The best crop for a gardener is a tomato. You can’t dispute that store-bought tomatoes can’t compete with garden tomatoes if you’ve ever had them. If you want to experiment with a greenhouse, here are some tips for you.
However, you might be wondering how to grow tomatoes in a greenhouse if you enjoy them as much as we do.
Here’s how you can do it!
Tomato growing in a greenhouse is a great method to extend the season, whether you have a short growing season in your area or want a second crop.
What are the best tomatoes for greenhouse growing?
In a greenhouse, you can grow any type of tomato, but the bush (also known as determinate) varieties take up a lot of valuable floor space. In contrast, the cordon (also known as pole or indeterminate) varieties make the most of the vertical space and are thus far more productive in terms of total yield and the best tomatoes to grow in a greenhouse.
When should you plant tomatoes in a greenhouse?
For late or early production, plant greenhouse tomatoes in the fall or early spring. To guarantee that the seeds are mature and hardened off, start them indoors four to six weeks before transplanting them into the greenhouse.
How to set up your greenhouse for your tomatoes?
- The first stage is to assess the temperature, choose the suitable tomato type, cultivate the crop in the appropriate medium, and set up the watering system.
- When daytime temperatures are between 70 and 80°F and nighttime temperatures are between 60 and 65°F, tomato plants produce more fruit. You may grow tomatoes in a greenhouse with higher yields if you have the right temperature inside.
- Choose seeds that are labeled as “greenhouse varieties” since they are more tolerant of the conditions within a greenhouse. You should chat to local farmers if you’re unsure about which seeds to buy.
- Soilless mediums, Rockwool slabs or perlite bags, vermiculite and sphagnum peat moss mixed in the ratio 1:1 are all good for growing tomatoes.
- Drip irrigation systems are recommended because they give a consistent flow of water directly to the root system and can also be used to automate fertilizer application.
- To avoid leaf mold, keep the moisture level below 90%. When it’s freezing outside, regular ventilation lets in fresh and dry air.
Tips on how to grow tomatoes in a greenhouse
- Water – When you first plant the tomatoes, give them a big drink of water and continue to water them on a regular basis. However, it’s worth skipping a few days in the early weeks to be a little cruel to them. This will prevent their roots from idly soaking up moisture in the nearby area, encouraging them to wander off in search of more. Plants will be stronger as a result.
- Feed – You can either buy food or prepare your own. Watered down manure, as well as nettles diced up and let to soak in water, works. Mulches made from comfrey and seaweed are also recommended.
- Air – Pollinating insects will have easier access if they can get a little air through an open window or door rather than squeezing their thoraxes through gaps in the greenhouse. It will also produce a more stable growing environment, preventing the spread of terrible damp-related diseases. Furthermore, when temperatures reach dangerously high levels during the day, they frequently drop dramatically at night, which isn’t ideal for a plant.
- Support – Give them a helping hand by gently attaching them to stakes or creating trellising for them to lean on to keep them vertical.
- Snip – Unless you’re cultivating a bushy kind, snip them off with a pinch of your fingertips on a regular basis. When you’ve got a good amount of fruits set, another snip at the top of the plant is recommended to focus energy on the harvest rather than the remainder of the plant. The leaves at the bottom of the plant can also be removed; they’ll merely get in the way when you’re selecting and prevent air from passing between the plants.
