Growing your own Tomatoes

Growing tomatoes can be a rewarding experience.

There’s nothing to beat the taste of a home-grown tomato – so much tastier than those you buy in the shop, which is why im looking to continue my series of gardening tips posts.

Tomatoes are easy to grow.  They are so versatile, and can be grown just about anywhere - in a pot on the windowsill, on a window-box, in a growbag in the greenhouse or garden.  Tomatoes like plenty of sun and, if outside, they like to have a sheltered position. You won’t need excessive amounts of gardening tools either, just a little know how and some sunlight!

I love growing cherry tomatoes from seeds.  I just save some seeds from the tomatoes I’ve bought and plant them in January or February indoors.  Then after 2 months or when they look as if they need more space, prick out the seedlings into separate 3 inch pots, then eventually pot into a 5 inch pot when flowers start to show.  If you are planting them outside, wait till all danger of frost has passed.  Keep the tomatoes well watered and feed with a liquid feed about every two/three weeks.  Cherry tomatoes form a bush which sometimes does not need staking, but if in doubt use a stick as support.  Tie the main stem loosely to the stick.  Remove any withered or damaged leaves from the plant.

You can also buy tomato plants which are ready to plant outside or in a growbag or inside (provided you have plenty of room).  Put a stake into the ground and secure the main stem, again loosely.  As with cherry tomatoes, keep the soil moist and feed with a liquid feed every two/three weeks. Tomatoes like to be watered regularly – dry periods mean there is a risk of the tomato splitting.  Unless they’re bush tomatoes, snap off any side-shoots for more fruit production – that’s any little shoots coming up between the main branch and the stem.  Remove any damaged leaves and remove the bottom leaves as the fruit starts to form.   Some people remove all or most of the leaves to allow the tomatoes to ripen, but I prefer to leave some on the plant.

Pinch out the growing tip near the end of the season to encourage the fruit to ripen.  Enjoy your tomatoes!  You will never want to buy shop bought tomatoes ever again. How about trying them in a fresh salad or making your own tomatoe and basil soup!