How to Grow Tomatoes

Growing tomatoes from seed

Growing tomato plants from seed is a great way to discover new varieties. Tomato seed is normally sown 6-8 weeks before the last frost date (March/April) although they can be sown earlier for greenhouse cultivation. Sprinkle your tomato seed thinly on the surface of good quality seed compost. Cover the seed with about 1.5mm (1/16in) of compost and water lightly with a fine-rose watering can. If only a few plants are required sow two seeds into a 7.5cm (3in) pot and after germination remove the smaller plant. The seeds generally germinate in about 7 to 14 days at a temperature of around 21C (70F). Keep the compost moist, but be careful not to over-water as wet conditions can encourage "damping off disease and other moulds and diseases.

Pot on the tomato seedlings when large enough to handle, taking care not to touch the stem. Handle the plants by the leaves and transplant them carefully into 7.5cm (3in) pots. Take care not to expose the plants to frost, cold winds and draughts as this may kill them.

Caring for your tomato plants

Tomatoes need a lot of water and feed to get the best fruit. Water little and often for the best results. Feed your tomatoes with a general liquid feed until the first truss has formed then alternate with a high potash feed. This will encourage more flowers and fruit.

Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse

Growing tomatoes indoors can mean an earlier crop. For greenhouse tomatoes grow recommended varieties such as 'Sungold', 'Money Maker' or 'Country Taste'. If you're after tomatoes to make soups and sauces with then tomato 'Roma VF' is the variety for you. Sow as directed on the individual seed packet. This is generally from February onwards and in 7.5cm (3in) pots.

Plant the young plants when they are about 15-20cm (6-8in) tall and the flowers of the first truss are just beginning to open. If you are planting into your greenhouse border make sure you have dug in plenty of garden compost or well-rotted manure during the winter. If you have used the border before for tomatoes, it is better to change the soil before growing tomatoes in it again. This will help avoid soil pests and root diseases becoming a problem. Just before planting, rake in a general purpose fertiliser.

If you are growing tomatoes in pots or a grow bag remember they will require a lot more watering and care. Plant approximately 45cm (18in) between the plants and 75cm (30in) between the rows. In a grow bag, generally plant no more than two plants per bag. Make sure you ventilate the greenhouse regularly to reduce the risk of pests and diseases. Tomatoes prefer a temperature of 21 - 24C (70 - 75F) and will perform poorly at temperatures above 27C (81F) or below 16C (61F).

Growing tomatoes outside

When growing outdoor tomatoes, choose recommended varieties such as 'Gardeners Delight', 'Money Maker' or 'Sweet Olive'. You can grow varieties such as 'Cherry Cascade' or 'Tasty Tumbler' in a flower pouch or as hanging basket tomatoes. Wait until approximately 6-8 weeks before the last frost is forecast and sow as directed on the individual seed packet in 7.5cm (3in) pots.

When all risk of frost has passed, plant the young plants when they are about 15-20cm (6-8in) tall and the flowers of the first truss are just beginning to open. If you are planting into your border make sure you have dug in plenty of garden compost or manure during the winter. Just before planting, rake in a general purpose fertiliser - tomatoes are hungry plants!

Plant approximately 45cm (18 in) between the plants and 75cm (30in) between the rows. If you are growing tomatoes in grow bags or pots remember they will require a lot more watering and care. In a grow bag, generally plant no more than two plants per bag. There has been a recent trend for growing tomatoes upside down to save space in the garden. This is a great space saving solution similar to growing tomatoes in hanging baskets. Simply plant a young tomato plant through a hole in the bottom of a bucket or similar hanging container, and fill the container with multi-purpose compost. Suspend the bucket from a bracket and allow the plant to hang down beneath it.

Common problems when growing tomatoes

Tomato blight

One of the most common problems when growing tomatoes is tomato blight, which spreads quickly throughout the plant in wet weather, causing the plant to die and the fruits to decay. The symptoms are brown patches on all parts of the plant. It is much more common in tomatoes growing outside than tomatoes growing in a greenhouse. You can prevent blight infection by spraying Bordeaux Mixture on your plants in early summer. Growing blight resistant tomato varieties will also help to overcome this fungal disease.

Click here for more information on how to stop blight.

Fruit problems

Most tomato fruit problems are caused by irregular watering. Examples include 'Blossom End Rot' (dark patch at the base of the fruit, more common if the plant is grown in a grow bag), 'Blossom Drop' (flower bud falls off), 'Dry Set' (fruitlet growth stops when the fruit is the size of a match-head), and 'Fruit Splitting'. The key is to give your tomatoes an even, regular amount of water at the base of the plant. Too much water too late tends to be the problem in most cases, especially with plants grown in pots and grow bags.

Other problems tend to be caused by too much direct sunlight. Tomatoes need high light intensity to grow well, but too much can cause blotches, scalds or spots on the developing fruit. 'Greenback' is a common problem caused by too much sunlight, leaving the ripe fruit with a hard green area on its 'shoulder'. If this is a problem increase the potassium in the plants' feeding regime and use fleece or shading as a cover in the hottest part of the day. It may also help to use resistant varieties such as 'Alicante' or 'Craigella'.

Insect pests

As with most plants look out for green and white fly - both can spread viruses. Spray with a recommended insecticide as soon as any pest is noticed or for organic gardening use a natural pest control. Planting marigolds such as 'Tomato Growing Secret' and similar flowers will attract beneficial insects that will eat the pests.

Leaf problems

If leaf yellowing starts on the older leaves and moves upwards it may not be a virus but a deficiency of magnesium. It is a common problem which is not serious if the plant is otherwise vigorous. It can be remedied by using a special magnesium feed if required but this is not essential.

You may also notice curling of the leaves; this can be caused by aphids sucking the sap out of the leaves. If there is no sign of insects then it is most likely caused by cold temperatures at night (more noticeable in early summer) and this is nothing to worry about. If you notice anything unusual affecting both younger and older leaves such as mosaic patterns, streaks or distorted leaf surfaces, your tomatoes may have a virus. If you believe your tomatoes do have a virus, the plant or plants must be removed and destroyed as there is no cure for viruses. Avoid handling other tomatoes, or using the same tools on your tomatoes until the tools have been thoroughly sterilised and your hands washed in hot soapy water.

Harvesting your tomatoes

Start picking your tomatoes as the fruits ripen and gain full colour. When frost threatens at the end of the season, lift any plants with unripe fruit on them and hang them upside down under cover. Tomatoes can be successfully frozen if you find you have a glut.

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