Tomato Plants

An organic grower’s favourite, the range of tomatoes is vast. From small, sweet cherry varieties that grow easily in containers, to bushy plant plum-shaped varieties, to the large tasty beefsteak crops, the tomato comes in many forms! Look out for many new varieties which are resistant to blight and splitting.

Tomatoes are tender plants that love the sun but need to avoid the cold. If you’re buying plants rather than seed, we recommend waiting until late spring/early summer when all danger of cold nights has passed. Tomato plants can be grown in open ground, containers, or even in mixed hanging baskets with summer bedding flowers or herbs! They’re also hungry plants, so benefit from a high-potash tomato feed and an organic compost with comfrey pellets will keep them going. If/when planting into open ground, mixing in good organic matter will help and a high-potash feed when fruiting will yield the best results. Tomatoes in open ground or a greenhouse will enjoy a deep watering, so we recommend planting slightly deeper, which allows you to puddle to ensure a good soak.

Our organic tip is to plant some marigolds as a natural aphid deterrent. Another idea is to plant your tomatoes through black landscaping fabric, which heats the soil and stops direct weed competition. Finally, be sure to keep space between your plants – a good way to avoid the air born blight fungus.