Q&A for How to Grow Tomatoes Indoors

No, tomatoes are self-fertile. But you may need to help them by transferring pollen between flowers.

If you're looking for a medium-sized tomato, try determinate dwarf tomato varieties.

Yes, tie them as soon as you can, tying a loop that doesn't slip. Keep the knot loose so it doesn't bind the stem. If you do not tie them or stake them up, they will likely break under their own weight. Indeterminate will continue to grow, so plan on retying them 3-4 times and for them to get very large. Control the size of the plant by trimming where needed. You can control the bushiness by trimming the side shoots and suckers, and control the height by trimming the main stalks. Leave some new growth for continual flowers and tomato production.

Usually, yellow leaves means you aren't watering the plant enough. Or it could be a pest problem or a problem with the soil. However, you don't have to worry if there's only a few yellow leaves.

Cut the leaves off toward the end of growing season so the plant puts energy into fruit ripening.

An oscillating fan that is not constantly blowing air over the plant is best. The denser the foliage gets, the more air circulation is needed. Without any air circulation, you can get mildew and mold which will destroy your leaves.

That's a personal preference. If you decide to, use a sterile blade and cut close to the stalk. Spray with neem oil. Use as directed on bottle 2 times a week for 2 weeks. Keeps mold and fungus, as well as pests, away. Open wounds are prone to infection/infestation.

Even small plant/fruit strains require a lot of light. You'll have to have a south window, and probably need to add artificial light.

As long as the color temperature is 5K or greater (daylight), it's good for growing. Less is fine, but you lose bits of the spectrum that plants enjoy, and your harvest might not be as good.

A loamy soil is best to grow tomatoes because it has a rich nutrient content with sufficient sand, clay, and organic matter. It is also well-drained, thereby reducing the incidence of fungi and other pests and disease.

Red Robin grows well indoors, producing small (1" diameter) but flavorful fruit.

Whether you choose to plant them outdoors or indoors is your choice. You may want to take into consideration the climate outside and whether or not it will be sufficient for your plants. If you decide to plant them indoors, make sure they have a south-facing window for light and enough room to grow.

No, as tomato leaves are poisonous.

This is due to water droplets falling onto the soil and then splashing up and onto the lower leaves. this causes fungi in the soil to reach the lower leaves and kill the plants. To avoid this, you can try removing the lower leaves.

If you have a particularly good plant you can take cuttings and make clones. The same DNA will produce the same plant.

Your plants are not getting enough light. They tend to bolt in there search for more light.

Wrap them in newspaper and put them in a cool (not cold) place. This also works well with green tomatoes for long storage.

If you plant tomatoes, be sure to buy seed tomatoes that are certified as disease-free. If possible, avoid planting tomatoes in the same soil as last year. Be sure to give plants plenty of space.

Farm garden supply, friends, Internet, dry out your own from local bought trusted produce.

Start your seedlings in a Solo cup. The sides are thin and can be cut open to avoid transplant shock. Next go to a 3 gallon pot to get some size on the plant and get a good set of roots. Then a 7-10 gallon pot to grow in. Fiber pots work the best to train the roots. There are websites that sell them cheap by each. Don't buy the name brand, you're paying for the name, not the pot. They are all made of the same thing and can be washed to be used multiple seasons.

Depending on the variety, not all tomatoes will turn fully red. Tomato colors vary widely from green, yellow, orange, red, and even purple.

Depending on the variety of tomato, they may not turn fully red. Those that are supposed to turn fully red can do so either on the vine or off the vine. Harvest the tomato when it's partially red (at least half is preferred) and allow it to rest for a day or two before eating.

Take a close look at fertilizers in soil, either added by you or by sellers if you used store bought soil. High nitrogen grows foliage and keeps the plant in a vegetative state too long. Try increasing phosphorous levels for flowering and potassium levels for fruiting. Lighting also matters for producing more flowers. Try pollinating the flowers manually to make fruits without relying on birds and bees alone.

Either potassium is low in the soil or for some reason roots are not able to absorb potassium well which happens if soil is very alkaline. Could be not pollinating early enough as well.

Strip the lower leaves and bury the stem. It will root. You can even bury it along a trench if it's really long.

When this happens, it usually means that the plant needs more light and is trying to grow higher to find light. An artificial light source may be the answer.