In this comprehensive guide, you will find everything you need to know about vine tomatoes. Planting instructions, as well as tips for propagation and overwintering.
Growing vegetables in a small space is successful with tomatoes on the vine. The compact plants can also be cultivated on the balcony or even grow on the windowsill. Tomatoes on the vine have a strong aroma and do not require any complex care measures. In order for the vegetable cultivation to be really successful, however, there are a few things to consider.
Growing and planting tomatoes on the vine
The cultivation of vine tomatoes can be done outdoors, on the balcony and the terrace. Due to its compact growth, keeping it in a bucket has become the most popular form of cultivation. Vine tomatoes grow more in width than in height and need a corresponding planting distance of at least 80 centimeters.
➔ Location Conditions
A bright and sunny location is ideal. The tomato plants should be exposed to the sun for at least eight hours a day. Choose a location that is protected from rain and wind. Vine tomatoes also need an airy position. Otherwise there is a risk of moisture accumulating and fungal diseases occurring.
Potted plants do best on a south-facing balcony. Outdoor areas facing west or east are also suitable for cultivating the bush tomato.
➔ Select substrate
Vegete tomatoes are heavy feeders. As a result, the plants need a nutrient-rich substrate. The soil must be well drained so that moisture can drain off well and no waterlogging occurs. In addition, the soil should contain lime and, if possible, be slightly acidic. It makes sense to determine the pH of the substrate. This is between 6.5 and 7 in the ideal range.
Do the substrate test!
You can easily check for yourself whether the soil in the vegetable bed is suitable for growing vine tomatoes. Pick up the soil with your hands and try to form a ball out of it. If this doesn't work and the soil falls apart, the substrate for vine tomatoes is just right.
For theIt is advisable to use commercially available tomato soil in buckets. This is particularly rich in nutrients and tailored to the special needs of the plants.
The ideal substrate in keywords:
- loose
- permeable
- calcareous
- nutrient rich
- slightly sour
➔ When to plant vine tomatoes?
When vine tomatoes are planted depends on the chosen form of cultivation. Cultivation in the bucket begins when the danger of night frost has passed. From mid-May, the planters can be placed outdoors. If you have a frost-free greenhouse, you can plant your vine tomatoes as early as mid-April.
➔ Planting vine tomatoes - step by step
- Select Location
- Prepare the ground
- Note planting distance (at least 80cm)
- Dig planting hole
- Place Plants
- Close planting hole
- Press the bottom well
- Attach trellis
- Water the plant
➔ Plant tomatoes on the vine in tubs
Planters made of wood, clay or plastic are suitable for growing in pots. The plant pots should be of sufficient size. Depending on the variety, a volume of four to ten liters is optimal.
Note: The roots of the plants need enough space. Therefore, when in doubt, it is better to choose a planter that is too big than too small.
It is also important to ensure that there are sufficient drainage holes in the bottom of the container. The liquid must be able to drain away unhindered, because tomatoes do not tolerate waterlogging. Drainage from potsherds in the bottom of the pot can improve the permeability of the substrate.
Planters with a water reservoir supply the tomatoes on the vine with constant water for days. Planters with a water level indicator are therefore ideal for monitoring watering.
➔ The most important planting tips at a glance
| Activity | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Select Location | • bright • sunny • sheltered |
| Prepare the ground | •permeable • loose • nutrient-rich |
| planting | • Outdoors from mid-May • Greenhouse from mid-April • Observe planting distance • Attach climbing aid |
vine tomatoes - 3 popular varieties
| Type | Growth | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
| Losetto | up to 30 cm | • intensive taste • ideal traffic light plant |
| Maglia Rosa | up to 100 cm | • sweet and sour taste • harvest early for better aroma |
| Extreme Bush | up to 100 cm | • sweet and juicy • large fruits |
Care for vine tomatoes
➔ Water the vine tomatoes
The moisture requirement of vine tomatoes is high. At the same time, however, care must be taken to avoid oversupply so that waterlogging does not occur. On hot and dry days, tomato plants should be watered twice a day. It is best to water in the morning and evening. Then the soil can absorb the moisture best.
When watering, it is important to always water from below. The leaves of the vine tomatoes must not come into contact with the irrigation water. Rainwater is best tolerated by tomato plants. Alternatively, lukewarm tap water can be used.
» Tip: Tap water should only be used when it is stale so that the limescale can settle.
Watering vine tomatoes in keywords
- keep evenly moist
- Avoid waterlogging
- Water several times a day in summer
- Water storage in planters is an advantage
- preferably water with rainwater
➔ Fertilize vine tomatoes
Being heavy consumers, vine tomatoes have a high nutrient requirement. The fertilizers used depend on the form of cultivation. In the field, the substrate can be mixed with compost. If available, stable manure is also suitable as a fertilizer for outdoor plants.
Breed tomatoes cultivated in tubs receive liquid fertilizer every two to three weeks. Alternatively, fertilizer sticks or drops with a long-term effect are commercially available.
In addition to conventional fertilizers, home remedies such as coffee grounds or nettle manure can be used to strengthen the plants.
➔ Tomatoes on the vine - cut or cut?
The characteristic growth of the vine tomatoes is formed by several shoots. After the formation of leaves and flowers, it willGrowth of shoots stopped. However, new shoots with more flowers and fruit clusters are constantly emerging.
There are no typical stingy shoots, which limits the care work. Vine tomatoes do not need to be cut or pinched.
Propagating vine tomatoes
Veil tomatoes can be propagated by cuttings or by seed.
➔ Propagating vine tomatoes by cuttings
As there are no suitable shoots due to pinching, the cuttings must be cut from the side shoots. A cutting is about 15 centimeters long and is cut above the first branch.
Then proceed as follows:
- Provide planter
- Remove leaves from the lower third of the cutting
- Put the cuttings in the ground immediately
- Growing in vegetable soil is optimal
- use a small wooden stick as a climbing aid
- place in half shade
- water generously from below
If the roots in the planter have spread and there is hardly any potting soil visible, it is high time to move to a larger planter or outdoors.
➔ Propagating vine tomatoes by sowing
The cultivation of vine tomatoes can begin as early as the beginning of March. Seedling pots made of peat or cellulose, as well as seed trays, are suitable for sowing on the windowsill.
Seed tomatoes on the vine - step by step
- Select planter
- Fill the planter with growing soil
- Spread seeds over surface
- Keep planting distance of about three centimeters
- Cover seeds with substrate
- Water seeds carefully
- Cover Planter
- Keep substrate evenly moist
- Place the planter brightly
- Grow seeds at room temperature
» Tip: The cover of the planter should be aired regularly to prevent mold from forming.
Germination starts after almost two weeks. Another two weeks later, the young plants have developed the first leaves and can now be pricked out. If some liquid fertilizer is given a few days before pricking out, this will strengthen the young plants and they will cope better with the intervention.
Pricking out tomatoes on the vine - step by step
- Carefully loosen the soil around the plant
- Remove seedling from the ground
- Seedling from theLiberate Earth
- Control Roots
- Shorten the roots to about two centimeters
- Place the seedling in your own planter
- Fill the planter with soil
- Press substrate lightly
- Water young plant
» Tip: If the seedling's roots are white and strong, everything is fine. Seedlings with very thin or brownish roots should be discarded. Hardly any significant yield would be expected.
Proper care for young plants
The seedlings spend the first few days after transplanting in the sheltered interior. On the windowsill, the young plants can slowly get used to the sun's rays. From the end of April, the young tomatoes on the vine are allowed outside by the hour.
The outside temperature should be at least eight degrees. The planters are placed in a partially shaded location. The direct midday sun should be avoided. The young plants should be protected from rain and wind. In order to cultivate the young plants outdoors permanently, the night temperatures should not fall below ten degrees.
Veil tomatoes - detecting and controlling diseases and pests
The most common causes of disease or pest infestation on tomatoes are unfavorable weather conditions and poor care by the hobby gardener.
The following diseases can occur:
- Blight and late blight
- Powdery mildew
- gray horse
➔ Late blight on vine tomatoes
This common tomato disease mainly occurs in wet and relatively cool summers. The first signs of the disease are brown spots on the leaves. As the foliage progresses, it develops a white patina. The leaves turn black and wither. The fruit spoils in a short time.
What to do?
All affected parts of the plant must be removed immediately. Extracts from onion skins, garlic broth or horsetail broth have proven to be biological weapons.
Public blight can be prevented by providing tomato plants with rain protection and cultivating them in a sunny and airy spot.
➔ Powdery mildew on vine tomatoes
Powdery mildew is promoted by warm, humid climates. Initially, inconspicuous white spots appear on the leaves. These develop into a dense mushroom lawn. The fruits themselves are not affected, but due to the lack of nutrients they can spread through theLeaves develop less well.
What needs to be done?
Remove and dispose of the affected parts of the plant. Liverwort extract can be administered as a tonic. When fertilizing, make sure that the preparations do not contain any nitrogen. The affected plants are treated with a solution of milk and water every three days.
A mixed culture with chives, garlic or marigolds can counteract the infestation.
➔ Gray mold on vine tomatoes
If the infestation with gray mold has been noticed, all affected parts of the plant must be removed. Since the fungus can survive on the compost, disposal with household waste or direct incineration is advisable.
Choosing a bright location and watering from below without allowing moisture to come into contact with the leaves of the vine tomato can have a preventive effect.
➔ Whitefly on vine tomatoes
The whitefly is one of the most common animal pests that attack vine tomatoes. These are mini aphids that suck the sap from the leaves of the plants. This cuts off the food supply. The plant begins to wither and may die completely.
Whiteflies are resistant to pesticides. Predators such as assassin bugs or parasitic wasps have proven effective in combating them.
Harvest and store tomatoes on the vine
Harvest time for the vine tomatoes begins when they no longer appear hard and green, but have assumed their typical colour. The tomatoes have become softer and can be easily removed from the plant.
The fruits can be eaten immediately after harvest. But they can also be stored. This should be done separately from other fruits and vegetables. Vine tomatoes have a high ethylene content. The ripening gas would accelerate the ripening process of the surrounding fruits and vegetables.
Vegete tomatoes don't belong in the fridge. The optimal storage temperature is 15 to 18 degrees. If the temperatures drop, this favors the putrefaction process.
» Attention: Only the fruits of the tomato plant may be eaten. The leaves and stems of the nightshade family are poisonous.
The flowers are also not suitable for consumption. Fruits infested with pests should also not be eaten. The plants produce more toxins to ward off the pests.
Overwinter tomatoes on the vine
Actually, tomatoes are not assumed to be winter hardy and mostHobby gardeners dispose of their vine tomatoes after the harvest. However, it is not impossible - the compact vine tomatoes in particular can certainly be overwintered. If you want to face the challenge, proceed as follows:
- Bring plants indoors in autumn
- choose bright location
- Temperatures between ten and 15 degrees
- Set fertilization
- Keep substrate evenly moist
In an unheated conservatory, tomatoes on the vine are best overwintered. If a location with less brightness is found, the use of plant lamps is advisable.