GROWING OUTDOOR TOMATOES

In many parts of the country it is possible to grow tomatoes outside and not in a greenhouse or polytunnel. Here KG's deputy editor Emma Rawlings offers some tips for success

- Emma Rawlings

If you don’t have a greenhouse or polytunnel it doesn’t mean you can’t grow tomatoes. Even if you do, why not grow some outside on your plot so you can have copious amounts to preserve and make into sauces to freeze. Having bottled tomatoes or sauces for the winter months may be prudent should tomatoes be in short supply again next winter. Although it is possible to grow tomatoes outside, if you live in more northerly areas you may struggle and might need to grow them under cover. See our section on page 35 with some tips. 

VARIETIES TO GROW

When buying tomato seeds check that the varieties you fancy are suitable for growing outdoors. Some are better than others. Blight disease can also be a problem on outdoor-grown tomatoes in late summer and this may devastate the crop. Look out for blight-resistant varieties such as ‘Mountain Magic’ or ‘Crimson Crush’, which are cordon types. Cordons are grown as a single stem against a support and you remove the sideshoots regularly. A great compact and bushy patio variety to grow in a pot on your patio that is blight resistant is called ‘Summerlast’. A cherry tomato type with good blight resistance is ‘Crimson Cocktail F1’. For something larger and meatier look out for ‘Crimson Blush’, a blight-resistant beefsteak type. If you like a plum-type tomato then a blight-resistant one is ‘Crimson Plum’. You can of course try others that don’t necessarily have good blight resistance. Popular ones include ‘Gardener’s Delight’, ‘Sungold’, ‘Tumbling Tom Red’ for a hanging basket, and so many more. See facing page for some varieties more suited to northerly regions.

HOW TO GROW