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Growing indoor tomatoes is a very easy pasttime.  Not only does it mean that you get your own home grown tomatoes early but there is something very satisfying about  being able to grow your own tomatoes indoors - even if you don't have a garden.

Tomatoes really don't require a whole lot of space, they can easily be grown in pots in a place where they will get plenty of sun. 

Bush or Cherry tomatoes are an excellent choice for if you are going to grow tomatoes indoors. They do not need much looking after, just remember to keep them watered regularly and feed them weekly with a proper tomato fertisler such as Levingtons or Doffs which you can easily purchase from The Tomato Shop.

You do need to keep an eye out for tomato pests such as whitefly,mealy bugs,scale insects or greenfly. If you find these pests you can spray them with a pesticide that is specifically designed for vegetables and fruit such as tomatoes.

Indoor Tomato Seeds

Indoor Tomato Plants

Generally I have never had many pests on my tomato plants but there are some pests such as Greenfly and Whitefly that pop up time and time again.

Greenfly (Aphids)

Greenfly aren't always green, they can be pink, brown or black.  Generally appearing on the soft new shoots of tomato plants they suck the sap away from the plant and at the same time introduce viruses which not only distort the tomato fruits but if left without checking their progress will eventually kill the plant. A by product called "honeydew" is secreted by the greenfly which in turn is eaten by ants, which is why you often see ants "farming" the greenfly.

Greenfly can be controlled a variety of  ways, the best and most environmentally friendly  being with the introduction of a parasitic insect that feeds on the greenfly or by hanging yellow sticky papers.

Insects that attack aphids include Ladybirds and their larva, Hoverfly larva, parasitic wasps and lacewings.

Whitefly

These are tiny, moth-like insects that look like clouds of dust when you disturb the plants.

Once again they reduce the plant vigour by sucking at the sap.

If you are growing your tomatoes indoors both of these pests can be controlled by hanging yellow sticky traps in the greenhouse. These work continuously for up to 2 months.

If you choose to use an insecticide, try   An All-In-One Insecticide (Bug) Spray - This comes ready to use and you can  apply it safely to all fruit and vegetables with the added bonus of being able to harvest the crop the day after spraying.

Looking for tomato growing tips? Follow these top tips for growing tomatoes and you will have a bumper crop every year.

1. Don't be too hasty when planting your tomatoes outdoors.  Make sure that any sign of frost is well and truly past.

2. Grow companion plants. A companion plant will help to keep your tomato plant healthy and keep pests away.

3. 2 Great Companion Plants -   Pot Marigolds. Not only are Marigolds pretty to look at, they also help to keep away greenfly (aphids). Plant young marigolds at the same time as you plant out your tomatoes. This applies whether you are growing tomatoes indoors or outdoors. Basil.  Once again plant out young basil plants when all risk of frost has passed.  The basil will help improve your tomatoes' flavour and help to keep pests such as greenfly away.

4. Pinch out side stems as soon as you see them.  By taking time to check your standard tomato plants every day you will ensure that all of the tomato plants energy is used to make tomato fruits and not waste it on growing leaves.

5. Tie your standard tomato plants in regularly. This helps to keep them straight and strong.

6. Water regularly. If you forget to water your tomato plants you will end up with tomatoes that have split at the top, a sure sign of thirst.

7. Spray your plants regulary with a fine water mist. This will help the tomato fruits to set.

8. Feed your tomato plant regularly with a dedicated tomato feed.

9. Check every day for pests such as aphids and mealy moths. Remove by crushing them between your fingers or use an organic pesticide that won't harm beneficial insects.

10. If growing tomatoes indoors, be sure to shade the plant from the hot midday sun. A cheap way to do this is to paint the inside of the greenhouse with a proprietry greenhouse paint.