Tomato Facts

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.