How to Grow Tomatoes At Home

Last week, we dove into growing the sweetest red fruit—strawberries. This week, we’re tackling another popular red fruit (yes, it’s technically a fruit): Tomatoes!

Tomatoes are the perfect crop to grow at home because they have so many uses! You can add them fresh to salads, sandwiches, and pizzas, roast them for a delicious pasta sauce, soup, or curry, or even can or jar them for later use. The best part? Growing tomato plants indoors allows you to enjoy fresh, juicy tomatoes all year long! With the right artificial lighting or a sunny windowsill, you can grow tomatoes indoors, even during winter. While some veggies require insects or wind for pollination, tomatoes are self-pollinating, making them an easy choice for indoor gardening. Let’s dive into the best practices for growing tomatoes from the comfort of your own home.

Where to Grow Tomatoes?

Like strawberries, tomatoes need plenty of bright light to thrive and produce fruit. If possible, find a large south-facing windowsill where your tomato plant can settle. They need at least 5-6 hours of sunlight each day. If you don’t have a suitable window, consider using a grow light to supplement their light needs.

What to Grow Tomatoes In?

Next, you’ll want to choose the right type of tomato plant for your space. Consider how large the plant will get and how much space you have available. Smaller patio tomatoes are ideal for indoor growing, and you can even grow them in a hanging basket. Don’t let their size fool you—under the right conditions, this tiny plant can produce an impressive amount of fruit.

Planting Your Tomato!

When planting your tomato seeds, it’s important to know what variety you’re growing, as this will determine the size and depth of the container you need. Dwarf tomato varieties can thrive in small coco coir pots, but larger varieties might require a pot up to 12 inches deep.

Regardless of the variety, we recommend using a high-quality potting mix. If you’re transplanting a tomato, plant the stem deep into the soil, covering it up to the bottom set of leaves. This will allow the plant to form roots along the stem, creating a stronger base. If your tomato plant needs more support, consider adding a small stake to help stabilize it.

Tomato Care

Caring for your indoor tomatoes is similar to caring for any other houseplant. Fertilize your plant every week or so with fish emulsion or liquid kelp—both are excellent for indoor tomatoes. Water your tomatoes regularly and check the soil often to see if they need more (or less) water. You can check by lightly pressing your finger into the soil—if it’s dry up to your top knuckle, it’s time to water. You should see ripe tomatoes in 2-3 months. Harvest them when they are deep red but still firm. To aid pollination, gently shake the flowering stems daily or set up a gentle fan to mimic the wind.

Curious about what you can cook with your fresh tomatoes? Check out our recipes for tomato soup, tomato salsa, and tomato pie.