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GROWING TOMATOES

Growing tomatoes is one of the most enjoyable experiences in the garden. They are fast growing, great tasting and the abundance of fruit will amaze you

Burgermaster Hybrid Tomato
Many varieties are available to suit all taste buds, they flourish in pots, greenhouses or backyard gardens, and it is simple to achieve great results, even on the balcony. You can start from seed or seedlings, why not experiment with both if you’re a novice. Seeds should be planted about 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost so that they are ready to transplant into the garden when the weather warms up.

When choosing a site for growing tomatoes, aim for a minimum of six hours of sunshine, more is better. Prepare the soil, ensuring that it is well drained, to give a flying start to your season. Digging in mushroom compost works wonders for the seedlings.

Tomato Success Kit
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In order to get larger, healthier prolific fruit from your seedling, you need to encourage a large root system. To do this, bury all of the seedling stems below ground, leaving only the top leaves exposed, yes you read that correctly, just leave the top above ground, roots will then grow the full length of the stem.

If your particular plant needs staking (the label with your seedling or seed packet should tell you this) put in the correct size stake before you put in the plant, so that you don’t damage the roots later. Then use a seaweed fertilizer and water well in. Why not try the foolproof Success Kit to produce tastier and more nutritious fruit than ever before.

When growing tomatoes make sure the conditions remain constant throughout the growing season. Maintain a moist soil and do not let them dry out as you risk them being exposed to the disease, blossom end rot or you may find that the fruit will crack. Check the soil regularly; cheap gauges are readily available for this purpose. On the other hand don’t over water as waterlogged soil causes fungal diseases.

For more detailed advice and tips from a world horticultural expert consult

How To Grow Juicy Tasty Tomatoes


Juicy Tomatoes
When growing tomatoes keep a sharp eye out for the first flowers to appear, you can then use a liquid fertilizer every couple of weeks and a little potash can be added at this stage. However, do not use too much fertilizer as this will cause excess foliage growth at the expense of fruit.

When the weather warms up use organic mulch around your plants to save precious water; you can mulch right up the stalk to the bottom leaves which encourages them to put out more roots, and make them stronger. It’s a good idea to get bees visiting your garden for the pollination of your plants so why not plant some flowers to help attract these insects.

If you’re a balcony gardener, growing tomatoes in pots is easy; there are many miniature and cherry varieties to choose from, just use a 16 – 20 inch pot with potting mixture instead of soil.  Another alternative is the Topsy Turvy Planter.  By hanging the plant upside down, watering is a cinch (just pour it in the funnel on top), weeding is not an issue, staking and tying aren’t necessary, and you can do all the work at eye level! The plants grow up, towards the sun, adjusting to the weight of their fruit.

When growing tomatoes you may notice unsightly blemishes on the bottom end (or the blossom end) of the fruit, blossom end rot is the culprit. This is caused by the roots not being able to access calcium from your soil, which could be calcium deficient, but it is more likely to be due to uneven watering practices. The soil around the roots must never be allowed to dry out as the calcium will not be available to your plants, so make sure the soil remains moist but never too wet.

Other diseases include blights, leaf spot, wilt and leaf mosaic virus. These diseases can often be prevented by using healthy practices when growing tomatoes such as rotating crops, providing good air circulation and the required amount of sunshine and water.

Some of the pests that you may encounter when growing tomatoes are aphids, spider mite, cutworms, whitefly and flea beetles.

Check out the other vegetables which you can grow in your garden.