Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
The jewel of the summer garden, tomatoes reward careful cultivation with an abundance of sweet, sun-ripened fruit. Nothing from the supermarket shelf can match a tomato picked warm from the vine.
SowingStart indoors
Sunlight☀️ Full sun
Water💧💧 Moderate
Days to harvest60–85
Soil pH6–6.8
Spacing60cm × 75cm
Planting Calendar
Sow indoorsSow outdoorsTransplantHarvest
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sowing
Sow seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost date, 6mm deep in seed compost. Keep at 18–24°C. Once seedlings have two true leaves, prick out into individual 9cm pots.Growing On
Grow on in a bright, frost-free place. Pot on as needed. Harden off for 1–2 weeks before planting out after all risk of frost has passed.Support & Training
Cordon (indeterminate) varieties need staking and regular sideshooting — pinch out the shoots that develop in the leaf axils. Bush (determinate) varieties are more compact and need less attention.Feeding
Once the first truss of flowers sets, feed weekly with a high-potash organic liquid feed (comfrey tea is ideal). Consistent watering prevents blossom end rot and fruit splitting.Soil: Rich, well-draining loam with plenty of organic matter