How to grow tomatoes indoors

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If you want to know how to grow tomatoes indoors then you are at the right place! 
Tomatoes are one of the easiest crop-bearing plants to grow indoors. 
However, with that in mind there are still a few guidelines to follow to ensure the maximum effectiveness of the tomato plant.

Information for how to grow tomatoes indoors:

• Choosing & Planting the seeds. - What you need to know about which seeds you should pick for the best crop and tips for planting.

Tomato plants usually grow as large plants and easily grow to over 6ft in size! 
However, this presents a problem for the indoor vegetable gardener as standard tomato plants have very large root systems (often as big as the plant above the soil) and require a large amount of soil to accommodate these large roots. 
As most people will find it difficult to grow plants of this size, it is a much better option to search for one of the smaller 15 inch dwarf or cherry varieties of tomato plant such as Tiny Tim or Small Fry. 
You will find that you have a much better success rate and for beginners, these plants are a lot easier to keep control of and will happily sit on the window ledge in a kitchen.
It is still necessary to ensure that you provide a nice sized pot of around 9 inches to give your plant plenty of growing room with plenty of soil. 
Tomatoes are slow growing so plant your chosen seeds early in the year to allow the 60-65 days for your crop to mature and begin producing & ripening fruit. 

Note - This is especially important if you're relying heavily on natural sunlight to grow you're plants! If so, plant around March-April time. 

Before choosing a variety to grow indoors, you should ALWAYS plan your space! - Allow for growth!

• Light & Temperature - How to provide the correct environment for your plants to ensure growth.

Tomatoes need warm temperatures but not too warm. The plant cannot stand temperatures of 95 degrees F (x degrees Celsius) and this heat will no doubt cause the plant to wither and die. Keep a thermometer close to your plants and ensure that they stay at a temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius during the day.

Also make sure temperatures at night DO NOT EXCEED 27 Degrees Celsius!!!

Note -  Make sure that your plants never drop below 0 degrees Celsius as this will also cause them to die.

Strong lighting is very important for tomatoes. However, it is equally important for tomatoes to receive the proper amount of darkness.
Avoid setting your plants where they may succumb to spillage from any outdoor (or indoor) lighting. 
Unless they receive at least 7 hours of uninterrupted darkness, you may find that the plants refuse to bloom; Regardless of the strength of the light during the day.

• Watering -  Watering techniques specifically for Tomatoes

Water tomato plants not more than once a week as they can stand large periods of dryness and cannot tolerate water standing around the roots especially when young.
As fruit begins to swell and the tomatoes get bigger, the plant will require watering more often. You may need to test how often is best depending on the variety of plant you choose as well as the conditions you provide for them.

• Feeding & Nutrition – How to make sure that your plants get all the nutrients that they need in order to survive and produce juicy fruits!

Phosphorus is the most important nutrient for tomato plants and should be provided 1-2 times weekly. However, this should be reduced as the plant reaches maturity.
You should be able to find a suitable tomato feed in most good stores and most should provide individual instructions on how to use the product.

• Pollination – How to ensure that your plants are productive in their indoor environment.

Hand pollination can potentially double the size of your crop when you harvest!

This can be done by gently tapping on the stems to create the vibrations needed for the plant to pollinate itself.

It usually takes around 45-50 days from the first blossom to produce a ripe fruit ready for harvesting.

• Harvesting – How to collect your fruit safely and how to maximise crop growth for the future.

When it comes to reaping the fruits of your labour, there are a few tips that can maximise the rewards!

Allow the fruit to ripen naturally on the vine before picking. Vine-ripened tomatoes contain a much higher concentration of vitamin C than those picked early and ripened artificially. 
It usually takes a fruit about 7-10 days to ripen fully from when the first flashes of red are seen on the fruit.
The correct way to pick a tomato is to twist the fruit gently and tip it over on its side whilst twisting. 
This will allow the tomato to break free from the plant without causing the main body of the plant any trauma. 
This means that the plant can then continue to produce fruit as normal. 

The only step left is to enjoy your indoor grown tomato in the best way you see fit!

And that, is how to grow tomatoes indoors!

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