Tips & Advice
Growing tomatoes in the UK can be a rewarding experience, whether you’re aiming for juicy cherry tomatoes or hearty beefsteak varieties. The UK’s mild climate is well-suited for tomato cultivation, particularly in greenhouses or sheltered outdoor areas. Follow these tried and tested Brookside Plant Nursery steps to ensure a healthy and productive tomato crop.
Where to Grow?
Tomatoes can be grown in greenhouses or outside, there are benefits to both options.Iif you don't have a greenhouse, do not worry, as long as you have a sunny spot and the risk of frost has passed, tomatoes will thrive!
The benefits to greenhouse and outdoor growing.
Greenhouse growing: Provides a controlled environment, extending the growing season and protecting plants from adverse weather.
Outdoors growing: In a sunny, sheltered spot i that receives at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight per day, tomatoes with thrive in warmth and light.
Wake sure your soil is rich in organic matter and well drained. Prepare the soil by adding compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil structure and fertility.
If you don't have space in your garden boarders or prefer more control over your growing conditions, pots or grow bags are excellent alternatives for cultivating tomatoes.
Pots :Use large pots with a minimum depth and width of 30 cm (12 inches) to provide enough space for root development.
Ensure the pots have good drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.
Grow Bags: Select high-quality grow bags designed for vegetables. They are convenient, space-efficient, and often pre-filled with nutrient-rich compost.
Consider using grow bag support frames to keep plants stable as they grow taller.
How to choose what to Tomatoes to grow?
Select a tomato variety suited to your growing conditions:
Outdoor varieties: Some of the best choices for outdoor growing are Gardener's Delight, Moneymaker or Crimson Crush.
Greenhouse varieties: Tomatoes that thrive in controlled environments are Honeycomb, Sweet Million or Alicante.
Container or small space varieties: bush and compact growing tomatoes are ideal for this, such as Tumbling Tom or totem Red.
Plant Care.
Your soil should be consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base rather than overhead to avoid fungal diseases. Use a tomato-specific fertiliser high in potassium once flowers appear. Feed every 1–2 weeks. When pruning make sure all side shoots between leaf stalks and main stem are removed, buy doing this your plant will focus on the parts that are doing the hard work and growing the fruit. Trim the lower leaves of your plants when it has established to improve airflow and reduce disease risk. As your tomatoes get taller use supports to help minimise damage due to the weight they will be carrying when the fruits start to grow.
Pests & Diseases to look out for
Monitor for pests like aphids, spider mites, or whiteflies. Monitor the pest population in the greenhouse using sticky traps.
Harvesting.
Pick tomatoes when they are fully ripe, vibrant in color, and slightly soft to the touch. Regular harvesting encourages continued fruit production. Place tomatoes in a single layer, out of direct sunlight. To speed up ripening, store them in a paper bag with a ripe banana or apple, which emits ethylene gas to hasten the ripening proce. Avoid Refrigeration if possible as cold temperatures halt the ripening process and can lead to mealy textures. If a tomato is very ripe and you’re not ready to use it immediately, you can refrigerate it to slow further ripening. Avoid plastic bags or airtight containers, tomatoes need some airflow to prevent mold or rot.