Tomato
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.
Growing Guide
Step-by-step instructions for growing Tomato
Planting Calendar
Growing Guide for
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Step by step on growing indeterminate tomatoes outdoors.
1 Sow Seeds Indoors
Fill seed trays with peat-free seed compost and sow your seeds about deep. Cover the seeds lightly with compost and water them in, ideally from below not to disturb the seed. Keep your soil moist and the tray covered and in a warm location.
2 Prick Out Seedlings
Once seedlings have their first true leaves, remove the cover to your tray and provide bright light. You can now pick your strongest seedlings and transplant them into pots. If you bury the stems deeply it will encourage more root growth. Maintain and water regularly.
3 Pot On Seedlings
When roots fill the pot, move the plants into larger pots. Keep growth steady with bright light and consistent moisture.
4 Harden Off Seedlings
April in Ansty is a good time to start hardening off your seedlings. You do this by gradually moving them outside during the day and bringing them back in at night. Start with short periods and increase daily exposure.
5 Transplant Outdoors
Once the risk of frost has passed and soil is above in Ansty, you can transplant your seedlings outdoors into their final spot.
6 Prune and Train
Use a stake like a bamboo cane or a trellis to support your tomatoes. Keep on top of removing the side shoots weekly as they grow, if you catch them early you'll be able to easily pinch them off. Once your tomatoes have formed 4-6 trusses, pinch out the growing tip to focus the energy of the plant on the tomatoes.
7 Fertilise
Once your tomatoes have started to flower, start feeding them with a high-potassium tomato fertiliser weekly to support strong fruit development.
8 Harvest Tomatoes
Tomatoes will start to ripen around July. Pick them as they reach their final colour to keep the plant productive.
Companion Plants
Plants that grow well (or poorly) with Tomato
Why Companion Planting Matters
Companion planting can help deter pests, improve pollination, enhance growth, and maximize garden space. Some plants release chemicals that repel pests or attract beneficial insects, while others can improve soil quality or provide shade for sensitive plants.
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