Growing tomatoes has several benefits: a single plant provides abundant fruit for the growing season.
Although the weather hasn’t been the best in some parts of the UK, Britons can help their crops by avoiding certain mistakes.
According to Holly Jones of Garden Street, there are five common mistakes many people make that can lead to “performance losses” and illness.
The first mistake is to plant the seeds too early, as the soil will be too cold for the tomatoes to grow.
The timing of sowing tomato seeds depends on the location and where in the garden they will be grown, but by July, tomatoes should already be planted outside.
Holly said: “If you plant tomato seeds too close together you risk stunting the growth of the plants. You also risk crowding the plants, which can result in them not getting enough direct sunlight.”
Gardeners should plant tomatoes deeply, so that the first set of leaves are just above the soil surface before planting them in the ground.
They should be spaced 45-70cm apart, depending on final size, so be sure to check the seed packet instructions.
Many gardeners choose to use grow bags that have dedicated spaces for placing plants.
Tomato plants do not need to be watered too often, unless the weather is very hot, according to the expert.
Overwatering tomato plants could cause them to rot, resulting in a loss of plants and any hope of fruit.
The expert noted: “However, it is still important to ensure that plants are watered, and by watering them consistently once or twice a week you can ensure that there is constant humidity.”
Holly continued: “Ideally, tomato plants should be staked to keep them upright. If this isn’t done, the plants can end up on the ground and pick up diseases from other plants which can damage them.
To support tomato plants, you can purchase various items at garden centres, such as bamboo or even wooden branches.
Just make sure they are tall enough and tie them with string as the plant grows to support it.
The gardening expert said: “If you don’t pick tomatoes at the right time, you risk them rotting on the plant and falling to the ground. Pick tomatoes before they are fully ripe and place them in a sunny window to fully ripen before eating.”
It is also important to cut off side shoots so that the plant does not direct its energy into developing too many stems.
This can lead to a weak crop as it will become extremely heavy and the tomatoes will not grow properly.
