Yes, growing tomatoes indoors is possible.
Here’s how to get a delicious harvest of your own.
Bypass lackluster grocery store tomatoes this winter.
Credit:YinYang / Getty Images
Instead, grow your own indoor crop of salad-size tomatoes.
A combination of art and science, cultivating a crop of indoor tomatoes is a labor of love.
YinYang / Getty Images
1.
Even the sunlight streaming in a south-facing window falls short of what a tomato plant needs to thrive.
Be sure tokeep the lights within 6 inchesof the top of the plants.
Intensity of light coming from the light source decreases rapidly the further a light is away from the plant.
Seedlings and young tomato plants require about 18 to 22 hours of supplemental light per day when growing indoors.
Choose Small, Compact Varieties
The best tomatoes to grow indoors are varieties labeled patio or bush.
Specially selected to be small, compact plants, these types thrive inthe confines of a container.
“Kitchen Minis” are petite, tabletop size plants available at home centers and some grocery stores.
These small plants are sold with fruit on them.
Simply place them in a bright, sunny window and watch the fruit ripen over a few weeks.
Provide Heat at Seed Starting
Speed up germination of an indoor tomato crop by providing heat underseed starting trays.
A few degrees of heat will kickstart germination within just a couple of days.
The faster seeds germinate, the sooner youll be harvesting fruit.
The container should be at least 14 inches wide.
The best containers for tomato plants are at least 20 inches deep.
The larger the container, the more the roots can expand.
Also double-check the container has drainage holes in the bottom.
Find a Consistently Warm Spot
Tomatoes grow well indoors when temperatures are 70 to 80F.
Cold drafts from an open door or window will shock heat-loving tomato plants.
Find a growing location that is shielded from cold drafts.
Be mindful of blasts ofhot air from furnace ventsas well.
Tomatoes grow well in 70 to 80F temperatures.
Keep Plants Moist but Not Wet
Tomatoes growing indoorsrequire more regular wateringthan plants growing in the garden.
Check water needs daily by touching the soil.
If the soil is moist, dont water and check again the next day.
If the soil is dry, water the plant until water runs out the drainage holes.
Use a pot saucer or large tray to catch excess water.
Dump the saucer or tray within 30 minutes of watering to ensure the soil doesnt become waterlogged.
Fertilize Regularly
Tomatoes growing indoors fruit best withregular fertilization.
Or fertilize with a water-soluble fertilizer solution for edible plants weekly.
Help with Pollination
Indoor plants need your help to ensure pollination occurs.
Tomatoes are self-pollinating, which means they dont need pollen from a different plant to set fruit.
When plants begin to bloom, gently shake them daily, mimicking how wind moves plants growing outdoors.
The gentle shaking will promote pollination and fruit set.
Anoscillating fancan produce similar results.
Turn Plants as Needed
Promote strong, upright stems and branching by turning plants frequently.
When not turned, plants will bend toward the light.
Stake Your Tomatoes
Indoor tomato plants often have weaker stems than their outdoor counterparts.
Use strips of cloth to gently tie the stem to the stake.
Add more ties as the plant grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
No.
Tomato plants are self-pollinating, so multiple plants are not needed for reproduction.
However, coffee grounds won’t hurt the plants if they are composted properly.
Contrary to popular belief, baking soda is not going to sweeten the tomatoes.
It has no effect on the flavor.
