The tomatoes They are a jewel in the kitchen that, in addition to providing a delicious flavor to dishes, are packed with essential nutrients, antioxidants and bioactive compounds that provide many health benefits. And, what’s better than enjoying tomatoes grown and cared for with your own hands? You can easily achieve this by following the steps explained below.

Planting tomatoes: from seedlings or seeds?

The ideal thing to obtain a good harvest is to choose varieties native to the area and the first thing is to decide if you want to plant them from seeds or seedlings.

If you make it from seedsyou can buy them or remove them yourself from a tomato (not hybrid or transgenic), removing the seeds, putting them in water for a couple of days so that the pulp that covers them comes off, and then letting them dry.

• Next, you have to plant them in a seedbed (about two or three seeds per cell) using special substrate for seedbeds and without burying them too much. Water them well (without flooding them), but be careful not to displace or dig up the seeds.
• After about 2 months They will already have a good size and number of leaves (about 4) to transplant them.

If you decide planting tomatoes from seedlingsyou will save these steps. You can easily find them in nurseries. Make sure they are healthy and have green leaves.

In this video we explain how to plant tomatoes from seedlings.

When to plant tomatoes?

Tomato plants are plants warm season. The ideal time to plant them in Spain may vary a little depending on the specific area, but in general:

• In the areas with more temperate climate (such as coastal and Mediterranean climate regions), winters are warmer, allowing for an earlier planting season. The seeds you can start plant in February or March.

• In it central and northern Spainwhere the climate is colder, it is recommended to wait until spring entrance to plant tomatoes, when the risk of frost has decreased.

how to plant tomatoes: step by step

You can plant the tomatoes in your garden, garden or in potsas you prefer. tomatoes they need sun and prefer well-drained soils rich in organic matter. It is advisable to loosen the soil where you are going to plant them to a depth of around 30 centimeters and remove any stones and weeds. Next:

• Dig holes that are slightly larger than the root balls. They must have a separation of 40 to 80 cm between them so that the plants can grow healthy and with enough space.
• Before planting the tomato plants, mix organic compost in the soil at the bottom of each hole to provide nutrients to plants.
• Transplant the seedlings Be careful not to damage its roots (if you can, loosen them a little so they can expand well). Place each seedling in a hole and fill in the soil around it, making sure that the stem is buried up to the first group of leaves.
• After, water the plants abundantly recently transplanted to settle the soil, but avoid excess water, as it could rot the root.

tomato plants: basic care

As the tomato plants grow, they will need support to keep plants upright and prevent them from spreading on the ground. If you place stakes or stakes near each plant At the time of planting you will avoid having to damage the roots later. There are different methods, such as cross-tuning, using ropes or wavy rods, depending on your preferences or the space you have.

On the other hand, the tomatoes need regular wateringespecially during dry periods, to prevent the soil from drying out. One has to water the base of the plants and avoid wetting the leaves, as it facilitates the appearance of diseases.

put a organic mulch layer (straw or wood chips) around the base of the plants will help retain moisture, prevent weed growth, and keep soil temperatures more consistent.

It is recommended prune the tomato plant to remove unnecessary shoots and leaves and help the tomatoes grow better and avoid pests. Avoid doing this when the plant is wet.

Tomatoes can suffer from various pests that, if not detected and treated in time, will ruin your harvest. Check the leaves and stems often to make sure they are healthy.

When are tomatoes picked?

Tomatoes are harvested when they are fully ripe and firm, which (depending on the variety) can take between 60 and 80 days from sowing.

• To harvest it, pick up the tomato with your hand and twist gently until it comes off of the plant. You can also cut the peduncle with a knife or scissors.