By Rhonda Cossey
It is easy to have success with cherry tomatoes on the patio! The only requirements that cherry tomatoes need are clean dirt, a large pot to grow in, a little fertilizer, adequate water, and the sun with its light and heat. This is the choice for anyone living in an apartment - or those with little ground to plant in. The minimal time and effort to grow these lovely, health-inducing plants is well worth it for anyone with or without a green thumb!
The first requirement is to find a healthy, bushy tomato plant of the cherry variety. Cherry tomatoes are best for salads, relish trays, and for just an occasional healthy snack. They are very prolific if treated well, and will produce fruit as long as the warm weather and regular maintenance are done. You will need a large pot, preferably a self watering variety, since it will alleviate some of the time you will spend on watering daily. If a self watering pot is not available, any pot with adequate drainage will do. Large buckets, barrels or drums cut in half, and storage containers no longer in use can be used to grow tomatoes as long as there are holes in the bottom to let out excess water.
Potting soil is preferable to dirt since it is much lighter, but any healthy dirt and/or compost can be used. If you will ever need to move your pot, weight considerations must be accounted for in the preparation stage. Using light soil, a light pot, and a perfectly trimmed plant will help you keep your tomato plant in the optimal position for production.
It is easy to have success with cherry tomatoes on the patio! The only requirements that cherry tomatoes need are clean dirt, a large pot to grow in, a little fertilizer, adequate water, and the sun with its light and heat. This is the choice for anyone living in an apartment - or those with little ground to plant in. The minimal time and effort to grow these lovely, health-inducing plants is well worth it for anyone with or without a green thumb!
The first requirement is to find a healthy, bushy tomato plant of the cherry variety. Cherry tomatoes are best for salads, relish trays, and for just an occasional healthy snack. They are very prolific if treated well, and will produce fruit as long as the warm weather and regular maintenance are done. You will need a large pot, preferably a self watering variety, since it will alleviate some of the time you will spend on watering daily. If a self watering pot is not available, any pot with adequate drainage will do. Large buckets, barrels or drums cut in half, and storage containers no longer in use can be used to grow tomatoes as long as there are holes in the bottom to let out excess water.
Potting soil is preferable to dirt since it is much lighter, but any healthy dirt and/or compost can be used. If you will ever need to move your pot, weight considerations must be accounted for in the preparation stage. Using light soil, a light pot, and a perfectly trimmed plant will help you keep your tomato plant in the optimal position for production.
Regular watering and fertilizing are a necessity, with watering the most crucial element, especially in the hot, dry summer months. Fertilizing products are plentiful, but avoid overdoing it since the plants can be harmed by too much of a good thing. Do not let the roots dry out, but do not water if there is adequate moisture in the soil. You can tell by sticking your finger into the dirt along the edge and checking for wetness.Most tomato plants, including the cherry varieties, will need little other maintenance.
Keeping the suckers pruned and trellised or staked - along with pest control - are the only other considerations to growing your own tomatoes. If the plants become too unruly, clip some of the limbs back. Never clip a limb that has either of these since you will be cutting back some of your fruit production. Pest control can involve something as easy as planting marigolds, basil, of other strong odored plants with or around your tomatoes. Basil makes the perfect fit, since you can also cut the basil while picking your tomatoes for your Italian salads and cooking.
Growing and eating your very own food is quickly becoming one of the most popular activities in many of the households in the United States. Not only is it fun and therapeutic, but the health benefits far outweigh the difficulty of working on your patio garden. Along with so many other vegetables you can grow in containers, successful cherry tomatoes on the patio are one alternative gardening pastime that should be enjoyed by everyone for a healthier and happier society.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhonda_Cossey
Keeping the suckers pruned and trellised or staked - along with pest control - are the only other considerations to growing your own tomatoes. If the plants become too unruly, clip some of the limbs back. Never clip a limb that has either of these since you will be cutting back some of your fruit production. Pest control can involve something as easy as planting marigolds, basil, of other strong odored plants with or around your tomatoes. Basil makes the perfect fit, since you can also cut the basil while picking your tomatoes for your Italian salads and cooking.
Growing and eating your very own food is quickly becoming one of the most popular activities in many of the households in the United States. Not only is it fun and therapeutic, but the health benefits far outweigh the difficulty of working on your patio garden. Along with so many other vegetables you can grow in containers, successful cherry tomatoes on the patio are one alternative gardening pastime that should be enjoyed by everyone for a healthier and happier society.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhonda_Cossey
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