Tomatoes grown in containers offer a comfortable alternative to the otherwise laborious task of growing tomatoes in the fields. Contrary to popular belief, tomatoes grown in containers will fair just as well, if not better than tomatoes set out in the dirt. It all depends on the size of the container you use and the potting mixture chosen for cultivation.

First you need to find the right size container for your plants. If you want the little cherry tomatoes (which are excellent in salads) then you can use the regular size hanging baskets, but if you prefer the larger tomatoes you'd do best to purchase five gallon buckets, because your plants need plenty of room to grow, you don't want them to be cramped. Next you need to go to a nursery and purchase your tomato plants. You don't want to get too large of a plant, you can buy a determinate tomato plant, that stops growing after they reach a certain size, or indeterminate that will continue to grow and produce larger tomato plants. Two of the most popular indeterminate tomato varieties are Early Girl and Big Boy. Both of these varieties are bred to be resistant to many common diseases.

Now you're ready to begin planting, make sure you put some holes in the bottom of your container for proper drainage. You don't want your plant to become overwhelmed with excess water. Carefully remove the bottom few sets of leaves and place the plant in the container. Make sure you don't use a flimsy, light weight container, because when your tomatoes are in bloom they may be top heavy and could cause the plant to topple. Tomatoes should be staked as early as possible, to prevent root disturbances caused by setting in the stake. Use a well mixed potting soil supplemented with plenty of organic matter to enrich the taste of your tomatoes. Ask at your neighborhood nursery for help in picking out the proper soil and fertilizer for in home planting.

Plants need plenty of sunlight, at least 6 to 8 hours a day. A grow light can be very beneficial in growing young plants, especially on cloudy days with limited sunlight. Be sure to water them daily, forgetting to water them for a couple of days and then starting to water them again, and then you once again forgetting; this rigorous process could delay the growth of your tomato plants. So please, be consistent with your care for them.

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This tomato soup recipe is by far the best and easiest one to make.  I have given you 2 alternative ways to make this soup depending on the seasons and what you have to hand. I'm sure that you will love it as much as my family and I do. The tomato soup recipe doesn't have to be made with fresh tomatoes, which is useful when you don't have your own tomatoes available, it is also really quick to make, nutritious and costs pennies compared to certain "garden fresh" soups that you find in the chiller section of your local supermaket. For me personally, I've never really liked the country's most famous "tinned tomato soup" either,  I find it makes the roof of my mouth really sore so it was wonderful to be able to find a recipe for tomato soup that really delivered on flavour. Inspired by Darina Allens' recipe from the Ballymaloe Cookery Course

You can also alter the flavourings by putting in some additional flavours at the end of the cooking time.  

In Darina's book she suggests that you first make a tomato puree with your own home grown tomatoes. Whether you make the puree with your own or shop bought tomatoes it's important that you use tomatoes that have been ripened on the vine to get maximum flavour.

So, to make the tomato puree, you will need

• 2lb/900g of  ripe tomatoes, quartered
• 1 small chopped onion
• salt & ground black pepper
• pinch of sugar

Put all the ingredients into a a stainless steel* saucepan and cook gently until the tomatoes have softened.

Pour the whole lot into a blender and blitz.  Finally pass through a nylon sieve*.

You can now either freeze it or use within a couple of days.  Now, on with the tomato soup recipe.

Tomato Soup Ingredients

• 8floz/225ml white or bechamel sauce
• 8floz/225ml chicken or vegetable stock
• 11/4 pints/750ml of tomato puree (see above)
• 1 small chopped onion
• 1/2oz/15g butter
• pinch sugar
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
• salt & pepper
• 4floz/125ml double cream (optional)

Method

Melt the butter in a pan and add the chopped onion. Sweat until soft. Add the rest of the ingredients except the double cream.

Bring to the boil and then simmer for about 5 minutes until heated through. Blitz with a hand blender, adjust the seasoning and add as much or as little cream to taste.

My Alternative Tomato Soup Ingredients

If you don't want to go to the bother of making your own tomato puree, you don't have to.  This tomato soup works really well using either canned tomatoes or a bottle of tomato passata (not the concentrate) from the supermarket

To use tinned tomatoes you will need 2 tins x 400ml of plum tomatoes. Put these in a blender then pass through a nylon sieve *to get rid of the seeds and proceed with the recipe above.

To use a bottle of tomato passata I find it best to get the one without seeds as you don't have to sieve it and it therefore saves time. Just  use the bottled tomato puree instead of the homemade one and proceed as before.

Alternative Flavourings

• Instead of mint you can add a couple of tablespoons of chopped basil
• Or chopped fresh coriander
• For rosemary use half the amount of the above herbs
• Add the grated zest of an orange.

This soup can be frozen and reheats really well.  I quite often make double the quantity, batch it up and keep it in the freezer for a quick, warming lunch.

I have specified a white or bechamel sauce because to be honest I cannot always be bothered to make bechamel and it does take longer to do. I find that the white sauce does the job almost as well and if you don't tell anyone then no-one will be any the wiser!

* Just a note - it's important to use a nylon sieve and not a metal one because the tomato juice can react with certain metals which will leave it with a horrible metallic taste.  The same goes for the saucepan, use stainless steel, not aluminum.

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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

Compost Bins

There are many proprietry compost bins on the market today ranging from simple wire constructed compost bins to plastic "tumbler" compost bins and at the top end - sturdy wooden compost bins. Compost bins range widely in price and size so depending on the depth of your pockets you will be guided in your eventual choice. One word of advice - don't go for really small compost bins, they should be able to take at least 200 litres of waste.(Of course you can also make your own compost bin - this is covered in anoth article). Let's go through the different choices available to you.

Plastic Compost Bins

These are sturdy and long lasting with no extra aftercare needed. Easy to move around they represent good value for money. The prices usually range from around £70 to £150. See a wider range of plastic compost bins.

Earthmaker Compost Bin 

Thermo-King Composter

Wooden Compost Bins

Wooden compost bins are also very strong and sturdy but not only can they be very heavy to move around, they often don't last as long as a plastic bin unless they have either been specially treated or you take it upon yourself to look after them by regularly treating them with wood preserver.

Having said that, they always look, to my mind, much nicer in a garden than the plastic compost bin which I always hide behind a trellis. Surprisingly perhaps, they are not as expensive as you might think.

Often coming in kit form they are easily put together, often without the need for tools or nails, so perfect for the not so "DIYer"! And at the end of the day, they too are biodegradeable.

 Wooden compost bins range in price from around £40 to £100.

I have found that is a good idea to have at least 2 compost bins on the go. One that's filled, covered and breaking down the waste and one that you are in the process of filling. Hopefully, if all goes well by the time you have filled up the second compost bin the first one's contents will be ready to use.

Modular Wooden Compost Bins

Wooden Compost Bin and Module

Whatever type of compost bin you choose, they must be covered.  Keeping the top of your compost covered helps to keep the heat in, stops smells and also helps to stop waste material being blown around the garden, after all, the last thing you want is that pile of dry leaves that you've so painstakingly raked up being blown all around again! Good coverings include old carpet or lino, heavy duty plastic or even an old blanket.

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The end of April is a little late in the season to be starting tomato seeds but if you choose to do so then you can expect to be harvesting in August. If you choose to start with tomato plants these should be ready about six weeks earlier than the tomato seeds but the variety is much smaller. For tomatoes to grow well they need to be in full sun and be watered regularly. Feed them about every ten days, preferably with a proprietry tomato fertiliser such as Levington Tomorite.

Standard Tomatoes

Remove all side shoots as soon as they appear and don't forget to support them with a strong stake, tying in the stem at around four to six inches apart.  As soon as they have four to six trusses on them, pinch out the top of the tomato plant. This will make sure that any energy will go into producing tomato fruits and not making the tomato plant grow taller.

Bush Tomatoes

These are really easy to grow, either in pots or compost bags.  They don't need any staking or side shoot removal but it is still essential that you feed and water them at regular intervals.

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