Tomato

           Tomatoes are one of the most versatile varieties of vegetables (or fruits, pick your clan) used almost routinely in most cuisines around the world including salads, sandwiches, for juices, sauces, or for salsas and ketchup and authentic Indian recipes. The tomatoes you plan to grow at home will largely depend on the way you plan to use the harvest.

           The thick-walled plum tomatoes are especially popular on account of the fact that there is more flesh content than seed compartments. The sweet tanginess of the tomatoes is favoured by cooks for their chewy flesh and low water content. Tomatoes are high in vitamin A, C, iron, and lycopene making them an ideal ingredient for a healthy diet that boosts immunity against cancer, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

How to grow tomatoes at home in pots: Seed Starting and Germination

             Since tomatoes are day neutral, they can be grown during any season. In the southern parts tomatoes are transplanted in three cycles:

1. December to January
2. June to July
3. September to October

In the northern plains the transplantation schedule is as below:

1. July (Kharif crop)
2. October to November (Rabi crop)
3. February months (Zaid season)

• To start, plant the tomato seeds indoors in small pots 3 to 4 inch deep or seed starting trays about ¼ inches deep in moderately fertile soil.

• The soil pH ranging from 6.0 to 6.8 is best for tomatoes. Tomatoes will grow in almost any type of garden soil except for heavy clay soil.

• The ideal temperature required for germination of tomatoes seeds ranges between  21 to 27℃ (70 to 80℉). For best germination results, keep the pots in a warm and dark place. The seedlings should appear in 10 to 14 days.

• The secret to growing healthy tomatoes at home is in the soil. Maintaining optimum soil moisture is essential for successful tomato growth.

• Seeds require very little watering till germination. Use a spray bottle to mist the seedlings to keep the top of the soil moist. In case you feel the soil has become too moist, just place the potted plant to an area with increased airflow.