I'm pleased to meet you, I'm CITY TOMATO!

Who doesn't love tomatoes?! Almost everyone loves tomatoes, but not everyone has a garden where they could grow them. Today, let's take a look at growing tomatoes on balconies!

When should we start planting? If you want to pre-grow your plants, I recommend starting today! Seeds should be sown as early as February so the plants are strong enough for transplanting. I've already shared advice on how to do this in my guide. So if you have any concerns, check it out and we can start growing together! If you prefer to buy seedlings, the ideal time to plant is after the last frost. You can find nice seedlings at garden centres and markets, but nothing compares to the feeling of growing your own self-sufficient tomatoes.

Where to put them?

Deep containers or self-watering planters are ideal, about the size and depth of a regular bucket. You can also recycle! Old metal or plastic buckets work great, even cracked ones. Don't forget that growing tomatoes in hanging planters is also fantastic!

Let's plant!

Plant mature seedlings in your chosen container with roots reaching to the bottom. You can also add drainage using bricks or larger pebbles at the bottom of planters and containers. When planting, position the plants at an angle and further apart so they don't shade each other during growth. Cover them with substrate up to the lower leaves! It's important to place the containers in a sunny spot, preferably against a south-facing wall or in a southern direction.

What's next?

Water the transplanted seedlings generously. Water as close to the stems as possible – try to avoid wetting the leaves. Carefully tie up the tomatoes as they grow. For cordon tomatoes, pinch out the side shoots so only one main growing tip remains. Besides watering, don't forget about fertilising, of course.

Which varieties to choose?

'Cherrola' – round red fruits weighing up to 30 g.

'Gold Krone' - round yellow fruits weighing around 20 g.

'Minigold'- round, bright yellow fruits weighing around 30 g.

'Tumbling Tom' – round fruits, yellow or red, weighing up to 20 g.

'Vilma'- the best balcony cherry-type variety. Oval and red, weighing up to 35 g.

If you're still hesitating, don't hesitate and start sowing! The season has already begun! :)

Bye for now and happy growing!