Hello gardeners and farmers! It's Harmonel here in Lusaka, checking in with my latest tomato project. These little warriors you see in the pictures are my tomato seedlings that I planted
just a few weeks ago. Looking at them now, my heart is full of hope and excitement!
The weather in Lusaka has been playing its usual games鈥攈ot sunny days mixed with occasional showers that have really helped these babies push through the soil. Right now, they're standing strong at about 10-15 cm tall, with healthy green leaves and some nice sturdy stems. You can even spot that slight purplish tint at the base of some stems, which is common in healthy tomato seedlings as they develop their root systems.
In the background, you can see my older tomato plants already flowering and setting some small fruits. Those orange-yellow ones peeking through the leaves are starting to ripen nicely. It's such a beautiful sight after all the hard work of preparing the beds, mixing in some well-rotted manure, and making sure the soil drainage is perfect. Lusaka's red clay soil can be tricky, but with some compost and careful watering, we've managed to create a good home for them.
For those of you who are also growing tomatoes here in Zambia, here's what I've been doing:
Watering: Deep but infrequent watering in the early morning to encourage deep roots. The sun here can be intense, so I avoid watering in the heat of the day to prevent fungal issues.
Weeding: Staying on top of weeds because they compete for nutrients. These seedlings are still young and need all the help they can get.
Mulching: I've started adding a light layer of dry grass or leaves around the base to retain moisture and keep the soil temperature stable.
Pest watch: So far, no major attacks from aphids or cutworms, but I'm keeping an eye out and using neem-based sprays as a natural preventive measure.
Tomatoes are one of the most rewarding crops to grow in our climate. They love the warm temperatures we have in Lusaka, especially during this season. I'm planning to support them with stakes soon as they get taller to prevent them from falling over when the fruits start getting heavy.These seedlings represent more than just food鈥攖hey're a step towards food security, a way to provide fresh, chemical-free produce for my family, and honestly, a source of joy and therapy after busy days. There's something incredibly satisfying about watching something you planted from tiny seeds grow into productive plants.
To everyone out there farming or gardening: keep nurturing your plants with love and patience. The harvest will come! If these seedlings continue like this, we should have a good yield in the coming months. I'll be back with more updates鈥攎aybe even some harvest photos soon.
