Native to South America, tomatoes cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. This circumstance has a significant influence on cultivation in beds, greenhouses and on the balcony. How to prevent frost damage to tomatoes.
Effective protection against frost from sowing to harvest
Tomatoes must not come under the influence of sub-zero temperatures at any time. This premise applies without exception from the beginning. Therefore, in the local regions, sowing generally takes place behind glass. The required 18 to 24 degrees Celsius can be achieved on the warm window sill or in the heated greenhouse. After the pricking, it goes like this:
- do not plant out any tomatoes that have been brought forward until after May 15th
- in the first few weeks outdoors protect under a foil tunnel (11.46€) or garden fleece
- set individual plants with a special tomato hood from specialist retailers
- set up frost guards or grave lights in the unheated greenhouse at night
- Bring tomatoes in the pot on a plant trolley into the house overnight
With the departure of the ice saints in mid-May, the danger of frost for tomatoes is not yet over. In some years, between June 4th and 20th, the sheep cold strikes. Prudent hobby gardeners therefore maintain the protective measures against frost until mid-June.
Timely harvest before the first frost - after-ripening indoors
When the frost knocks on the garden door, it is not uncommon for unripe tomatoes to hang on the plants. Knowledgeable hobby gardeners don't let this irritate them, because green tomatoes continue to ripen indoors within a few days. Individual fruits are wrapped in newspaper and stored at 18 to 20 degrees Celsius. Several tomatoes go in a cardboard box, ideally accompanied by a ripe apple or banana.
tips and tricks
An unheated greenhouse is naturally protected from frost by a 'manure heater'. The warming effect of horse manure is used here. The ground is dug two spades deep and filled with horse manure. A layer of garden soil with compost is placed on top. The mixture of manure and straw gives off pleasant warmth as the rotting progresses.