3 Smart Ways to Grow Tomatoes in Winter
Can you grow tomatoes in winter?
Although it may seem impossible, there are many ways to grow tomatoes in winter. First, choose tomato varieties that can grow in cold climates. These varieties have high cold tolerance and short duration. At the end of the day there are fruits to harvest. Second, if you have the space, bring your tomato plants indoors for the winter. As long as you have the right system, it's easier than growing outdoors because you can control the problems caused by pests and diseases that these plants are susceptible to.
Finally, if you have space for a greenhouse garden, you can grow tomatoes there all year round. As long as your area gets enough sun in the winter, the plants will be protected from the heat and your yields will be slightly smaller, but still produce fruit. If you're determined to grow tomatoes, there's nothing stopping you from trying all three options to make the most of your garden space.
3 Ways to Grow Tomatoes in Winter
1. Cultivation of Special Varieties
Although not many, there are a few varieties of tomatoes that can be grown in the colder months. These usually have a short period of fruit ripening. Their temperature tolerance is also important, as they should be able to withstand temperatures of 50F - 60F. Temperatures should often rise to 70F to produce the best fruit. Check the temperature in your area before planting to make sure they will bear fruit. If there is any chance of frost, you should protect your tomatoes by moving them into a greenhouse or using frost protection cloth.
Over the years things have changed and scientists have been able to hybridize tomatoes to grow in winter. These plants are now available to grow in the cooler months and have been tried and tested in cooler regions.
2. Growing tomatoes indoors
Growing tomatoes indoors isn't common, but it's not impossible. This allows you to avoid the cold that kills tomato plants outside, protecting them so they can still produce fruit through the winter. Tomatoes can be grown indoors as long as the conditions they like are indoors. This includes light, temperature, humidity and more.
Most tomato varieties grown indoors are hardy varieties. They grow well in containers of predetermined size and shape. Consider patio varieties of tomatoes, which are particularly compact and still prolific fruit producers. Meeting the needs of a vine in an indoor setting can be tricky. The only drawback of firm varieties is that they produce their fruits at the same time, so it is best to stagger their plantings to get a continuous harvest.
The biggest problem with growing tomatoes indoors in winter is sunlight. Tomatoes need sunlight and a warm location to function optimally. In winter, window light is often not enough for a tomato to have at least 6-8 hours of sunlight. That means you need to invest in lighting to successfully grow tomatoes indoors. In southern regions, a bright south-facing window will be enough to keep a tomato plant happy, and regular turning of the pot will help it keep its shape. As you move north, additional lighting becomes necessary. Grow bulbs should remain 1-2 inches above the plant until they flower and set fruit. Then, you can move them up. You don't want indoor plants to become leggy or the stems won't be strong enough to support fruit.
They also need temperatures between 70F - 80F. Make sure they are not placed where there are too many drafts.
3. Growing in a greenhouse
Greenhouses make it easier to grow tomatoes in winter by protecting them from frost. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. They should be shaded from intense sunlight using blinds or shade cloth. Because tomatoes often dry out in these conditions, they have tough skins and the flowers are prone to eventually rotting. Fortunately, one of the advantages of growing in a greenhouse is that you can control the watering. Overwatering during heavy rains can cause many fungal diseases and pests that can attack tomato plants. It avoids that problem entirely.
Tomatoes grown in a greenhouse are often grown hydroponically, carefully fed and watered for best results. Help with pollination by vibrating the plants, using a paint brush to pollinate, or adding bumblebees to the mix to do the work for you. Temperatures in a greenhouse for growing tomatoes should be between 70 and 80F during the day and between 60 and 65F at night. This may require cooling or heating depending on where you live.
They need good air circulation and ventilation. Fans can be used to ensure good air circulation between plants or they can expose tomatoes to many diseases. Keep humidity below 90% to prevent fungal diseases from attacking your crops and make sure they have enough light to produce good fruit.
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