Gardener's Delight
A popular cherry tomato with sweet, abundant fruits. Ideal for UK gardens due to its reliability and good flavour.
When to plant Tomatoes in Aberdeen
Solanum lycopersicum
Tomatoes are popular annual plants that produce juicy, colourful fruits and thrive in warm conditions. They are native to South America and come in two main types, determinate and indeterminate. Determinate plants are bushy and self-supporting and indeterminate are tall plants that require staking and pruning.
180 cm · Full Sun · High Water
Calibrated to Aberdeen · average last frost around 30 Apr
| Activity | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow indoors | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Plant out | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Harvest | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Growing guide
What to do through the growing season
Growing guide for
Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.
Grow tomatoes in a greenhouse for an earlier and longer harvest. This method provides protection from UK weather but requires ventilation and pollination attention.
01
Sow Seeds Indoors
16 Mar to 31 MarSow seeds in a greenhouse or indoors around 16th March - 31st March. Maintain a temperature of for germination. Use a propagator to ensure consistent warmth.
02
Prick Out Seedlings
30 Mar to 21 Apr Dates as each sowing reaches this stagePrick out seedlings into individual pots around 30th March - 21st April once true leaves appear. Use a peat-free compost and keep plants in a bright, frost-free greenhouse.
03
Pot On Plants
13 Apr to 5 May Dates as each sowing reaches this stagePot on into larger containers around 13th April - 5th May to support root growth. Ensure the greenhouse is ventilated on sunny days to prevent damping off.
04
Transplant into Greenhouse
30 Apr to 7 MayPlant into greenhouse beds or large pots around 30th April - 7th May. Space plants apart. Water well and consider using grow bags for container growing.
05
Support and Train Plants
7 May to 21 May Dates as each sowing reaches this stageInstall supports and train plants from 7th May. Remove side shoots on cordon varieties and pinch out the tip after 6-7 trusses. Ventilate the greenhouse to reduce humidity and pollinate flowers by gently shaking plants.
06
Feed and Water Plants
14 May to 28 Oct Dates as each sowing reaches this stage Optional · repeat every 2 weeksFeed with a high-potassium fertiliser every 14 days from 14th May until 28th October. Water regularly to maintain even moisture, especially during fruiting, to prevent problems like blossom end rot.
07
Harvest Tomatoes
9 Jul to 28 Oct Dates as each sowing reaches this stageHarvest ripe fruits from 9th July until 28th October. Pick regularly to encourage continuous production. In a greenhouse, harvesting can extend later into autumn compared to outdoors.
Suggested varieties
Popular varieties of Tomato to consider
Moneymaker
A classic cordon variety producing medium-sized red fruits. Known for its high yield and disease resistance in UK conditions.
Tumbling Tom
A trailing bush tomato perfect for hanging baskets or containers. Produces small red or yellow fruits without needing support.
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