The Ultimate Guide to Tomatoes

Why Grow Your Own Tomatoes?

Tomatoes are a standout allotment crop for both beginners and experienced growers. They are productive, relatively easy to manage, and deliver outstanding flavour when grown well.

Homegrown tomatoes are:

• Richer, sweeter, and more aromatic than shop-bought fruit
• Highly productive even from a small space
• Suitable for greenhouses, polytunnels, grow bags, and pots
• Available in an incredible range of colours, shapes, and tastes

A single healthy plant can produce 2–5kg of fruit depending on variety and growing conditions, making tomatoes one of the most rewarding crops in terms of yield.

Tomato Varieties to Try

Tomatoes come in many forms, each suited to different spaces and uses:

Gardener’s Delight : Classic cherry tomato, reliable and sweet

Sungold : Exceptionally sweet orange cherry tomato, highly productive

Alicante : Traditional salad tomato, good for outdoor growing

Moneymaker : Reliable and heavy cropping, ideal for beginners

San Marzano : Classic plum tomato, excellent for sauces and cooking

Beefsteak : Large fruits ideal for slicing

Tumbling Tom : Trailing variety perfect for hanging baskets

Planting and Establishing Tomatoes

Sowing Seeds
Start seeds indoors in trays or modules from late winter to early spring. Keep them in a warm position (18–21°C) for good germination.

Once seedlings develop their first true leaves, they can be pricked out and potted on.

Potting On
As plants grow:

• Pot on into larger containers to support root development
• Plant deeply — tomatoes will form roots along buried stems
• Strong root systems lead to healthier, more productive plants.

Planting Out
Before planting outside:

• Harden off plants gradually over 7–10 days
• Space plants 45–60 cm apart
• Provide strong supports such as canes, strings, or cages

Caring for Tomato Plants

Watering

• Tomatoes need consistent moisture for best results.
• Water deeply and regularly
• Avoid irregular watering, which can cause splitting and blossom end rot
• Always water at the base of the plant

Feeding

• Once flowers appear:
• Feed weekly with a high-potash tomato fertiliser
• Avoid high nitrogen feeds once fruiting begins

Supporting and Training

• Tie plants to supports as they grow
• Remove side shoots on cordon varieties
• Encourage upright growth for better airflow and fruit quality

Common Tomato Pests and Diseases 

Aphids
Often found on young shoots and stems.
Control:

• Remove by hand or wash off with water
• Encourage natural predators such as ladybirds
• Avoid excessive nitrogen feeding

Whitefly
Common in greenhouses during warm weather.
Control:

• Use sticky traps
• Improve airflow
• Encourage beneficial insects

Slugs and Snails
Mostly affect young plants and seedlings.
Control:

• Hand-pick in the evening
• Use barriers such as copper tape
• Keep the growing area tidy

Tomato Blight
A serious disease in damp, humid conditions.
Symptoms:

• Brown leaf patches
• Blackened stems
• Rotting fruit

Prevention:

• Improve spacing and airflow
• Avoid overhead watering
• Remove infected plants quickly

Blossom End Rot
Caused by inconsistent watering rather than disease.
Symptoms:

• Dark, sunken patches on the base of fruit

Prevention:

• Maintain even soil moisture
• Avoid drought stress
• Feed and water consistently

Harvesting Tomatoes

Harvest when fruits are fully coloured and slightly soft to the touch. Pick regularly to encourage continued production.

Tomatoes taste best when:

• Fully ripened on the plant
• Eaten fresh at room temperature
• A single plant can produce steadily for several months in peak season.

Storage

• Best eaten fresh for maximum flavour
• Ripen green tomatoes indoors if needed
• Cook and freeze sauces or passata for long-term storage
• Avoid refrigeration, which reduces flavour and texture

Nutritional Benefits of Tomatoes

Tomatoes are both delicious and highly nutritious:

• Rich in vitamin C and potassium
• High in antioxidants such as lycopene
• Low in calories
• Support heart and skin health

Cooked tomatoes, such as in sauces and soups, can increase the availability of beneficial compounds.

Companion Planting for Tomatoes

Good companions:

• Basil: Enhances growth and flavour
• Marigolds: Help deter pests
• Garlic and onions: Natural pest deterrents
• Lettuce: Grows well in the shade of tomato plants

Avoid:

• Potatoes (increase blight risk)
• Brassicas (compete for nutrients)

Culinary Uses

reshly picked tomatoes have a depth of flavour that is impossible to replicate in shop-bought fruit. Warm from the sun, they are sweet, juicy, and intensely aromatic — perfect eaten straight from the vine while still on the plot.

In the kitchen, tomatoes become one of the most versatile ingredients you can grow. A simple handful of cherry tomatoes can transform a salad, pasta dish, or bruschetta, while larger varieties provide the base for slow-cooked sauces, soups, and stews.

A few key uses include:

• Fresh eating in salads with basil, olive oil, and seasoning
• Roasting slowly with garlic and herbs to concentrate flavour
• Turning glut harvests into rich passata or pasta sauce for freezing
• Making chutneys, relishes, and preserves for winter use
• Drying or dehydrating for long-lasting storage and intense flavour

As the season progresses, harvests often increase rapidly, with plants producing trusses of fruit faster than they can be eaten. This is where tomatoes truly shine — a single row of plants can supply weeks of fresh produce, with surplus easily preserved for later in the year.

Even the simplest dishes highlight their quality. A homegrown tomato, sliced and served with a pinch of salt and a drizzle of oil, is often all that is needed to appreciate the full reward of months of care on the allotment.

Tomatoes remain one of the most rewarding and reliable crops for allotment growers, offering both exceptional flavour and impressive yields from a relatively small space.