Are Tomatoes Vegetable or a Fruit?

We eat the fruit of the tomato plant. But tomato is used typically as a vegetable in cooking and eating.
Therefore it is commonly treated as a vegetable.

1) When to Plant Tomatoes

If you want to grow tomatoes from seed (versus transplants), you have to start with tomato seeds
indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the average last spring frost date.Transplant the tomato seedlings only after
the last spring frost. By this time the soil becomes warm.

2) Selecting and Preparing a Planting Site.

Select a site that receives proper sunlight. Also, the soil should be well-drained. It is very important that
the site where you will plant tomatoes receives at least 6 hours of daily sunlight.

Dig the soil 1 foot deep two weeks before transplanting the tomato plants. Mix aged manure
orcompost with the soil. This will improve the fertility of the soil. Thus improving the overall growth of
the plants.Some type of support system is generally recommended. But sprawling plants can also
produce good quality of crops if you have enough space. Also,fine weather is helpful for better
growth. However, the plants will be more prone to soil-borne diseases. They may even rot if not kept off
the ground.

3) How To Plant Tomatoes

Before planting in the garden, it is necessary to harden off the transplants or seedlings for a week before
planting in the garden. Keep the young plants outdoors in the shade for 2-3 hours the first day.
Gradually Increase their outdoor time. This will help them to get the necessary direct sunlight required
for hardening.
Maintain a gap of 2 feet between the transplants.

Place tomato cages or stake in the soil at the time of planting tomatoes. This is necessary toavoid
damage the roots face later on. Caging helps the plant hold itself upright. Staking assists in fruit
development above the ground.

Pinch off a few of the lower branches present on transplants. Now, plant the root ball deep enough so
that only the leaves on the lowest portion are just above the surface of the soil.

If your transplants are thin or leggy, you can correct this by burying up to ⅔ of the plant. This will include
the lower sets of leaves. Tomato stems have the natural ability to grow roots from the stems buried in
the soil.

In order to reduce shock to the roots, water well.

Growing Tomatoes in Containers

Use a large container or pot. Make sure that it has drainage holes in the bottom.