Growing Your Own Tomatoes: A Cost-Effective and Delicious option
4 minute read
From soups and pasta dishes to salsas and chilis, tomatoes can be used in a wide range of delicious dishes. If you’re someone who consumes a lot of tomatoes, growing your own could be a great option for you. Not only is it cost-effective, but it also adds a greater flavor to your food.
And guess what? There are alternative methods to start your tomato harvest without the traditional seedling planting approach. Let’s explore four methods to ensure that you always have access to your favorite fruit.
1. Bury Tomato Slices Yes, you read that right! The Wannabe Homesteader provides a simple and low-cost solution. All you need is an overripe tomato, some potting soil, and several containers.
Here’s how to do it:
Fill a large container with potting soil till it’s almost full. Lay a few thin tomato slices on top of the soil. Bury the slices in just enough soil to prevent them from sprouting, ensuring that they have a lot of seeds. Give them a week or two to begin growing. Once your tomato seeds germinate, you can have up to 60 seedlings in just one container. Identify the top four or five strongest sprouts, take cuttings, and relocate them elsewhere. Check on the young plants every few weeks and remove the weaker ones to make room for the stronger ones. 2. Plant them in the Ground If you have a large yard with plenty of sunlight, consider planting your tomatoes directly in the ground instead of using containers. This can significantly increase your harvest, and according to Bonnie Plants, it also reduces the need for watering. Just keep in mind that deer and rabbits may find your tomato garden enticing, so it’s essential to take precautions if you choose this path.
3. Grow them in a Window Box Even if you don’t have much space for a garden, you can successfully grow tomatoes in a window box. It’s recommended to use window boxes that can hold at least 1.5 liters of soil. To support the plant, you can install a string trellis drilled into the wall. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to choose smaller tomato varieties for this method to work effectively.
4. Grow them in a Hanging Basket If you’re hesitant about suspending a heavy box from your windowsill, a hanging basket is a great alternative. The DIY Network suggests using a cascade cherry tomato variety for this type of planting. Keep in mind that hanging baskets require more water, as the water evaporates more quickly compared to standard containers.
Growing tomato plants from overripe tomatoes might not have crossed your mind before, but it’s a fantastic way to reduce food waste while enjoying the luscious taste of homegrown tomatoes.
From soups and pasta dishes to salsas and chilis, tomatoes can be used in a wide range of delicious dishes. If you’re someone who consumes a lot of tomatoes, growing your own could be a great option for you. Not only is it cost-effective, but it also adds a greater flavor to your food.
And guess what? There are alternative methods to start your tomato harvest without the traditional seedling planting approach. Let’s explore four methods to ensure that you always have access to your favorite fruit.
1. Bury Tomato Slices Yes, you read that right! The Wannabe Homesteader provides a simple and low-cost solution. All you need is an overripe tomato, some potting soil, and several containers.
Here’s how to do it:
Fill a large container with potting soil till it’s almost full. Lay a few thin tomato slices on top of the soil. Bury the slices in just enough soil to prevent them from sprouting, ensuring that they have a lot of seeds. Give them a week or two to begin growing. Once your tomato seeds germinate, you can have up to 60 seedlings in just one container. Identify the top four or five strongest sprouts, take cuttings, and relocate them elsewhere. Check on the young plants every few weeks and remove the weaker ones to make room for the stronger ones. 2. Plant them in the Ground If you have a large yard with plenty of sunlight, consider planting your tomatoes directly in the ground instead of using containers. This can significantly increase your harvest, and according to Bonnie Plants, it also reduces the need for watering. Just keep in mind that deer and rabbits may find your tomato garden enticing, so it’s essential to take precautions if you choose this path.
3. Grow them in a Window Box Even if you don’t have much space for a garden, you can successfully grow tomatoes in a window box. It’s recommended to use window boxes that can hold at least 1.5 liters of soil. To support the plant, you can install a string trellis drilled into the wall. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to choose smaller tomato varieties for this method to work effectively.
4. Grow them in a Hanging Basket If you’re hesitant about suspending a heavy box from your windowsill, a hanging basket is a great alternative. The DIY Network suggests using a cascade cherry tomato variety for this type of planting. Keep in mind that hanging baskets require more water, as the water evaporates more quickly compared to standard containers.
Growing tomato plants from overripe tomatoes might not have crossed your mind before, but it’s a fantastic way to reduce food waste while enjoying the luscious taste of homegrown tomatoes.
