Home Grown Tomatoes

Tomatoes are one of the most rewarding foods to grow at home. You do not need a large garden. You can grow tomatoes in pots, grow bags, containers, greenhouses, raised beds or a sunny sheltered spot outside.

Home-grown tomatoes are often sweeter, juicier and more full of flavour than shop-bought tomatoes. They are also great fun to grow. You can watch the plants flower, fruit and ripen, then pick the tomatoes when they are warm from the sun.

The RHS says tomatoes can be grown from seed indoors or bought as young plants, then grown outdoors, in a greenhouse, in pots or in the ground. Outdoor tomatoes need a warm, sunny and sheltered site.

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Why Grow Your Own Tomatoes?

Growing tomatoes is a lovely way to connect with food. You see the whole journey from seedling to harvest.

Tomatoes are:

1. Easy to grow with a little care.
2. Perfect for pots and grow bags.
3. Good for gardens, patios, balconies and greenhouses.
4. Useful in soups, salads, sauces and snacks.
5. Available in many colours, shapes and sizes.

One of the best things about growing your own is choice. You can grow varieties that are not always easy to find in supermarkets, including cherry tomatoes, yellow tomatoes, heritage tomatoes, plum tomatoes and classic home-growing favourites.

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A Favourite Variety: Gardener’s Delight

Gardener’s Delight is a classic cherry tomato and one of my favourites. It is a great variety to mention on Mr Soup and Salad because it links beautifully with both salads and home growing.

It produces small red cherry tomatoes with a good flavour. It is suitable for growing in a greenhouse or outdoors, and the RHS describes it as a cordon cherry tomato that produces reliable crops on long, cascading fruit trusses.

You may also see the name written as Gardeners Delight or Gardeners’ Delight, but Gardener’s Delight is the spelling used by the RHS.

Why I like Gardener’s Delight

1. It is reliable.
2. It is easy to grow with basic care.
3. It produces lots of cherry tomatoes.
4. It tastes good in salads.
5. It is a lovely variety for beginner growers.
6. It works well for children and families because the fruit is small, sweet and easy to pick.

Because it is a cordon tomato, it usually needs support from a cane or string. It also benefits from having side shoots pinched out as it grows.

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When to Sow Tomato Seeds

Tomatoes are usually started indoors because they need warmth to germinate and grow well.

For UK growing, the RHS suggests sowing tomatoes from late February to mid-March for greenhouse crops, or from late March to early April if they will be grown outside. Seeds need warmth to germinate, and young plants should be kept in bright light so they do not become thin and leggy.

Simple sowing guide

1. Fill small pots or seed trays with seed compost.
2. Sow the seeds lightly.
3. Cover with a thin layer of compost.
4. Water gently.
5. Keep warm indoors or on a bright windowsill.
6. Move seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle.

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When to Plant Tomatoes Outside

Tomatoes are tender plants, so they do not like frost.

Plant them into their final position when the weather is warm and settled. The RHS advises planting young tomato plants into their final position in early summer, once temperatures are reliably above 16°C.

Outdoor tomatoes need:

1. A sunny spot.
2. Shelter from strong wind.
3. Good compost or fertile soil.
4. Regular watering.
5. Support as they grow.

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How to Grow Tomatoes in Pots or Grow Bags

Tomatoes are very good for container growing. This makes them useful for patios, small gardens, balconies and paved areas.

You will need

1. Tomato plants or tomato seeds.
2. Large pots, containers or grow bags.
3. Good-quality compost.
4. Canes, string or plant supports.
5. A watering can.
6. Tomato feed.

Simple container method

1. Choose a large pot or grow bag.
2. Fill with good compost.
3. Plant the tomato deeply, with the root ball covered.
4. Add a cane or support.
5. Water well.
6. Place in a sunny sheltered spot.
7. Feed once flowers and fruits start to develop.

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How to Care for Tomato Plants

Tomatoes need steady care. They do not like drying out completely, but they also do not like sitting in water.

Watering

Water regularly and try to keep the compost evenly moist. Irregular watering can cause problems such as splitting fruit or poor growth.

Feeding

Once the first fruits start to form, feed regularly with tomato feed. Tomato feeds are usually high in potassium, which supports flowering and fruiting.

Supporting

Tall tomato plants need support. Use canes, string or a frame. Tie the plant gently as it grows.

Pinching out side shoots

Cordon tomatoes, including Gardener’s Delight, are usually grown as a tall single-stem plant. Pinch out the little side shoots that appear between the main stem and the leaves. The RHS explains that cordon tomatoes need tying in and side-shoot removal to crop well.

Bush tomatoes are different. They are more compact and usually need less pruning.

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Cordon or Bush Tomatoes?

Tomato plants are often described as either cordon or bush.

Cordon tomatoes

Cordon tomatoes grow tall. They usually need:

1. A cane or support.
2. Regular tying in.
3. Side shoots removed.
4. More vertical space.

Gardener’s Delight is a cordon tomato.

Bush tomatoes

Bush tomatoes are shorter and more compact. They are often easier for beginners because they need less pruning. They can be useful for pots, hanging baskets and small spaces.

Always check the seed packet or plant label before buying, so you know how much support and pruning the plant will need.

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Harvesting Home-Grown Tomatoes

Pick tomatoes when they are fully coloured and ripe. They should come away from the plant easily.

Freshly picked tomatoes are lovely in salads, sandwiches and simple summer dishes. If you have too many, use them in soups, sauces, roasted tomato trays or freeze them for cooking later.

Good ways to use home-grown tomatoes

1. Fresh tomato salad.
2. Tomato and basil soup.
3. Roasted tomato sauce.
4. Tomato salsa.
5. Tomato and cucumber salad.
6. Bruschetta.
7. Pasta sauce.
8. Home-made tomato chutney.

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Common Tomato Growing Problems

Tomatoes are rewarding, but they can have problems if the weather, watering or feeding is not quite right.

Fruit splitting

This can happen when watering is irregular. Try to keep the compost evenly moist.

Leaves turning yellow

This can be caused by several things, including lack of nutrients, overwatering, underwatering or natural ageing of lower leaves.

Poor fruiting

Tomatoes need warmth, light and regular feeding. In a greenhouse, good ventilation and pollination also help.

Blight

Outdoor tomatoes can be affected by blight, especially in warm, wet weather. Growing in a greenhouse can reduce the risk, although it does not remove every possible problem. The RHS notes that tomatoes are susceptible to blight outdoors, but rarely in a greenhouse.

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Best Tomatoes for Beginners

For beginners, small-fruited tomatoes are often a good place to start. The RHS notes that small-fruited varieties tend to be among the easiest, fastest and most prolific tomatoes to grow.

Good beginner-friendly types include:

1. Gardener’s Delight — Classic red cherry tomato.
2. Sungold — Sweet golden-orange cherry tomato.
3. Sweet Million — Heavy-cropping cherry tomato.
4. Tumbling Tom — Compact trailing tomato for baskets and containers.
5. Alicante — Traditional salad tomato.
6. Tigerella — Striped salad tomato with colour and character.

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Simple Step-by-Step: Grow Your Own Tomatoes

1. Choose
   Pick a tomato variety that suits your space. Try Gardener’s Delight if you want a classic cherry tomato.
2. Sow
   Sow seeds indoors in spring, or buy young plants if you want an easier start.
3. Pot on
   Move seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle.
4. Plant out
   Plant outside after the risk of cold weather has passed, or grow in a greenhouse.
5. Support
   Add canes or supports, especially for cordon tomatoes.
6. Water
   Keep the compost evenly moist.
7. Feed
   Use tomato feed once flowers and fruits appear.
8. Harvest
   Pick tomatoes when they are ripe, colourful and full of flavour.

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Top Tips for Home-Grown Tomatoes

1. Choose a sunny spot.
2. Use good-quality compost.
3. Water regularly, but do not overdo it.
4. Feed when flowers and fruits appear.
5. Support tall plants as they grow.
6. Remove side shoots from cordon varieties.
7. Pick ripe tomatoes regularly to encourage more fruit.
8. Grow more than one variety for different colours, shapes and flavours.

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Grow Your Own Tomatoes Infographic Text

GROW YOUR OWN TOMATOES

Easy to grow
Needs little space
Great in pots, containers or the garden
Delicious and rewarding

1. Sow

Sow seeds indoors in spring.

2. Grow

Plant out when the weather is warm and the plants are strong.

3. Care

Water regularly, feed when fruits form, and support as they grow.

4. Harvest

Pick tomatoes when they are fully coloured and ripe.

Top Tips

1. Choose a sunny spot.
2. Use rich, well-draining compost.
3. Water regularly, but do not overdo it.
4. Feed with tomato plant food.
5. Try Gardener’s Delight for a reliable cherry tomato.
6. Pick regularly for more tomatoes.

Perfect for pots, grow bags, greenhouses or the garden.

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Final Thought

Growing tomatoes is simple, enjoyable and rewarding. You can start small with one or two plants in pots, or grow several varieties if you have more space.

For a good beginner-friendly choice, try Gardener’s Delight. It is a classic cherry tomato, easy to enjoy, useful in salads, and a lovely variety to grow at home.

34 DAY OLD - Seedlings thinned out into plastic coffee cups foe next stage of growth when they were around 18 to 20 days old.