Whether it makes sense to overwinter tomato plants is a matter of controversy. In winter, vegetables lack heat and light. How to successfully get tomatoes through the dark season.
In a nutshell
- Tomato plants need warmth and lots of light
- overwinter in a warm greenhouse or on the southern window sill
- only suitable for small varieties
- Success cannot be guaranteed
Table of contents
- Lack of warmth and light
- Tomatoes overwinter
- tomato varieties
- Location
- Care
- frequently asked Questions
Lack of warmth and light
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) do not like the cold at all. If the temperature falls below +10 degrees Celsius, they stop growing. If it gets even colder, the plants succumb to frostbite or are succumbed to Diseases or. killed by pests. It is therefore not possible in this country to overwinter tomato plants outdoors. This applies to planted specimens as well as to plants that are kept in pots or tubs.
In terms of light, little sunshine and short days make up for it nightshade to do in winter.
Tomatoes overwinter
Although the starting position for overwintering tomato plants is rather bad, more and more hobby gardeners are trying. Whether this is crowned with success depends on various factors.
tomato varieties
Small varieties such as wild, bush or balcony tomatoes are suitable for overwintering. In contrast to stick tomatoes, they need less energy, which is why they are considered more robust. But there is also a guarantee that the hibernation will be successful tomato varieties not.
A notice: Another requirement for overwintering compact growing tomato plants is that they are healthy. suffer from blight or late blight, the tomatoes are so weak that they cannot survive the winter even under ideal conditions.
Location
When choosing the location, the brightness is the top priority. Therefore, a (heated) greenhouse is considered the ideal winter quarters for tomato plants. But there are also location alternatives in the house or in the flat.
Glasshouse
When hibernating from Tomato plants in the greenhouse should pay attention to the following:
- Temperature: 20 to 24 degrees Celsius
- avoid cold drafts
- ensure clean windows
- choose the brightest place with lots of sunlight
- possibly. Use plant lights
Location alternatives in living spaces
In living quarters, the following locations are suitable for overwintering tomato plants:
- Temperature: maximum 15 degrees Celsius
- South facing room
- Place tomato plants on the windowsill
- alternatively: as close as possible to the window
- place under a skylight with plenty of sunlight
A notice: In addition to the window sill, a light-flooded winter garden or a bright stairwell are also suitable as winter quarters for Solanum lycopersicum.
Care
Since tomato plants are very depleted at the end of the season, the winter serves as a rest period. For care this means:
- water more sparingly (do not let dry out completely)
- Reduce fertilizer inputs
- not exhaust
- pinch flowers
- Check plants regularly for diseases and pests
frequently asked Questions
Tomato plants are perennial. Since overwintering is difficult in this country, they are usually kept as an annual.
If there are still unripe tomatoes on the plants in autumn, you can plant them indoors let it ripen. Harvest the fruits with the panicles and remove the leaves. After that, store the tomatoes in a warm and dark place (temperature between 16 and 25 degrees Celsius). To speed up the ripening process, wrap the fruit in parchment paper or place next to apples.
Tomato plants are extremely sensitive to cold. If the temperature drops to 12 degrees Celsius at night, you should bring the plants inside to overwinter or the fruits to ripen.
