Ok, I have to admit, it´s the first time that I want to grow tomatoes by myself. And I mean that I´m responsible for what I´m doing. It´s not that you just have to water the plants because your grandparents told you so.
I still want to grow my own vegetables on the balcony. And therefore, I also wanted a tomato plant.
But I know that it´s not easy to maintain them. And beside the fact that they need a lot of sun (and also water, because they are staying in the sun) there was one more thing I can remember my grandmother told me.
That was the thing with pruning a tomato plant.
After the tomato plant has grown bigger and it starts to have those tiny yellow flowers, you have to remove “suckers” while they’re young.
The reason is simple: With fewer leaves the energy is directed toward those areas where a fruit is created. Therefore, the plant has more power to let ripe a bigger tomato fruit.
One more important thing is, that you have to make a vertical support for the plant. You can build a trellis or just take a long stick from a tree, like I did, and tie it together with the plant (e.g. with a string).
Also very important: Don´t water plants (and also flowers) when it´s hot outside. Wait until it cools down outside – around sunset. Your plants will be thankful.
Four weeks later…I think I might harvest my first own grown tomatoes 🙂 . It was a successful experiment.
And, just in case you don´t know what to do with your own grown tomatoes (or also bought 😉 ones) have a look on this healthy recipe, or on this natural exfoliant for your face skin.