Tomato
Water little and often rather than occasionally and heavily — consistency, not volume, is what prevents splitting and blossom end rot.
Care
Sheltered — a greenhouse or warm, sunny spot outdoors in the UK climate.
Consistent watering is critical — irregular watering causes fruit splitting and blossom end rot.
Fertile, well-drained soil or good quality compost in containers/growing bags; a heavy feeder.
Pinch out side shoots weekly on cordon (indeterminate) types to maintain a single stem; remove lower leaves as trusses ripen to improve airflow; stop the growing tip after 4-6 trusses outdoors so remaining fruit has time to ripen.
Start feeding with a high-potash tomato feed as soon as the first truss has set, and continue every week without fail. Feeding before the first truss sets gives a huge leafy plant and delays the fruit — this is the single most common mistake with tomatoes.
From seed, sown under cover in early spring — F1 varieties will not come true from saved seed, though open-pollinated ones will. Side-shoots pinched out in summer also root in water and give late plants.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- MayPlant out once all frost risk has passed and nights are reliably mild. how ›
- JulyPinch out side shoots weekly and feed with a high-potassium tomato feed weekly once flowering. how ›
- SeptemberRemove remaining leaves and any late-forming flowers to focus energy on ripening the last fruit before autumn cold.
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilPlant out once all frost risk has passed and nights are reliably mild. how ›
- JulyPinch out side shoots weekly and feed with a high-potassium tomato feed weekly once flowering. how ›
- SeptemberRemove remaining leaves and any late-forming flowers to focus energy on ripening the last fruit before autumn cold.
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilPlant out once all frost risk has passed and nights are reliably mild. how ›
- JulyPinch out side shoots weekly and feed with a high-potassium tomato feed weekly once flowering. how ›
- SeptemberRemove remaining leaves and any late-forming flowers to focus energy on ripening the last fruit before autumn cold.
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchPlant out once all frost risk has passed and nights are reliably mild. how ›
- JulyPinch out side shoots weekly and feed with a high-potassium tomato feed weekly once flowering. how ›
- OctoberRemove remaining leaves and any late-forming flowers to focus energy on ripening the last fruit before autumn cold.
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Brown patches spreading rapidly on leaves and fruit in warm, wet weather.
What to do. Remove and dispose of affected plants promptly — do not compost.
How to spot it. Black, sunken patch on the base of the fruit, from irregular watering.
What to do. Water more consistently.
How to spot it. Especially under glass.
What to do. Treat if severe; encourage predators.
Questions
Tomato: is it hardy?
H1c: Tender, needs above 5°C. It survives above 5 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
A classic choice for growing bags, large pots and hanging baskets (trailing/bush types).
Tomato: when do you prune it?
Pinch out side shoots weekly on cordon (indeterminate) types to maintain a single stem; remove lower leaves as trusses ripen to improve airflow; stop the growing tip after 4-6 trusses outdoors so remaining fruit has time to ripen.
Tomato: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in June–August.
When do you feed it?
Start feeding with a high-potash tomato feed as soon as the first truss has set, and continue every week without fail. Feeding before the first truss sets gives a huge leafy plant and delays the fruit — this is the single most common mistake with tomatoes. Feeding months, UK: June–September.