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
Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.
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
March in Ashby cum Fenby 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 Ashby cum Fenby, 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 June. 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.
Related Plants
Explore similar plants you might like
Sprouting Broccoli
Sprouting broccoli is a hardy and nutritious vegetable that produces multiple tender spears with small clusters of purple or white buds, offering repeated harvests in late winter and early spring when fresh produce is scarce. It's easy to grow in the UK, thriving in cool conditions and providing vitamins A, C, and folic acid. Unlike standard broccoli, it focuses on side shoots rather than a single large head, extending the picking season for weeks.
Squash
Squash come in summer and winter types, offering versatile fruits from tender courgette-like harvests to hard-skinned varieties that store through winter. They're vigorous plants that love sun and rich soil, producing colourful, flavourful crops perfect for roasting, soups, or stuffing. With trailing or compact options, there's a squash for every garden size.
Sweet Pepper
Sweet peppers are tender annuals that produce crisp, colourful fruits with a mild flavour. Native to Central and South America, they thrive in warm, sunny positions and are commonly grown under glass in the UK to ensure reliable cropping, though they can succeed outdoors in sheltered spots during particularly warm summers.