Tomatoes - Medium
Type: Vegetable
Rotation Group: 1, Potatoes and Tomatoes
 | | GARDENERS DELIGHT(Indeterminate) An extremely popular cordon type that produces heavy crops of rich, sweet flavoured and juicy fruits. Ideal for growing in the greenhouse or outdoors. |
 | | MONEY MAKER(Indeterminate) An old favourite that is easy to grow and gives a good crop of medium sized fruits with good flavour. Can be grown in the greenhouse or outdoors.
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 | | AILSA CRAIG(Indeterminate) A popular cordon variety that is reliable, with medium-sized fruits of fine shape and flavour. Ideal for greenhouse and outdoor growing. |
 | | ALICANTE(Indeterminate) Probably the best 'non-hybrid' normal sized tomato. Crops well and reliably. The smooth red fruit is of splendid quality. Ideal for both greenhouse and outdoor growing. |
Site, Soil and Preparation
They are great for growing in pots or grow bags in a greenhouse, but will also do well in a sunny spot outdoors, either in the ground, in large pots or in grow bags against a south-facing wall. Smaller types can even be grown in hanging baskets! A fertile soil is required.
Indoor Sowing
Sow from late February to mid-March if you are growing your crop in a greenhouse, or from late March to early April if you are growing outside. Sow in thinly on the surface in pots or trays of seed compost and cover with a thin layer of seed compost or vermiculite. Keep covered (clear cover) in a warm place of about 18 centigrade - a heated propogator is ideal. Uncover and place in a well lit place (window sill) as soon as seedlings appear.
Outdoor Sowing
To improve success in germinating and to develop hardier plants it is best to sow and bring on tomato seeds indoors.
Thinning
After about two weeks from the seedlings appearing pot them on into individual pots buried up to the first pair of leaves. Keep on a window sill or in a greenhouse above 16 centigrade for a further month.
Transplanting
After about a month the tomato seedlings should be ready to plant to their final growing position.
Care
Water tomato plants regularly to keep the soil moist and feed every 10-14 days with a recognized tomato fertiliser.
Cordon (indeterminate) tomatoes will need tying into tall supports and have side shoots removed regularly.
Bush (determinate) tomatoes should not need supports unless they are carrying heavy fruit, when support canes may be needed.
Harvest
Check tomato fruit regularly and pick individual tomatoes as they become fully coloured and ripe.
