for GARDEN IDEAS
Now’s the perfect time to start growing these pot-friendly foods
HOW TO GROW TOMATOES
There’s nothing quite like growing your own tomatoes, but there’s definitely a knack to it. They need lengthy exposure to heat and sun, which means some gardeners get started as early as January!
However, this requires extra equipment like lamps, which might not work for your budget and space.
Plus, if you’re planning to grow them outside, your plants may be ready before the temperature is warm enough for them to survive outdoors. Early March sowing can be successful, so there’s no time like the present!
WHAT: Did you know there are 10,000 varieties to choose from? Talk about overwhelming! Mr Fothergills Red Cherry and RHS Tomato Outdoor Girl are good options.
HOW: Start them off in small individual seed trays, with up to two seeds per pot filled with an all-purpose compost. Sow them no more than 0.5cm deep. They’ll only germinate in temperatures of 20C or higher, so place a heated mat underneath your tray, and place a lid on top (heated propagators will do the job nicely here). Expect first signs of life in around 10 days.
THE NEXT STEPS: Once your true leaves have developed, move the plant into a bigger pot, otherwise known as ‘potting on’. Use a dibber (a pencil works fine!) to loosen the compost and lift out the plant. Hold by a leaf, not the stem, which is more delicate, and take care not to damage the roots. Make a well in the bigger pot for the seedling to go into, and cover halfway up the stem. Eventually, they’ll grow to require a bigger (and final) pot. Try grow bags made specifically for tomatoes, allowing for two plants per bag.
WHERE: Heat and light are key throughout the growing process, so if you don’t have a greenhouse, choose the brightest spot in your garden or house. A south-facing kitchen windowsill is great!
FEEDING AND WATERING: Tomatoes are notoriously high-maintenance. Not only do they not like their soil drying out, but they’re said to grow better if you water them consistently, so just morning time, for example. They also need a good balance of nutrients and giving them a liquid feed once a week is the way to do this. Try Westland Big Tomato Feed, £9.39 (Amazon).
PINCHING OFF: Take a look at your side shoots. If you have anything extra sprouting between the main stem and side branch, ‘pinch’ it out using your thumb and forefinger. This act helps put the energy into the main stems for better fruit.
HARVEST: You should be able to pluck them easily, no tugging! If there’s risk of frost, remove the green tomatoes and bring them inside to ripen.
PERFECT PEPPERS
Anything in the pepper family –including chil
