Katharina Buczek
In terms of temp, aim for a room temperature of 65°F to 85°F with moderate humidity. If your home sometimes feels like a desert, a small humidifier can help in this department.
As for soil and compost, you can use a high-quality potting mix designed for vegetables. It’ll have the right structure and nutrients your tomato plants crave. Then, mixing in some compost can give your tomatoes an extra boost by improving soil fertility and structure.
You don’t want to forget to feed your tomatoes, either. So, you can use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks. And once flowers appear, switch to a tomato-specific fertilizer to encourage fruit production.
Last but certainly not least, keep in mind that indoor tomatoes might need a helping hand with pollination since there are no bees or wind to do the job! Gently shaking the lowering stems or using a small brush to transfer pollen can mimic these natural processes.
The Pruning Process
Pruning will be your best friend for indoor tomato gardening, especially for indeterminate varieties that grow like they’re in a race to the ceiling.
So, removing suckers – or the shoots that appear in the space between the stem and a branch – can help focus the plant’s energy on producing fruit rather than becoming a leafy monster.
Dealing With Common Problems
Blossom end rot is one of the most dreaded common issues when it comes to indoor tomato gardening. This condition, marked by a brown, sunken spot on the bottom of the fruit, is caused by calcium deficiency – often due to erratic watering.
So, be sure to keep the soil evenly moist. You can also consider adding calcium to the soil to prevent this problem.
