“This is a new venture which I would like to share with you - my experiences of growing my own tomatoes. Probably like you I had read a lot of information before I started and, boy is it hard to find. So, I thought I would try and put down here some of the information which I found most helpful and some other bits and bobs that I found interesting too.
I think a lot of professional gardeners assume you know quite a bit before starting out, so I have gone for the real starters approach. I hasten to add I am not a commercial grower, but I am a Mum who wants to feed my family good wholesome food that I have grown myself.
I’m keen to share my successes with you, so I do hope that you find the information here useful and if you have any suggestions for me and your fellow keen tomato growers then please let me know and I’ll add it to the site” – Thank you – Lesley Pirrie (Author)
1. Prepare your Garden
In January,turn your soil over if you intend planting your tomatoes outside to let the frost get at any pest eggs which have been buried there over the winter.
2 Look after your soil
Make sure you soil is well prepared for out door toms by working in some well rotted compost.
3. Mulching
Mulch your soil to warm it and reduce the amount of weeding you need to do.
4. Choosing Tomato Plants
Pick your young plants so you have a good variety,which ripen at different times and check whether they are cherry/ determinate/ indeterminate out door or under glass.
5. Tomato Seedlings
Start your seedlings off at different intervals to ensure you have a constant supply throughout the season. Tomato seedlings need lots of strong direct sunlight. Plant your tomato seedlings in the sunniest part of your vegetable plot.
6. Support for your Tomatoes
Make sure you support you growing plant and its fruit with cages, stakes and the right ties.
7. Fertilising
Begin regular feeding only once your plant begins to flower.
8. Diseases
Diseases can easily affect your growing tomatoes at all stages of growth be vigilant and know your enemy!
9. Watering
Watering too much = problems, too little = problems – getting it right is good, water regularly.
10. Storage
Storing your surplus stock for the winter months is a worthwhile task, sauces and sun dried toms taste so much better when they are your own home grown. The bonus being you know where they came from and what if anything you used on them when growing.
