Omar Khalid
Tomatoes are one of the most popular crops to grow and can be cultivated indoors, in a greenhouse, or outdoors in a sunny, sheltered spot. Greenhouses are a great way to extend the growing season, increase yield, and have access to fresh tomatoes all year round. They are particularly useful for protecting tomatoes from frost, which they are susceptible to, and for providing shelter from the elements. Tomatoes can be grown from seeds or bought as young plants, and there are several varieties to choose from, including cordon (pole/indeterminate) and bush (determinate) types. When growing tomatoes in a plastic greenhouse, it is important to consider factors such as temperature, ventilation, spacing, soil conditions, and watering.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 70-80°F during the day, 60-65°F at night |
| Ventilation | Adequate ventilation to prevent disease and excessive heat |
| Watering | Equipped with a water system, soil is consistently moist |
| Sunlight | At least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day, supplemented with grow lights |
| Soil | Sandy loam soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8, with organic matter like compost or aged manure |
| Planting | Space plants 3.5-5 square feet apart, with 16 inches of in-row spacing and 5 feet between rows |
| Type | Cordon (pole/ indeterminate) or bush (determinate) |
| Support | Tall supports for cordon varieties, trailing types can be grown in hanging baskets |
| Season | Start seeds indoors from late February to mid-March, or outdoors from late March to early April |
| Greenhouse type | Mini-greenhouses are cheaper but don't last as long, larger greenhouses are more profitable |
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What You'll Learn
Choose the right variety of tomato
Choosing the right variety of tomato is essential for successful greenhouse cultivation. Tomatoes are closely related to potatoes and are susceptible to blight disease when grown outdoors, but this is rarely an issue in a greenhouse. Tomatoes generally grow well in greenhouses, producing an earlier and larger crop.
When selecting a tomato variety, consider the following factors:
- Disease resistance: Choose varieties that are disease-resistant to prevent issues and ensure healthy plants.
- Maintenance requirements: Some tomato varieties require more maintenance than others. For example, indeterminate or cordon tomatoes grow vigorously and vertically, requiring regular maintenance, including watering, feeding, tying to supports, and removing side-shoots. In contrast, determinate or bush tomatoes are more compact and require less maintenance, making them ideal for smaller spaces.
- Growth characteristics: Opt for varieties with growth characteristics suited to your greenhouse conditions. For example, choose determinate tomatoes if you want them to grow to a certain height and set fruit within a specific period, making them easier to manage and harvest.
- Climate considerations: The ease of growing tomatoes in a greenhouse can vary depending on the climate. Choose varieties well-suited to your specific climate conditions.
- Space availability: Consider the amount of space you have in your greenhouse. Cordon tomatoes require tall supports, while bush tomatoes are better suited for smaller spaces.
- Fruit characteristics: Tomatoes come in various sizes, shapes, flavours, and levels of sweetness. Select varieties that align with your preferences and intended use. For example, cherry tomatoes are popular for their sweet and tangy flavour, while beefsteak tomatoes are known for their large size and meaty texture.
- Breeding: Choose tomato varieties specifically bred for greenhouse use to ensure they thrive in the controlled environment.
Some recommended tomato varieties for greenhouse cultivation include:
- Cherry tomatoes: These tomatoes are known for their vigorous growth, abundant fruit production, and compact size. They are well-suited for greenhouse containers or hanging baskets and are generally more disease-resistant.
- Roma tomatoes: Roma tomatoes, also known as plum tomatoes, are determinate tomatoes that grow to a certain height and set fruit within a specific period. This makes them easier to manage and harvest. They are valued for their firm flesh, low seed count, and exceptional flavour.
- Indeterminate heirloom tomatoes: While requiring more attention and support due to their vining growth habit, indeterminate heirloom tomatoes like Brandywine or Cherokee Purple can thrive in a greenhouse with proper trellising and pruning. They offer exceptional flavour and unique characteristics.
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Prepare the soil
Preparing the soil is a crucial step in growing tomatoes in a plastic greenhouse. Here is a detailed guide to help you through the process:
Choose the Right Soil Type
Select a sandy loam soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8, which is ideal for tomato cultivation. This type of soil provides the perfect balance of drainage and nutrient retention for healthy tomato plants.
Enrich the Soil
Enrich the soil by adding organic matter such as compost or aged manure. This step is essential for promoting healthy root growth and providing your tomato plants with the nutrients they need to thrive. Mix the organic matter thoroughly into the soil to ensure even distribution.
Ensure Proper Drainage
Make sure your plastic greenhouse has a system to manage excess water. This can include drainage holes or a raised bed design. Good drainage is crucial to prevent waterlogging, which can cause root rot and other issues.
Test the Soil pH
Use a soil testing kit to check the pH level of your soil. The ideal pH for growing tomatoes is between 6.0 and 6.8. If the pH level is too low (acidic), you can add agricultural lime to raise it. If it's too high (alkaline), you can lower it by incorporating sulphur or elemental phosphorus into the soil.
Mix in Fertilizer
Add a balanced fertilizer to the soil before planting your tomato seeds or seedlings. Look for fertilizers specifically designed for tomatoes, as they provide the right ratio of nutrients to support fruit development.
Space the Plants Appropriately
When planting your tomatoes, ensure they have enough space to grow. As a general rule of thumb, each tomato plant should have 3.5 to 5 square feet of growing area. Proper spacing helps prevent overcrowding and ensures that each plant receives adequate sunlight and ventilation.
By following these soil preparation steps, you'll be well on your way to successfully growing delicious and healthy tomatoes in your plastic greenhouse.
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Position the greenhouse
Tomatoes are one of the most popular crops to grow in a greenhouse, as they can produce an earlier and larger crop. They are susceptible to blight disease when grown outdoors, but this is rarely an issue when grown in a greenhouse.
When positioning a plastic greenhouse, it is important to consider the following factors:
Sunlight
Tomatoes need plenty of sunlight to thrive. Aim for a spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. If possible, supplement the sunlight with grow lights to ensure optimal light exposure for your tomatoes.
Temperature
Tomatoes prefer temperatures of around 70-80°F (21-27°C) during the day and 60-65°F (15-18°C) at night. Ensure the greenhouse is adequately ventilated to maintain these temperatures and prevent excessive heat and disease.
Water System
The greenhouse should be equipped with a water system to facilitate easy and consistent watering. Tomatoes require regular watering, and the soil should be consistently moist but not overly saturated.
Shelter
Choose a sheltered spot for your plastic greenhouse to protect your tomatoes from extreme weather conditions, such as strong winds or heavy rain. This will help create a more stable and favourable environment for their growth.
Space
Consider the amount of space available inside the greenhouse for your tomatoes to grow. Tomatoes typically require 3.5 to 5 square feet of growing area, with proper spacing between plants and rows. Ensure your greenhouse has sufficient space to accommodate the number of tomato plants you plan to grow.
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Watering and feeding
When growing tomatoes in a plastic greenhouse, it's important to water them deeply and consistently to keep the soil evenly moist. This is especially important once the fruits start to form, as irregular watering can cause the tomatoes to split. Watering the plants from below can help prevent damping-off disease, a fungal infection that can affect seedlings in soggy conditions. To do this, stand the pot in a dish or sink of shallow water for up to an hour.
Tomato plants in containers dry out quickly, so they may need daily watering in hot weather. To ensure water reaches the roots, try sinking a 15cm pot into the ground next to the plant and watering it. This prevents water from sitting around the plant's neck, reducing the risk of rot.
In addition to watering, feeding your tomato plants is essential. When flowers appear, start feeding your plants weekly with a commercial feed or a homemade feed such as comfrey liquid. You can also use a nitrogen-rich liquid fertiliser every one to two weeks while the plants are first growing. Once the first tomatoes have started to form, switch to a high-potash, high-potassium "tomato plant" fertiliser. To boost fruiting, especially in container plants, feed every 10–14 days with a high-potassium liquid fertiliser once the first fruits start to swell.
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Support structures
The type of support structure you will need depends on the variety of tomatoes you are growing. Cordon (or indeterminate) tomatoes are vigorous, fast-growing plants that get very tall and need suitably tall supports, both in a greenhouse and outdoors. Bush (or determinate) tomatoes are naturally more compact plants, great for smaller spaces. Trailing types can also be grown in window boxes and hanging baskets, and while they are the easiest type to grow, the stems may need support when heavily laden with fruit.
If you are growing cordon tomatoes, you will need to support them on strings or canes. You can also tie them to the crossbars of the greenhouse structure. Cordon tomatoes also require regular maintenance, including tying them to supports and removing side-shoots.
For cordon tomatoes, you can use a trellis system to train the plants. Suspend strings from the cables and wrap the string around the growing point as the plant grows, or use plastic tomato clips every 10 inches along the plant’s main stem.
Rockwool is another option for supporting tomatoes in a greenhouse. It is commonly used in highwire tomato-growing systems, typically in advanced greenhouses in cooler regions. Rockwool slabs are used to anchor roots and provide adequate moisture as plants can reach much larger sizes with the added vertical growing space.
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Frequently asked questions
Start growing tomatoes in a plastic greenhouse by early February. If you're growing tomatoes outdoors, sow the seed in March to early April.
Ensure your plastic greenhouse is adequately ventilated to prevent disease and excessive heat. It should also be equipped with a water system for easy watering. Make sure your greenhouse is positioned in a spot that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight each day.
Cordon (pole) varieties are suitable for growing in a plastic greenhouse. They are vigorous, fast-growing plants that get very tall and need suitably tall supports. Bush tomatoes are not ideal for greenhouses as they require more space.
