Growing plumpy and delicious tomatoes is easy as long as you know the right medium. Here’s the Best Soil for Growing Tomatoes Indoors!
Tomatoes are the staple of every Indian household; they pair well with almost every vegetable, complement soups, and salads. What’s more! They can also be made into a delicious chutney. So, growing them at home has a bonus of having their fresh supply year-round, and here is the best soil type for tomatoes indoors successfully.
Check out our article on the best season to grow tomatoes in India here
Soil Features for Growing Tomatoes in Containers
Texture
The soil should be well-draining, aerated, and loose for potted tomato plants. Tomatoes can also grow in various soil types, including loamy and sandy. Garden soil should not be directly used for the container plants, as it is heavy and compact; but can be used after amending with sand, sawdust, and peat moss.
Fertility
While growing tomatoes indoors, the plant will be prolific only if the soil is fertile and rich in phosphorus and potassium, so it must be enriched using well-rotted manure or compost.
pH Level
The pH of the soil should be neutral or around neutral; it must not be too acidic nor too alkaline. The ideal pH level is 6-6.8 for indoor tomato containers. To reduce the pH level, you can use a fertilizer that contains ammonium sulfate. On the other hand, prefer using lime to enhance the pH value of the soil.
Best Soil for Tomatoes Growing Indoors
Always opt for the ideal potting mix instead of using direct garden soil. The potting mix is well-draining, airy, loose, and fertile, providing the best environment for the tomato plant’s overall growth.
Potting Mix Recipe
You can either purchase the potting mix or prepare it at your home. Take equal parts of garden soil, peat moss, compost, and perlite/vermiculite and mix them well. Alternatively, you can also make this by mixing garden soil, crushed eggshells, bone meal, and compost in equal portions.
Potting Mix or Potting Soil
Many times, the confusion arises among newbie gardeners between potting mix and potting soil. The potting soil is just a normal soil, enriched with minerals and organic matter that are good for the plant’s growth.
Whereas, the potting mix is the amalgam of various crucial materials like organic matter, peat moss, compost, vermiculture, perlite, which are best for the prolific growth of indoor container plants. Also, the potting mix is more expensive than the regular potting soil.
While growing tomatoes in the pot, always go for the potting mix, not the potting soil.
Tips for Growing Tomatoes Indoors
- Use at least 12-18 inches deep container with ample drainage holes.
- Place the pot at any sunny windowsill, where it can avail 6-8 hours of full sunlight. Prefer south or west-facing window for indoors.
- The soil in the container dries out quicker than the garden soil, so water it regularly and deeply. Keep the soil consistently slightly moist, but let the top 1-inch soil dry before watering again.
- Feed the tomato plant with organic or slow-release fertilizer during its growing period. Make sure not to use fertilizer high in nitrogen, stimulating less fruiting and more foliage.
- Rotate the indoor plant periodically, so it gets even sunlight nurturing.
- Provide support of trellis and cage once it matures.