Get into gardening

There is nothing like home grown tomatoes to complete a summer barbecue. Not only is it fun, but it's quick, easy and cheap too.

When to plant?

January – late April

When to harvest?

July – October

Where to plant?

Grow inside on a window ledge or in a greenhouse first, and then move them to a sunny soil bed or a grow bag in the garden once the risk of frost has passed. Tomatoes are best grown in a greenhouse.

What to do:

Each seed needs to be planted in a 7.5cm pot of moist potting compost. Water lightly and place in a warm, draught-free place such as a windowsill or greenhouse. Check every day and keep the soil moist.

Just after a week, the seedlings should surface. The plants then need to be moved to a light position, but not in direct sunlight. Ensure that your plants are given a regular drink of water.

Approximately 4 weeks after planting, the roots should begin to appear from the bottom of the pot. They then need to be moved into a larger pot, roughly 12.5cm. Gently move the plant from the smaller pot to the larger one by hand, without disturbing the roots.

Once the risk of frost has passed, your tomatoes can be moved outside. Dig holes that are roughly 45cm apart in the soil bed, and about 5cm deeper than the pots. Place the plants in the holes and fill around the plant with soil. Alternatively, plant them into a grow bag. N.B. At this point you could use pre-grown plants rather than waiting for them to grow from seed.

Loosely tie the plant's stem to a stake and water well. It's important to water plants regularly to keep the soil damp. For the best results include a liquid feed with your water every 2-3 weeks.

As soon as the fruits are ripe, they are ready to be picked.