With the high temperatures continuing and no rain in sight, it is better to be patient and move small tomato plants out into garden beds slowly. Planting in pots or containers is different, they can go outside now but do require extra attention for watering. Young plants are better started in shaded spots or provided …Read More about First tomato planting
Posts relating to tomatoes
Potting up
Tomato seeds started now should germinate quickly, between 5-10 days. They are best started in separate pots or modules as the roots of the small plants can be difficult to dis-entangle when transplanting. Potting up the small plants is about giving the plant growing space in step with its growth rate. Tomato seedlings grow quickly …Read More about Potting up
Hardening off
All plants require a process of hardening off before being planted out in the garden. Whether bought from a store or started from seed indoors, young plants require to be slowly introduced to the outdoor conditions in which they will be expected to grow on. Store bought plants are better to sit in their pots …Read More about Hardening off
Tomato Gallery 2019 (Part 2)
As a general rule it is better to grow the smaller varieties of Mediterranean tomato in city gardens where they have restricted exposure. However, over the last 2 years the raised bed in this garden has been used to experiment with Eastern European varieties which produce larger tomatoes and can put up with the restricted …Read More about Tomato Gallery 2019 (Part 2)
Tomato Gallery 2019 (Part 1)
Tomatoes grow well in small city gardens. A raised bed is the best way to grow them though large pots work well also. This raised bed is 5m by 1m with the garden wall behind it and a support framework of aluminium poles built over it. This year the bed was used for 18 types …Read More about Tomato Gallery 2019 (Part 1)
August: Hot August nights
Too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Too much heat and too much sun is not good for plants. During heatwaves photosynthesis slows down and will stop altogether when temperatures rise to around 35C. Thus the garden is full of green tomatoes and semi mature fruits which will ripen when the temperatures …Read More about August: Hot August nights