How to Grow Tomatoes in the UK

At that time they were also known as wolf's peach and Peruvian apple. The Elizabethans in the UK thought the bright red colour of tomatoes was a danger signal and regarded them as dangerous fruits. In fact, tomatoes are related to the nightshade family.

That's enough of the history, fresh from the garden, the tomato is delicious wherever they originated from!

Where To Grow Your Tomatoes

Tomatoes are sub-tropical plants and therefore require a full sun position. This is especially important in most areas of the UK where sunlight and warmth are at a premium even in mid-summer. A position against a wall or fence will give an even better chance of success as long as they can receive sufficient water.

Tomato plants grow very well in raised beds, they appreciate the soil conditions which provide moisture without water-logging. Click here for our page on growing vegetables in raised beds.

How to Grow Tomatoes - Soil Preparation

Two or three weeks before planting, dig the soil over and incorporate as much organic matter as possible. The aim is to make the soil able to retain the moisture needed so much by tomatoes. Incorporating organic matter into the soil has the added benefit that it will help it warm up much quicker compared to dense soils which do not drain well.

Spread a handful or two of fish blood and bone meal over each square metre / yard as you are digging the area over. This will provide a base, long-lasting feed containing many trace elements which tomato plants require for good growth.

How to Grow Tomatoes - When to Sow Seed

Tomato plants plants take roughly 7 weeks from sowing to reach the transplanting stage. They should transplanted outside one or two weeks after your last frost date which is early May in your area. Sow them 7 weeks before you plan to transplant them outside.

How to Grow Tomatoes - Sowing Seed

The following sowing / transplanting methods are available to the amateur gardener in the UK who wants to grow tomatoes outside without the use of a greenhouse.

Click on any method below for a detailed description plus the advantages and disadvantages of each.

• buying tomato plants ready to plant directly outside

• sow tomato seed directly in the soil outside

• sow tomato seed in pots indoors (windowsill)

• sow tomato seed in pots outside with cloche protection

• sowing under fluorescent lights (in the garage or similar)

Note that we have included the option above of sowing tomato seed directly outside but this is only recommended for the warmest areas of the UK. If your last frost date is past mid-April then sowing seed directly outside is not really an option.

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