Like an idiot I planted a determinate tomato plant in a bag in August thinking it would be warm here until December (zone 8, Alabama) and now I have grow lights on it and am hand-pollinating. What are my chances?
Like an idiot I planted a determinate tomato plant in a bag in August thinking it would be warm here until December (zone 8, Alabama) and now I have grow lights on it and am hand-pollinating. What are my chances?
I’ve never tried doing this, but I’m loving your commitment to the tomato cause. Honestly, I think most of us feel some sadness at the end of the season, so I admire your efforts. I hope you’ll keep us updated…
CReisch21
I have everything except for time to start indoor tomatoes. I am very jealous! Use a Sonicare toothbrush to pollinate.
LJinBrooklyn
I grew a tomato plant upstate NY in my living room window during the winter time.
I hand pollinated the plant and got some tomatoes, but they ended up being real mealy and not tasty.
Was fun to grow though in the winter time in the Northeast.
palpatineforever
the biggest mistake people make is the amount of light, they need lots of it for many more hours than people expect. a good 14 hours would be great. most plants know when to fruit etc based on the hours of daylight.
The other option you have is to not worry about the fruit. Over winter the plant without fruit and then in feb take nice large cuttings from the plant get them rooted, then harden off and plant out, you will get a really good headstart for next year.
PepperDude42
Beautiful! Best of luck!!
Kingdom-of-books
No need to hand polinate. If you wish, you can shake the branches once in a while as you walk by, but totally not necessary. You can also put a fan pointing at it for air circulation if its indoors. Your chances are great, people grow indoors all the time. Main thing is air circulation, and good grow lights. Edit to add: make sure to fertilize!
6 Comments
I’ve never tried doing this, but I’m loving your commitment to the tomato cause. Honestly, I think most of us feel some sadness at the end of the season, so I admire your efforts. I hope you’ll keep us updated…
I have everything except for time to start indoor tomatoes. I am very jealous! Use a Sonicare toothbrush to pollinate.
I grew a tomato plant upstate NY in my living room window during the winter time.
I hand pollinated the plant and got some tomatoes, but they ended up being real mealy and not tasty.
Was fun to grow though in the winter time in the Northeast.
the biggest mistake people make is the amount of light, they need lots of it for many more hours than people expect. a good 14 hours would be great. most plants know when to fruit etc based on the hours of daylight.
The other option you have is to not worry about the fruit. Over winter the plant without fruit and then in feb take nice large cuttings from the plant get them rooted, then harden off and plant out, you will get a really good headstart for next year.
Beautiful! Best of luck!!
No need to hand polinate. If you wish, you can shake the branches once in a while as you walk by, but totally not necessary. You can also put a fan pointing at it for air circulation if its indoors. Your chances are great, people grow indoors all the time. Main thing is air circulation, and good grow lights. Edit to add: make sure to fertilize!