Growing Guides How to grow tomatoes

Date Published:

15/10/2007

Sowing

Although tomato plants naturally live for more than a year, we use and dispose of them in a single growing season.

Despite there being varieties that are suited to both indoor and outdoor growing, they are all susceptible to frost damage and require a minimum temperature of 10oC (50oF) and bright light to grow well. For this reason it is best to plant them in moveable containers so you have full control over their growing conditions.

Your seeds can be sown from late winter to early spring. Small pots or seed trays make ideal containers to raise young plants in. Fill them with seed and cutting compost and water it using a watering can with a fine rose end. Wait 10 to 15 minutes for the water to drain through before sowing your seeds in it, 2.5cm (1in) apart.

The containers should then ideally be placed in a heated propagator or greenhouse. If neither of these is available, choose the warmest windowsill in your house and place them there.

Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, carefully move them into individual 8cm (3in) pots filled with potting compost (available from any garden centre).

Planting

When the plants are 12–15cm (4–5in) tall, they are ready to be planted into their final containers. Tomatoes are quite heavy feeders and will do best in a rich compost mix. When you're at the garden centre, forget the general or multipurpose varieties and instead plump for a high-quality John Innes compost.

A 30cm (12in) pot should be sufficient for larger bush or vine tomatoes and will easily support three cherry or trailing tomato plants. Plant them up to the first pair of leaves, as this will encourage further roots to form on the lower stem.

Water the compost with a fine, upturned rose on a watering can to gently firm down the surface on the compost, which should be sitting about 1cm (½in) below the rim. Support taller-growing specimens by using a bamboo cane and twine.