Grow your own food, week 3 - tomatoes

Dominic Murphy

22 March 2011

Tomatoes are notorious attention seekers and need  TLC. But that's not to say they're difficult to grow.

Try it and you'll see what I mean.

You can sow tomato seeds now in a seed tray or pot about 2 cm apart.

Cover the seeds with a sprinkling of compost, put the pot or tray in a polythene bag, then leave in a warm place like an airing cupboard.

Once seedlings appear, move them to a light, warm window ledge.

When large enough to handle (see my previous blog), transplant into 8 cm pots.

When seedlings are 20 cm tall, move them to large pots or a growbag for growing on indoors.

Typically your plants will be vine or bush varieties. Vines will need tying to a stake, and the non-fruiting side shoots breaking off. Bush varieties can be left to get on with it. 

For the best results, grow tomatoes indoors. If you're in a mild area, however, with a warm, south-facing wall, you could grow tomatoes outside once there is no threat from frost.

Remember to choose the right variety. Shirley is a very popular indoor tomato, while Outdoor Girl is rated in the open air. I grow Gardener's Delight, a fine-tasting cherry type which can be grown in or out.

For best results, tomatoes like to be fed a plant food and need regular watering rather than fluctuating drought and flood.

Like I said, they're demanding plants - but definitely worth it.

Dominic Murphy, Publishing & New Media Team

Dominic Murphy's book 'The Playground Potting Shed' includes an easy guide to growing food throughout the year. To order a signed copy at the special price of £8.99 please visit our Shop.