Grow tomatoes galore!

This month KG editor Steve Ott offers his top tips on growing a UK garden and greenhouse favourite, the tomato

It’s official! Brits love tomatoes. When it comes to growing and eating them, we think they are tops and there is hardly a greenhouse, patio or veg patch that won’t be home to at least one tub or growing bag bursting with them. Surely, only the Italians can lay greater claim to their love of these sweet ripe fruits – but then they have the sunshine on their side, while we battle on no matter what the weather and how bothersome the blight.

Look to the seed catalogues and you’ll be offered two basic types – greenhouse and outdoors – although some have roots in both camps.

Greenhouse crops can be sown early – from January onwards – giving them a long growing season to ripen heavy crops and protection from the weather and that dreaded blight. However, these tender crops need lots of light and heat, which in our climate makes them expensive to grow well in the early stages.

Those destined for growing outside can be started in March or April when natural light levels and temperatures are on the rise and greenhouse crops started at this time are easier to handle. I don’t start my cold greenhouse crop until March.

PROPAGATION

Stocky strong seedlings with healthy roots and a short space between leaves (nodes) are the aim and this does take some skill and attention to detail. Lashings of light and temperatures of at least 15C (60F) day and night are essential for good germination and to stop the plants from quickly becoming weak and stretched. If you can’t provide those conditions, simply sow later or even consider buying in ready-grown plants and let someone else do the hard bit!

If you choose to raise your own plants – which is great fun and gives you a wide range of varieties, including some very lovely heritage types – here’s what to do in easy steps.