If you want a sweeter, healthier, and juicer tomatoes, you have to know how to grow tomatoes in a greenhouse; you need to adjust and control the temperature, effectively facilitate air circulation, and provide the right amount of elements that they need.
This article serves as a guide for you to ensure the sustainable growth of tomatoes. We also added extra topics such as the basic needs of the plants and how to grow it in a natural setting.
Before everything else, let’s know why you should have tomatoes in your greenhouse.
Contents
Why Grow Tomatoes?
Tomato is indeed one of the commonly used ingredients for cooking. It has a lot of benefits like enrichment of skin and detoxification. Sometimes, tomatoes are not we expected. Tomatoes with blemishes are usually dry and blunt.
To avoid that, we advise that you grow your tomatoes inside a greenhouse. Why? Because the greenhouse will be able to provide and balance everything that your tomatoes need and to protect it from too much heat, freezing, and pests.
Ways To Grow Tomatoes In A Greenhouse
Below, we have listed the basic steps to guarantee rich and healthy tomatoes. Assuredly, this process is efficient and affordable, so just read on!
#1 Effectively manage the temperature inside the greenhouse
The average temperature that promotes tomatoes’ growth is usually 15 to 18 degrees Celsius at night and 21 to 27 degrees Celsius during the day.
Tomatoes flourish in a moderately cool place. Therefore, you should make sure that you reduce the natural temperature of your greenhouse during the day and increase a little bit at night.
If you still don’t know how to make your greenhouse cooler during the day, we suggest that you open vents on your greenhouse walls or roof because it allows the cold air to enter. You can also install electric ventilators that spread the cold air from the benches to the floor.
#2 Prepare everything that your plant needs
This one is a fundamental step. The greenhouse takes responsibility in improving the condition of your plants with all the resources that you provide. Therefore, you should ensure the quality of the location and the materials that you use.
Here are what you need to consider:
Clean Environment
To avoid diseases, you must ensure an environment free from fungi and pests. Since the greenhouse is a home for varieties of plants, the getaway of fallen leaves immediately because they may carry diseases that may affect others.
Rich and fertile soil
Assess the capability of your soil to support the growth of your tomatoes. We advise that you use soil from the organic matter because it provides consistent nutrients.
Sunny location
Rapid and healthy growth can be expected if your location has access to direct solar energy.
Provide the right amount of water
While the tomatoes are on the growing stage, keep the soil moist all though out. An adequate amount of water strengthens the stem and branches. We advise that you use containers with spray to control the amount of water.
Improve your plants using fertilizers
Manure and natural are put forward as one of the most effective types of fertilizer. It devotes to provide nutrients and protection from diseases.
#3 Arrange your seedlings properly
Spacing is the factor that we often forget because of the desire for faster propagation. However, it initiates stress that can be a reason for diseases.
To avoid that, provide a space between the plants to increase air humidity and give them an area to extend and branch out.
You can also source the air from exhaust fans, electric ventilators, and vents on a different greenhouse side. Make sure that the air could circulate all over the place.
#4 Two-crop rotation promotes faster propagation
In this process, you don’t plant your seedlings simultaneously. You need to plant on one side first, preferably in June or July.
It would take you 5 to 6 months to have a full-grown 36-inch plant. If you are already on this stage, start planting on the other side. Make sure that you allot a 28-inch distance between the two sides.
This process is a great way to increase the number of harvests and distribute the nutrients properly.
#5 Provide abundant light
Positioning your greenhouse in an area with direct sunlight is a great idea, but it may not be enough. It would help if you exposed your tomatoes longer to more substantial light. In this case, we suggest that you use a fluorescent lamp.
Place it inches above the plants to make sure that it’s sufficient and robust. Please turn it on for about 14 to 18 hours straight in a day for growth.
#6 Months after seeding, check if the stem and branches are already hard
That’s a sign that your plant is now mature and ready for transplant; make sure to consider the temperature and access to sunlight. The soil should cover the first half-inch of the base of the stem.
Some tomatoes have vines, provide wires where they can branch out.
Conclusion
The effectiveness of your tomatoes’ growth in a greenhouse depends on how you provide and manage the resources that they need. Never fail to consider factors such as temperature, arrangement, and source of sunlight.
We hope that this guide on how to grow tomatoes in a greenhouse could help you achieve healthy tomatoes that are juicy, sweet and provide health benefits.