Hallo, everyone. January is a cold season in Germany, there’s not much to do outside, which limits us from most of fun activities. But it’s okay, even inside the house you can start new hobbies.

 Last year I tried to plant some seed of random vegetables, didn’t had much success on it, buts it’s okay, a first try out is important to learn how to make it right on the second time. With this, here are some informations I have collected during my journey in create an small indoor garden

Step 1: How to plant tomatoes

1. Gather Supplies: – Tomato seeds – Seed starting mix – Seed trays or small pots – Plastic wrap or a humidity dome – Grow lights or a sunny windowsill – Watering can or spray bottle. – TIP: growing light are a must have for some, but for others like me, you can just place your baby plant next to a window and is just fine.
2. Fill Trays or Pots: – Fill seed trays or small pots with a high-quality seed starting mix. Ensure it’s well-draining.
3. Plant Seeds: – Plant 2-3 seeds per cell or pot, burying them about 0,5cm deep.
4. Watering: – Water the soil evenly, ensuring it’s moist but not waterlogged. TIP: Here comes the spray bottle, is really inexpensive, you can get for €1,00 in some stores and is great to control how much water you are distributing to the seed.
5. Cover and Label: – Cover the trays or pots with plastic wrap or a humidity dome to create a greenhouse effect. Label each tray with the tomato variety and planting date. TIP: it doesn’t seem much important this step, but believe me, it is, you don’t want to spend time trying to figure out what seed you plantes because you forgot to label (yeah, I did that), plus, the seed NEEDS high humidity environment, the plastic cover is a MUST HAVE. This video may help you: How To Make a Mini Greenhouse
6. Provide Warmth: – Place the trays in a warm location. Tomatoes prefer temperatures between 21-27°C. HINT: Lucky most of Germans houses have heater under the window, this is the best spot you can get. (Nice house deco)
7. Lighting: – Once the seeds sprout, remove the plastic cover and place the trays under grow lights or on a sunny windowsill. Aim for 14-16 hours of light daily.
8. Thinning: – If multiple seedlings sprout in one cell or pot, thin them to leave the strongest one. TIP: This helps so much the plant to get proper growth.
9. Transplanting: – When the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, transplant them into larger pots. Handle them carefully to avoid damaging the roots. 
10. Harden Off: – About 7-10 days before transplanting outdoors, start hardening off the plants by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. TIP: Bit don’t forget it under the snow! Is just to get some cold rain or wind. Than bring it back inside the house.

 Tomatoes can still produce blooms and fruits inside the house, around end of April you can put outside for more sunlight and warmth, but if you want a tomato plant as a house plant, is okay too.

Step 2: Trimming your tomato plant

Pruning or trimming tomato plants can help improve air circulation, encourage better fruit development, and prevent diseases.

• 1 – Remove Suckers: – Pinch off the “suckers,” which are small shoots that develop in the crotch between the main stem and branches. These can divert energy from fruit production
• 2 – Focus on Main Stem: – Encourage a single, strong main stem. Remove any side shoots that develop below the first flower cluster.
• 3 – Pinch Out Excess Growth: – Pinch or trim excessive vegetative growth to maintain a balance between foliage and fruit production. Focus on removing leaves and stems that block sunlight from reaching developing fruit clusters.
• 4 – Remove Yellow or Diseased Leaves: – Regularly inspect the plant for yellow or diseased leaves and remove them promptly. This helps prevent the spread of diseases and ensures the plant directs energy to healthy parts.
• 5 – Limit Overall Height: – Depending on the tomato variety, consider limiting the overall height by pruning the top of the plant once it reaches a desired size. This can redirect energy to lower fruit clusters. TIP: you can use Google to find what’s the best for your tomato variety.
• 6 – Provide Support: – Use stakes, cages, or other supports to keep the plants upright and reduce the risk of branches breaking under the weight of fruit.
• 7 – Prune for Air Circulation: – Trim branches and leaves that are densely packed to improve air circulation. Good air flow reduces the risk of fungal diseases and promotes a healthier plant.
• 8 – Encourage Lower Branches: – Allow some lower branches to remain, as they can contribute to fruit production and provide shade to lower parts of the plant.
• 9 – Timing is you Golden Key: – Avoid heavy pruning during hot weather to prevent sunburn on exposed fruit. Consider doing most pruning in the early stages of plant growth. Remember that not all tomato varieties require the same level of pruning. Some determinate varieties may need less pruning than indeterminate ones. Adjust your pruning strategy based on the specific characteristics of the tomato variety you are growing.

  Step 3: Harvesting your tomatoes

 Now that you plant went from seed to a big leafy house plant with a bunch of fruits you may think it’s just pick them and eat or make a salad, but there’s also a proper way to do it, the right time and other tips I have collected, this can ensures optimal flavor and texture. Here’s how to harvest tomatoes:

1. **Look for Color:** – Tomatoes should be fully colored when harvested. The exact color depends on the variety, but most tomatoes should have a rich, vibrant color with no green areas.

2. **Check Firmness:** – Gently squeeze the tomato. It should yield slightly to pressure but still be firm. Overly soft tomatoes may be overripe.

3. **Inspect the Stem:** – Examine the stem where it attaches to the plant. A mature tomato should easily detach from the vine with a gentle twist. If it doesn’t come off easily, it may not be fully ripe.

4. **Harvest in the Morning:** – Harvest tomatoes in the morning when temperatures are cooler. This helps retain their best flavor and texture.

5. **Use Pruning Shears or Scissors:** – Use clean pruning shears or scissors to cut the stem rather than pulling the tomatoes off the vine. This prevents damage to the plant.

6. **Leave the Calyx (Green Cap):** – Leave a small portion of the stem attached to the tomato. This is known as the calyx or green cap. It helps protect the fruit and prolongs its shelf life.

7. **Harvest Regularly:** – Harvest tomatoes regularly to encourage continued production. Leaving overripe or damaged tomatoes on the plant can affect the overall health and productivity.

8. **Handle with Care:** – Handle harvested tomatoes gently to avoid bruising or damaging the fruit. Place them in a shallow container to prevent crushing.

9. **Avoid Refrigeration:** – While ripe tomatoes can be stored at room temperature, avoid refrigerating them unless they are fully ripened. Cold temperatures can affect the flavor and texture.

10. **Check for Ripeness on the Plant:** – If in doubt, you can leave tomatoes on the plant until they are fully ripe. Regularly check for color and firmness.By following these steps, you’ll ensure a flavorful and enjoyable harvest of tomatoes from your garden.

 By following this simple Guideline you can plant and harvest your own tomatoes, sadly the plant doesn’t last much after a year, it tends to die when cold season comes, even if survives, not sure if will give good tomatoes on next harvest season.

 In a next post I can share my experiences with a new tomato plant I want to start.

See you next time.