, we tie them to high supports. As the stems grow, we tie them higher each time so that the wind does not break them and break under the weight of the fruit.

1. Disease control

We identify all kinds of manifestations of diseases and fight according to the recommendations. You should check the period withdrawals(the time that must pass from spraying the plants with chemicals to consumption) and unconditionally observe it. Instead of chemicals, we can prepare decoctions or infusions from yarrow or spray diseased plants with them.

It is better to cut off the first leaves that seem sick to us. This often prevents further infection and can be dispensed with by spraying.

We try to collect the noticed ones manually (as long as it is possible). A decoction of marigolds can be sprayed with aphids.

1. Harvest

Usually the crops on the balcony are not large, but pleasant. When we break ripe tomatoes, must, of course, wash them from the dirt and dust that have settled on them.

Note: In the presence of very busy streets, it is better not to grow vegetables for consumption on the balconies, due to the large amount of harmful emissions.

1. Tomatoes on the balcony for decoration

Tomatoes in containers can be planted with low flowers, e.g. marigolds, or. Then such cultivation will be decorative.

Florida petite

Florida - early ripening, height 15-20 cm, 15 bushes per sq.m., 500 gr from one bush. It grows very well even in the northern regions.

Tiny Tim - up to 40 cm high. Planting density 6 bushes per sq.m. from one bush up to 2 kg. Harvest until late autumn.

Not everyone has gardens, but many want to have their own vegetables during the summer season. Not all of them know that gardeners have long practiced growing tomatoes on the balcony. This method will allow you to plant a garden crop at home. It is worth writing it down step by step.

There are a number of differences between balcony plants at home and plants planted in open ground, so it is important to choose the right varieties of future tomatoes before planting.

What should be balcony tomatoes?

The main difference between window grown plants and greenhouse plants is their final size. Varieties that are used for planting in the garden can grow to a height of a meter or more. It is very problematic to take care of such a plant at home, since tall bushes have a highly developed root system, which needs a lot of soil.

For planting on the windowsill of the house, undersized varieties are perfect. In addition, they should bear fruit abundantly, because tomatoes on the window have very small fruits due to a smaller amount of nutrients. Therefore, the harvest of even 10 such tomatoes on the windowsill of the house will seem very modest.

When you go to a store that sells seeds, you should take a closer look at such varieties as:

• Pinocchio;
• Balcony miracle;
• F1 balcony red;
• Pearl (yellow and red);
• Balcony Elow;
• Thumbelina;
• F1 bonsai micro;
• Cherry;
• Button;
• Bonsai.

The bushes of these varieties are undersized and at home on the windowsill grow up to a maximum of half a meter. The fruits on them are arranged in large clusters, due to which, during ripening, the bush is dotted with many small berries. Due to the difference in conditions and varieties, plants planted at home, unlike greenhouse ones, require completely different care.

Soil for planting

Cherry tomatoes, Thumbelina, Miracle and other varieties of small size should be grown on the windowsill of the house in prepared soil. There are several variations of the mixture. So, in specialized stores you can buy ready-made mixtures:

• "Tomato and Pepper";
• "Exo".

You can prepare a mixture for Miracle tomatoes and other varieties at home. There are several simple recipes.

1. In 1 part of vermiculite, you need to add a tablespoon and a glass of ash, then add 4 parts of compost. Stir the resulting mixture in the soil, the amount of which should correspond to the compost.
2. Sod land, manure humus and peat are mixed in a ratio of 1: 1: 1.
3. Sand and peat are mixed in proportions one to one, 2 parts of leafy soil are added to the resulting mass.

In the resulting soil, indoor cherry tomatoes, Balcony Miracle and others grown at home will be able to receive the necessary nutrients and get better on the windowsill.

Landing

In order to grow Balcony Miracle tomatoes and other varieties of the house on the window, you need to prepare a special container. Each bush is planted separately.

Choose a container volume for planting at least 3 liters. The material of the container can be absolutely any. So, instead of a clay pot, many plant tomatoes in plastic bottles.

The technology of planting cherry and other species is very simple, step by step it can be divided into several stages.

1. A drainage layer is poured into the bottom of the pot. They can serve as brick chips or gravel. The thickness of this layer should be approximately 3 cm.
2. On top of the drainage, tamping a little, lay specially prepared soil in such a way that about 2 cm remains to the top edge of the container.
3. From the seedlings, the largest seeds must be selected, after which they must be soaked for 25-30 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate, consisting of 10 g of the substance and 1 liter of water.
4. Wash the seeds thoroughly with clean water.
5. Ready seeds can be planted in the soil. The depth of the recess in the soil of the pot can vary from 1.5 to 1 mm.

The final stage of planting seeds of cherry and other tomatoes on the window - both in plastic bottles and in clay containers - is abundant watering. Next, the pots are covered with glass and placed by the window on the south side of the apartment.

Care

Thumbelina, Balcony Miracle and other indoor tomatoes grown at home on the windowsill require special care, which is different from what plants planted in the open field are used to. This is due to the fact that in a closed pot there is a limited amount of nutrients.

Watering should occur as the soil dries out. Usually indoor cherry trees can live without additional watering for up to 8-10 days. Before giving water to plants living on the windowsill, it should be defended for several days. But this is not all care.

Periodically, the sprouts will require top dressing, which begins 12 days after the balcony miracle shows its first shoots.

In order to grow tomatoes on the balcony, it is necessary to constantly maintain the optimum temperature in the room. So, during the day, the thermometer readings can range from 18 to 22 degrees, at night the average value can vary from 15 to 16 degrees.

Cherry, Balcony Miracle and other undersized tomatoes growing at home on the windowsill are extremely disliked in the intense heat. Therefore, it is necessary to open the window from time to time to ventilate the room. Care also includes protection from unnecessary drafts. Therefore, in case of cold, it is necessary to install some dense panel between the window and the cherry, for example, from plywood.

Outcome

Growing tomatoes at home is not as difficult a process as it might seem at first glance. In addition, why should the balcony room of the house be empty when it can be usefully used for planting tomatoes?

The guarantee of success in growing is the purchase of tomato seeds suitable for planting at home, and compliance with the growing technology. Caring for tomatoes is also not difficult, the main thing is to ensure that the soil does not dry out. Then juicy and tasty tomatoes will grow at home.

So, how is my home garden doing? This quest is getting more and more exciting and takes on a grandiose scope. Plants seem to be trying to prove to me that they can not only entertain, but also feed our family, if only I do not give up this occupation.

Today I decided to make an experiment.

Will a glazed balcony with a total area of ​​​​about two square meters and one window sill allocated for vegetables (0.5 meters wide) be able to fully provide a family of two with greens: green onions, parsley, lettuce, chard, lemon balm.
And plus, I planted radishes, several bushes of tomatoes and cucumbers.

And of course, it was necessary to think over everything, since so many vegetables are cramped on a small balcony. I had to organize landings in a conveyor way.

May 15

22nd of May. Lettuce, onion, parsley, basil, lemon balm, cucumber, chard.

So far everything is going according to plan. She wrote about the onion conveyor here:
You can read about the lettuce conveyor in this article:

Now let's talk about tomatoes.

Tare size in which I grow vegetables matters.

For example, the largest containers look like this. This basket is for tall large-fruited tomatoes and cucumbers.

It is angular and has a volume of 40 liters. It has a lot of holes on the sides and at the bottom - this is good: firstly, it is light, and secondly, there will be air access to the roots, because otherwise a large amount of earth can turn sour.
How I prepare light "like fluff", but nutritious soil is a separate issue.
But I must say right away that there is a large layer of birch coal at the bottom. Coal is good for drainage. It is light, has disinfecting properties, and it is important for me that the water does not stagnate and turn sour in the basket. There are drainage holes in the bottom. The basket is on a pallet.

Such large containers are needed only for very tall indeterminate tomatoes.

And for low and especially dwarf ones, pots from 2 to 5 liters will fit.
I already know how to grow undersized tomatoes with small cherry fruits and with fruits of medium (up to 60 g) size.
You can see the results of past years by the tag "tomatoes" or here in this thread. Moreover, it also talks about the size of the pots.

But the roots of tomatoes can grow very long and branched. Especially if the variety is indeterminate, that is, the vine grows indefinitely. ( Well, to infinity - this is relatively speaking, since winter is just around the corner). In a word, the higher the bush grows, the longer the roots. And the more powerful the root system, the greater the yield. Therefore, the volume of land matters - you need a big pot for tall tomatoes! Minimum = 10 liters. The more land, the more tomatoes there will be, and the larger they will grow.

This year I'm trying to grow medium-sized large-fruited tomatoes.

TOMATOES which you like so far.

I sowed the seeds on March 8th. This is the most gigantic (for our balcony) variety - the plant is semi-determinant and they say it can grow in the ground up to 1m. 70 cm. Fruits are on average up to 300 g. There are much more. Usually 6 to 8 fruits per bush. But I would like to grow at least three.

It is advised to leave no more than three fruits on the first brush. And so she did. The size of tomatoes is increasing by leaps and bounds.
The "tree" itself is also impressive - it is already 110 cm high. I grow it in two stems. The thickness of the trunk at the fork is about 3 cm. There are already a lot of brushes. For a balcony, this is really a giant.

And a week later they grew up like this and a third one was added to them.

Grow pink elephants in a large basket.

And here is the variety "Grandma's Secret"- also a large-fruited and tall variety - bloomed later, as it was sown two weeks later.
And planted in a 5 liter pot. Well, his stem is still thinner. It would be necessary to transplant at least into a large bucket.

Look at this harvest. Grow in 10 liter buckets.

photo from the net

Tomato variety "Grandma's secret"

Of course, it is too early to draw conclusions. They still grow and grow.
The thing is, we're hot. Not hot, but hot. Yesterday in the sun during the day it was + 45 degrees and even in the shade on the street +33.

I'm trying to lower the temperature on the balcony. The frames are completely open, the curtains are down, the house is cool - the breeze is walking - and due to this, +29 is also kept on the balcony. This is the critical temperature at which tomatoes set fruit. At temperatures above +30, ovaries may not form at all. True, there was a thunderstorm in the evening and the temperature dropped sharply to +25. But this afternoon again +39 in the sun.

And I come to the conclusion that it was necessary to sow large-fruited varieties 10 days earlier in order to have time to bloom before the heat and set more fruits.

Three heroes"

Three weeks later than large-fruited ones, she sowed three seeds of a dwarf tomato Florida Petit.
These "giants" should be about 20 cm tall. I planted it exclusively for decorative purposes, in order to later create a composition in one bowl with a tomato and other plants.

This example clearly shows how the amount of land and the timing of transplantation affect the yield.

All three grew safely at the same speed in the spring.
But I chose one, made a bet on it and transplanted it into a liter pot as soon as the roots filled a small seedling cup. The remaining two tomatoes continued to grow in glasses as spares.

And here is the result.
Timely transplanted into a larger volume of land became a real Ilya Muromets. Just as stocky and powerful. Bloomed profusely faster than all other varieties.

First set fruit. And there are so many of these fruits that he is literally plastered with them from all sides. From all the sinuses, side branches grow, on each of them there is also a flower tassel. Tomatoes grow on average up to 3 cm in diameter.
If only large tomatoes would bloom and bear fruit! :-)

And the rest of the "heroes" let us down. Here are all three. Leading already with big fruits.

The one I decided to plant with basil has grown taller than everyone else, but it hasn't even bloomed yet.
So it is necessary to transplant seedlings TIMELY into a larger volume of land.

You can learn about the process of growing tomatoes, about seedlings, top dressing and other subtleties from my video, and read in this article:

PARSLEY

And even on the example of parsley, planted at the same time, but in containers of different volumes, it is clear that greenery develops more actively in a large pot.

Ripe and juicy tomatoes are one of the favorite vegetables of the inhabitants of cities and villages. Experienced gardeners know that you can get an excellent crop of tomatoes even in an apartment, the main thing is to know and follow some rules. The article contains useful information on how to choose the right conditions, grow tomatoes on the balcony step by step and harvest a delicious harvest.

Variety selection

The main criteria for choosing varieties suitable for growing on a windowsill are the small height of the bushes and their abundant fruiting. Tall plants have powerful roots and therefore require a large amount of soil. Low-growing varieties do not grow above half a meter and are strewn with small tasty fruits. Fans of growing tomatoes on the balcony recommend paying attention to the following varieties of tomatoes for the balcony and window sill: “cherry”, “button”, “pearl”, “balcony miracle”, “F1 bonsai micro”, “Pinocchio” and others. Cocktail tomatoes are an interesting development of breeders for lovers of homemade vegetables. Their fruits are slightly larger than ordinary balcony varieties, the bushes are low, and the yield is high. The most famous varieties of tomatoes are “butterfly”, “ballerina” and “romantic”.

Necessary conditions on the balcony

On the loggia with insulation, the harvest is harvested all year round, and on the open balconies it will be possible to pamper your family with fresh vegetables every summer. Growing balcony tomatoes is a little different from cultivating their garden relatives. Therefore, before starting work, you should carefully study the needs of mini-vegetables:

• the best place for tomatoes is the sunny side of the house (southeast or southwest);
• the pot is chosen depending on the variety and size of the window sill;
• vegetables do not like constant drafts;
• A great way to decorate compositions and protect vegetables from insects is to plant spicy herbs next to them: mint, parsley, celery or oregano.

If all of the above conditions are met, it's time to study the cultivation of tomatoes on the balcony step by step.

Capacity

The size of the pot is selected depending on the variety of vegetables chosen. Usually the container volume is from 3 to 5.5 liters. For unpretentious plants, containers made of any materials are suitable, including homemade ones from plastic bottles (5 l) or juice boxes (for the smallest varieties). For larger varieties, deep clay, plastic pots or wooden boxes are used, which are installed along windows, walls or balcony railings. For growing bushes, it is important that it is possible to turn the containers over sometimes. So young plants will get enough light.

Soil and seed preparation

Tomatoes thrive in light and nutritious soil, with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Among the ready-made mixtures, choose "Tomato and Pepper" or "Exo". But at home, you can prepare one of the varieties of suitable soil yourself:

1. Mix equal proportions of soddy soil, peat and humus.
2. First, prepare a mixture of equal volumes of sand and peat, and then add 2 parts of leafy soil.
3. To 1 part of vermiculite add 4 parts of compost, 1 cup of ash and 1 tbsp. l. azofoski. After mixing, add garden soil in an amount equal to compost and mix again.

A drainage layer of about 3 cm must be laid out at the bottom of the pot, and then the finished soil is poured, lightly tamping it, so that about 2 cm remains to the edge of the container.

Growing seedlings

For growing tomato seedlings from seeds, plastic containers or peat pots are used. First fill the container with drainage material and soil mixture, which is then watered. When the liquid is absorbed, grooves or single depressions are made. Before planting the seed, it is soaked in a glass of water for half an hour. Seeds are disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate for about 20 minutes and washed with running water. It will be useful to soak the seeds in a growth stimulator solution (for example, Epine) for 10 hours. Some gardeners advise after this time to spread the finished material on a damp cloth. The next 2-3 days in the room it is necessary to maintain warm and humid conditions. Now the prepared seeds can be sown on seedlings.

Seeding scheme

Dry or germinated seeds are planted in prepared containers to a depth of 1 cm and sprinkled with soil on top. The distance between the seeds is not less than 2-3 cm. The soil is sprayed with water from a spray bottle, the pots are covered with polyethylene and placed in a warm place until the entrances appear. After 1-2 weeks, the first sprouts will appear, the care of which will be easy if you follow the following step-by-step instructions.

How to care for seedlings

As soon as shoots appear, the film is removed and additional lighting is connected. This measure is necessary because there is still not enough sunlight in early spring. The air temperature is maintained within 20 ° C, and only after all the sprouts appear and the first true leaves hatch, it is reduced by 2 degrees. Watering at this time should be very moderate so as not to provoke the development of a black leg. It is best to spray the soil with a spray bottle. Periodically, the room with seedlings is ventilated so that the plants harden.

top dressing

2 weeks after seed germination, the first top dressing is carried out with complex fertilizers such as “Heteroauxin” or “Kornevin”. Moisten the soil the day before fertilizing. The next 2 feedings are carried out after 10 and 20 days.

Transfer to a permanent place

The best time to transplant seedlings of balcony tomatoes into a permanent container at the age of 4-6 true leaves. If this is not done in time, the bushes will begin to stretch. Plants should not be moved to open balconies before May-June. If the sprouts are stretched out, they pick the seedlings, which will strengthen the root system of the vegetable crop, stopping the growth of the green part. To do this, moisten the soil under the bushes, carefully remove the plant from the container and deepen it into a new pot to the cotyledon leaves. The earth is tamped and watered.

Low-growing varieties can be planted 2 bushes in each container at a distance of about 10 cm from each other. To adapt the plants on the balcony, it is necessary to maintain the temperature no higher than 20 ° C, and shade the windows until the seedlings of balcony tomatoes straighten up (2-3 days).

Caring for balcony tomatoes

Caring for balcony tomatoes after transplanting them to a permanent place of residence consists in the correct mode of watering, loosening, pollination, fertilization, pinching and timely prevention of diseases. Balcony crops are more demanding to care than garden crops. The distance between the bushes should be about 40 cm, otherwise, they will interfere with each other, which will lead to a decrease in yield. Tall crops need a garter.

Watering

Tomatoes love water, but waterlogging can cause disease. The soil should not be allowed to dry out either. Young plants are watered with settled water at room temperature as the clod of earth dries. When the fruits begin to turn red, the soil moisture is slightly reduced so that the tomatoes ripen faster. Tomatoes must be harvested in a timely manner, because this measure also accelerates the ripening of fruits.

loosening

To saturate the soil with oxygen, from time to time carry out its surface loosening. Fresh soil is periodically added to the pot. Mulching the soil with peat reduces the amount of loosening.

Pollination

To get a crop of vegetables on the balcony, it is important to monitor how the plants are pollinated. There are self-pollinating varieties of crops that can do without insects to form ovaries. All other varieties need help. To attract insects, some gardeners recommend planting flowers next to tomatoes and opening windows more often. A method has proven itself well in which, during the budding period, the bushes are sprayed with the means “Ovary” or “Bud”. Artificial pollination is carried out with a soft brush, passing it along the inside of the flowers twice a day.

top dressing

During the development of the plant, it is fed three times. Water the soil with a solution of superphosphate or potassium sulfate, as well as organic fertilizers based on humus, diluted mullein or bird droppings. Although it is difficult to use organic matter in an apartment for obvious reasons: the lack of material for the preparation of fertilizers and a strong smell. Therefore, balcony vegetables are most often fed with mineral fertilizers.

pasynkovanie

During the period of formation and ripening of fruits, it is very important that the plant does not waste energy on the formation of excess green mass. Therefore, pinching and removing stepchildren (young shoots) that form in the axils of the leaves are regularly done. As soon as the shoots reach 3 cm, they are pinched off, and the wound is sprinkled with ash. At the same time, the lower leaves in contact with the soil surface are removed. This is a preventive measure against certain diseases and contributes to better aeration of the soil.

Tomato diseases

At home, tomatoes are more often affected by fungal infections, so special attention should be paid to preventive measures and plant hardening. The main diseases of balcony tomatoes include:

• brown rot, or late blight, which affects all parts of the plant and manifests itself in the form of blackening and drying of the leaves, and then the fruits;
• black leg, affecting the root neck of the bushes, leading to their withering;
• anthracnose - develops on fruits and causes them to rot.

To prevent fungal diseases, you should ventilate the room more often, do not overmoisten the soil, use fertilizers moderately, and close windows when the temperature drops and precipitation falls.

Preventive treatment of tomatoes is carried out 10 days after planting in a permanent place, at the beginning of flowering and at the time of the formation of the first fruits.

Observing the rules for planting and caring for tomatoes on the balcony, every fan will be able to harvest an excellent harvest of delicious and environmentally friendly vegetables. Tomatoes grown at home can be used for conservation and consumed fresh. A careful study of information about the selected varieties and the implementation of the recommendations of the article will help you grow juicy vegetables without much effort.

September 14, 2016
Specialization: master in the construction of plasterboard structures, finishing work and laying flooring. Installation of door and window blocks, facade finishing, installation of electrics, plumbing and heating - I can give detailed advice on all types of work.

In this article I will tell you how to grow tomatoes on the balcony, this crop is well suited for urban conditions, but in order to get a good harvest, you need to create optimal conditions for the plants. In fact, there is nothing complicated in the workflow, and all problems most often stem from the fact that people do not know the important nuances of growing or use dubious advice, which is very much on the Internet.

The process of growing tomatoes on the balcony

This will be a kind of step-by-step instruction, divided into 4 main stages. There are no trifles in the work, each action is of great importance and affects the final result, so do not ignore any of the recommendations.

Step One - Choosing Quality Seeds

If I say that almost half of the success depends on the choice of planting material, then I will hardly be mistaken. The fact is that specially bred varieties are suitable for the balcony, which are adapted to the conditions of city apartments, they differ in such characteristics as the low size of plants, shortened ripening periods and unpretentiousness to external conditions.

I will talk about those varieties that I used when growing, but this is only a small part of the possible options:

"Balcony Miracle"	Perhaps the most famous and popular option for growing in an apartment. The fruits are round, bright red, ripen in about 85-90 days. Bushes do not require a garter, one plant brings an average of about 2 kilograms of fruit. Tomatoes are suitable for both salads and pickling.
"Angelica"	One of the fastest maturing varieties - the fruits ripen within 80 days after germination, which allows you to get a crop before the outbreak of late blight, which usually occurs in August. Plants are low, medium-sized fruits - from 40 to 70 grams, does not need a garter
"Pearl"	My favorite variety due to its unpretentiousness - plants tolerate cold and heat well, lack of moisture and nutrients in the soil. Fruits of a slightly elongated shape of a small size, their characteristic feature is that the content of mineral salts and sugars in them is twice as high as in other varieties.
"Bonsai micro"	This variety is distinguished by its decorative effect - the bushes grow only 12 cm high, they all have the same shape, up to 1 kg of tomatoes are collected from the bush, they are medium-sized - they weigh about 15-20 grams. The advantage of this option is that it can be planted in small pots with a volume of 2.5-3 liters.

I do not rule out that there are many other excellent varieties, when choosing, you need to take into account such factors: purpose (best of all, special options for window sills), bush size, ripening period. Buy seeds only in trustworthy stores, otherwise you can get one and a half meters giants instead of undersized plants.

Balcony tomatoes of Western selection can also be considered, very often they even surpass our options in terms of yield, but it is more difficult to purchase them, and the cost will be many times higher.

Step two - prepare everything you need

As I noted above, we will consider growing tomatoes on the balcony step by step, we figured out the first stage, but in addition to seeds, you need to have a set of necessary items on hand, we will deal with them:

• For growing seedlings, it is easiest to use ordinary plastic cups., if you wish, you can buy special boxes for seedlings, but if you want to save money, then the first option is perfect. There is no need to make any holes in the bottom, the plants grow well and so;

• Nowadays, there is no need to prepare the soil mixture, just buy ready-made soil in the right amount.. Remember that about 5 liters of soil should fall on one adult plant (3 liters is enough for the Bonsai micro variety), based on this, the required volume is calculated;
• For mature plants, pots or flower boxes are used., you can build containers yourself, this option is good because you can make structures for the parameters of your balcony.

Do not forget to prepare a place for plants in advance, ideally if they stand on a raised platform for the best, for this you can build the simplest benches. Balconies facing south and southeast are best suited.

Step three - sowing seeds

Now let's figure out how to grow seedlings from seeds, the process can be done in two ways: without germination and with germination of seed material. Let's consider each of the options in more detail and start with planting without sprouting:

• First of all, you need to soak the seed material in a solution of potassium permanganate, this is necessary, firstly, for disinfection, and secondly, in order to separate low-quality seeds. It is very easy to distinguish them: good seeds will sink to the bottom, and empty ones will remain on top, and they need to be drained after 15 minutes;

• Next, you need to fill our cups with soil and pour warm water over it.. A hole is made in the middle of the soil with a depth of 1-1.5 cm, no more is needed, 2 seeds are laid in it, which are covered with earth, nothing needs to be compacted, as this will complicate the germination of seeds;
• If you sow the seeds in a large container, then the distance between them should be at least 3 centimeters, and between the rows you need to make a gap of at least 6 centimeters;

• Crops are covered with transparent polyethylene and placed in a warm place, shoots will appear in 5-7 days. You can transfer containers to the windowsill, as the sprouts need light. The optimum temperature for seedlings is 20-23 degrees during the day and 16-18 degrees at night, try to maintain just this mode;
• If you planted in cups and you have grown 2 plants each, then the weaker sprout must be carefully cut off near the soil, you can’t pull it out, as you can damage the roots of a neighboring tomato;
• Watering is done about once a week, for this water at room temperature is used., defended for at least a day. You can additionally spray the plants with a conventional sprayer;
• Hardening of seedlings can be started about 2 weeks after germination, for this, at first, a window is simply opened, then you can take the containers out to the balcony and keep them there with an open window if the weather is warm and calm. No need to check what temperature the seedlings can withstand and take it out into the cold, such extreme actions can ruin the fruits of your labor.

The second planting option differs from the first in the way of seed preparation, I will only talk about the initial stage, since further actions will be the same as in the above option:

• First of all, the seeds are soaked for 15-20 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate, all elements that have surfaced are removed;

If your seeds are processed (this is easy to see by their characteristic color), then there is no need to disinfect them.

• Then you need to prepare a solution with a growth regulator, I personally usually use Epin, but it can be any other similar option. The instruction will tell you how the composition is made, seeds are lowered into it and left for about 10 hours, this will improve their germination and accelerate growth;

• Soaked seeds should be put on a damp cloth or gauze, covered and left in a warm place.. After three or four days, sprouts should appear, all seeds that have not begun to grow can be discarded;
• Next, you need to make holes in the prepared containers and lower one seed at a time. In order not to damage the sprouts, I usually use a toothpick, wet seeds cling well to it and can be carefully placed in the ground. Further actions are performed according to the algorithm described above.

Above, we looked at how to plant and how to care for seedlings, now we will figure out how top dressing is done, since this is also an important part of agricultural technology. The easiest way is to use ready-made complex fertilizer for tomatoes, it can be purchased at any specialized store. The work is done as follows:

• The first feeding is done 12 days after the sprouts have made their way out;
• The second time the plants are processed 8-9 days after the first fertilization;
• The third time is done about a week after the second and at least a week before the plants are transplanted to a permanent place.

To prevent fungal diseases, seedlings can be treated twice with a solution of milk (50 g per 500 g of water).

Do not forget about the fact that plants always reach for the light, therefore, in order for your tomatoes to turn out even, you need to turn them with the other side to the window every 3-4 days.

Step four - transplanting seedlings and caring for plants

Now let's figure out how to grow properly full-fledged tomatoes on the balcony, the process begins with transplanting seedlings:

• As I noted above, it is best to use cups, since you can get a plant with a piece of soil and transplant it to a permanent place, this creates minimal stress for the plant during transplantation and ensures almost one hundred percent survival;
• The size of the pot should be about 5-7 liters, 3 liters is enough for dwarf varieties. You can also use long boxes, in which tomatoes are planted at a distance of 30 cm from each other, so that during growth they do not suffer from a lack of space;
• 2-3 cm of drainage material is poured at the bottom of the containers, the easiest way is to use expanded clay, which is sold in bags and costs a little. It will allow excess moisture to be removed through the hole, which must be at the bottom of the pot or box;

• Next, you need to fill the soil in a pot, after which it is poured with warm water. Before planting a plant in a pot, you need to make a recess according to the size of the seedling with the ground, after which the plant is placed there. The soil is compacted and watered again, on this the work can be considered successfully completed;

• Now let's figure out how to grow a rich crop at home, first of all, you need to provide the plants with sunlight, they should be located on the south or east side, this is ideal;
• Watering of plants is carried out as the topsoil dries up, on hot days this is done every other day, in cooler less often. The earth cannot be overdried, but waterlogging will not be beneficial either;

• Once every 10-12 days, top dressing is carried out with the same complex fertilizer.. Foliar treatment brings good results - spraying with a solution of boric acid (1 g per 10 liters of water), this prevents flowers from shedding and improves fruit set;

• The question often arises whether it is necessary to stepchild plants, most varieties do not allow stepchildren, so there is no need for these works. But if your stepchildren are growing, then they need to be broken off with your hands at a distance of half a centimeter from the base;
• Another important question is whether it is necessary to pollinate tomatoes on the balcony? I have considered only self-pollinating varieties, so nothing needs to be done, but to improve the set of plants, I still advise lightly shaking the plants in the morning;

Treat the plants with the drug "Ovary" before pollinating them by shaking, fruit formation will noticeably improve

• To speed up the formation of fruits and their ripening, the method of tearing the roots is used, for this you need to take hold of the base of the plant and pull it up slightly. You should not be too zealous, you need to tear the small roots, and thereby improve the nutrition of the ovaries;
• In order for tomatoes to ripen faster, it is necessary to remove already ripened fruits, this will help increase the flow of nutrients to green tomatoes.

Traditional technology involves harvesting in summer, but many people ask if it is possible to grow tomatoes in winter. This is possible if you follow the technology discussed above.

It is best to take the Pinocchio variety, as it grows well indoors, this is especially important if it is cool on the balcony in winter and you have to keep the plants indoors. The basic materials are the same as in the case described above, but you need to add a fluorescent lamp to the list, in winter natural lighting is not very good, so you have to use an artificial option.

Work is done like this:

• Let's figure out when to plant Pinocchio: if you need tomatoes for the new year, then you need to plant them in early October. You can do this with both dry and germinated seeds, the second option in this case is preferable due to faster germination;
• Seeds are planted in cups and located near the window, in order to ensure their high-quality lighting, at a height of 25 cm, you need to fix a fluorescent lamp and turn it on in the morning and evening, this will allow the plants to develop more intensively;

• In this case, it makes no sense to harden the plants, because they will always be in the room, it is much more important to provide the right temperature for the plants;
• After transplanting into pots, you must again place a lamp over the plants, since without light, tomatoes grow much more slowly;
• Should I pollinate tomatoes? Everything is the same here as in the first case: shake the plants slightly during the flowering period and use preparations to improve fruit formation, in winter they are especially relevant.
• When the fruits begin to ripen, do not wait for them to turn completely red, you can also remove brown tomatoes, they will ripen on the windowsill, but the rest of the tomatoes will get more nutrients and they will ripen faster.