The taste of a homegrown tomato, still warm from the sun, is the reason most people start growing their own food in the first place.
Tomatoes are the classic UK greenhouse and patio crop, grown fresh from seed each year for a summer of sweet, sun-ripened fruit. Cordon (indeterminate) types need regular side-shoot removal and staking; bush varieties are more forgiving and suit containers.
Sowing & growing calendar
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | Sow in February | Sow in March | ||||||||||
| Plant | Plant in May | Plant in June | ||||||||||
| Feed | Feed in June | Feed in July | Feed in August | Feed in September | ||||||||
| Harvest | Harvest in July | Harvest in August | Harvest in September | Harvest in October |
Care details
- Sow February – March
Sow indoors on a warm windowsill or in a propagator.
- Plant May – June
Plant out once frost risk has passed; pinch out side shoots on cordon types.
- Feed June – September
Feed weekly with a high-potash tomato feed once the first truss has set.
- Harvest July – October
Pick as soon as fruit starts to blush and finish ripening indoors — they don’t need to redden on the vine.
- Harvest In October
Pick everything that's left, ripe or green, once frost threatens — outdoor plants won't survive it, so there's nothing to protect. Ripen green tomatoes indoors on a sunny sill.
Growing tips & common problems
- Remove the lower leaves as the plant grows to improve airflow and reduce blight risk.
- Water consistently — irregular watering causes the fruit to split.
- Pinch out any shoots growing between the main stem and a leaf branch on cordon types.
Grows well with
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