Advice needed wth growing first time chillis & tomatoes

[Feygan]

I'm wanting to grow both chillis and tomatoes this year however there are some constrictions.

Firstly I will be doing it all indoors due to a lack of outdoor growing space, is this a feasible option for me? Heating isn't an issue the room they will be in is kept very warm all year round, and there are two large windows one which faces south.

Secondly due to a lack of work and finances currently I would be wanting to grow these from seeds from prebought items saved before cooking. Whilst I realise i won't get the very best varieties this way it's my only option at this time and so wonder again if the seeds will be viable?

Finally if both of the above are possible what's the best way to go about germinating seeds from these foods and then planting them in pots, along with the lifetime care of them?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[homegrown]

Hi feygan

if your growing indoors growbags are a great idea as they come with alot of the nutrients needed secondly pince of the the growing tips of lateral branch so that the plants put all its energy into growing uo on the main stem, you can pinch out the growing tip on that when it reaches the desired height and then it will put all its energy into fruit. keep well watered but once flower and fruit appear water at base so you don't make the fruit watery in taste. plant basil around the base or in small pots as it is a great companion plant. the more you pick the better the crop but pick from the base up as these will generally be the older fruits.

did you know that tomatoes are actually a berry fruit?

hope some of this helps

[ElizabethBinary]

MAN I don't go into all of this when I plant. I have tomatos and chillis, too. I pretty much just follow the "Insert into dirt. Add water." approach.

I do have advice regarding chillis though. My father (hispanic) taught me that if you spray your growing plant with sugar water and let ants attack it (needs to be established, obviously) it'll make it's fruit SUPER spicy to ward them off and every year you do it, the spicier the plant will get.

I've done this to my habenero and even the seeds from the plant are now desired because her children make good spicy plants too now.

[Mal]

do have advice regarding chillis though. My father (hispanic) taught me that if you spray your growing plant with sugar water and let ants attack it (needs to be established, obviously) it'll make it's fruit SUPER spicy to ward them off and every year you do it, the spicier the plant will get.

Top advice, I love that!

[grahamhobbs]

I've never done that fermenting tomato seeds to see if they are viable or not, but I have often saved my own seed and sown them. To me, tomatos are almost like weeds, given the slimest of chances they will grow, they are not the delicate things you might think.
It is probable that the shop bought tomatoes were F1 hybrids which means that the seeds will not come up uniform but a mixture depending on the parents, however as they don't cross duff parents to create F1's you will get decent plants.
Other than don't sow too early, because of low light levels at this time of year (unless you can provide proper artificial lights) as they will just get leggy and weak, just sow the seed and watch them grow. Pinch out the side shoots as others have said, support them and don't forget to allow the bees to get to them. That's it really.

Chillies are not so vigourous but really don't need any special attention (except to wash your hands after handling the fruit!!!).

Obviously growing indoors the plants need decent soil, water and some feeding, but don't over or under do the water and feeding.

[theabsinthefairy]

Good advice from everyone - the only thing that I would add is tempting though it is to overdo it - only stick one seed in per pot, especially for the chillies, they like a bit of room.