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There is nothing quite like the flavour of home-grown tomatoes picked fresh from the vine on a warm summer day. Tomatoes can be grown successfully in vegetable beds, greenhouses and containers, making them a great choice for gardens and growing spaces of many sizes.
This beginner-friendly guide takes you through growing tomatoes from sowing seeds and caring for young plants to feeding, watering and harvesting ripe fruits. You’ll also find practical tomato growing tips for keeping plants healthy, encouraging a good crop and getting the best flavour from your tomatoes.
For a first attempt at growing tomatoes, there is no need to get too caught up in finding the perfect variety. More useful is understanding how the plant grows, because this affects the space, support and pruning it will need.
Tomatoes are generally divided into two main growing types: bush and cordon.
Bush tomatoes grow to a more compact size and are particularly useful where space is limited. They can be grown in pots, containers, raised beds and other suitable sunny positions.
Most bush varieties require little pruning and their side shoots should not normally be removed. Plants may still benefit from support once they become laden with fruit, particularly if stems begin to bend under the weight.
For a beginner who wants a relatively low-maintenance tomato plant, a bush variety can be a good place to start.
Cordon tomatoes grow upwards on a single main stem and continue producing trusses of fruit as the plant develops. They are commonly grown in greenhouses, grow bags and sunny, sheltered positions outdoors.
Unlike bush tomatoes, cordons need regular support. Tie the main stem loosely to a cane or other support as it grows and remove the side shoots that appear between the main stem and leaves.
This keeps the plant manageable and concentrates growth along the main fruiting stem.
Once you’ve decided between bush and cordon, choosing the fruit itself is largely a matter of preference. For a first crop, simply pick a tomato you enjoy eating.
Small, sweet tomatoes that are ideal for salads, lunchboxes and eating straight from the plant.
Fleshy, oval-shaped tomatoes often chosen for sauces and cooking.
Medium-sized tomatoes that are useful for sandwiches, salads and everyday cooking.
Large, fleshy tomatoes that produce substantial slices and are particularly good in sandwiches and burgers.
Tomatoes need a reasonably long growing season, so seeds are generally sown indoors during spring where they can germinate in warm, protected conditions.
Once seedlings appear, remove any covering and give them plenty of light to prevent weak, leggy growth.
When the seedlings are large enough to handle comfortably, transplant them individually into small pots and continue growing them somewhere bright and protected.
Tomato plants raised indoors need time to adjust before being planted outside. Once the risk of frost has passed, gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over a week or two.
Start by placing plants outside in a sheltered position during the day and bringing them back under cover at night. Gradually increase the amount of time they spend outside before planting them in their final position.
Pro Tip: Rotate seedlings growing on a windowsill regularly so they don’t continually lean towards the light.
Tomatoes need warmth, plenty of light and consistent moisture to grow and fruit well. A sunny, sheltered position is ideal for outdoor plants, while greenhouses provide the additional warmth that some varieties prefer.
Good airflow is also important, particularly when plants are grown under cover, as crowded and humid conditions can encourage problems.
Consistent watering becomes particularly important once fruit begins to develop. Allowing plants to become very dry and then giving them large amounts of water can contribute to problems such as fruit splitting.
Container-grown tomatoes may need particularly close attention during hot weather because their compost dries much more quickly than garden soil.
Tomatoes are generally ready to harvest once they have developed their mature colour and the fruits come away readily from the plant. Pick them individually as they ripen rather than waiting for an entire truss to be ready.
Regular picking means you can enjoy each tomato at its best and keep an eye on the remaining crop.
Freshly harvested tomatoes are generally best stored at room temperature rather than in the refrigerator, where low temperatures can affect flavour and texture.
Pro Tip: At the end of the growing season, pick remaining mature green tomatoes before cold weather damages them. They can be brought indoors to ripen or used while still green in recipes such as chutney.
Checking tomato plants regularly makes it easier to spot changes in leaves, stems and fruit before a problem becomes widespread.
Tomato blight is a fungal-like disease that can spread rapidly during warm, wet weather.
Signs can include:
Remove affected material promptly and avoid leaving infected plant material around the growing area. Providing good airflow and avoiding unnecessary wetting of foliage may help reduce conditions favourable to infection.
If blight has been a recurring problem, consider choosing a variety bred for increased resistance.
Whitefly are tiny sap-feeding insects commonly encountered on plants grown under cover.
Look for:
Check the undersides of leaves regularly. Biological controls and sticky traps can be useful in greenhouses, while encouraging natural predators can help with outdoor plants.
Less common, but still potentially devastating if left untreated, these tomato problems can quickly affect plant health and reduce harvests.
Red spider mites favour warm, dry conditions and can become troublesome in greenhouses.
Affected leaves may become pale or mottled, and severe infestations can produce fine webbing around the foliage. Check plants regularly during prolonged hot, dry weather so infestations can be tackled early.
Blossom end rot causes a dark, sunken patch at the base of developing fruit. Although associated with calcium uptake, it is commonly triggered when inconsistent moisture prevents the plant from taking up calcium effectively.
Keep plants evenly watered and pay particular attention to tomatoes growing in containers and grow bags, which can dry out quickly during warm weather.
A few good habits can make tomato plants easier to manage and help maintain healthy growth through the season.
Avoid crowding plants together. Adequate spacing improves airflow and gives leaves better access to light. As a general guide, allow around 45–60cm between plants, although larger varieties may need more room
Check plants regularly during warm weather rather than allowing the compost or soil to alternate repeatedly between very dry and saturated.
Tomatoes grown in containers have limited access to nutrients. Once fruit begins forming, feed according to the instructions for your chosen tomato fertiliser.
Continue tying cordon tomatoes to their supports and removing side shoots as they appear. Bush tomatoes should generally be allowed to develop naturally without side-shoot removal.
Pick tomatoes as they ripen and enjoy them fresh from the plant.
You don’t have to grow tomatoes from seed. Ready-grown plants are an excellent option for beginners and for anyone who has missed the spring sowing period.
Starting with an established young plant means you can move straight on to planting and ongoing care, before enjoying the best part: harvesting your own tomatoes.
Growing tomatoes doesn’t need to be complicated. Give plants plenty of light, consistent water and suitable support, and keep an eye on them as they develop through the summer.
At our garden centre, you’ll find tomato plants during the growing season along with gardening products to support them from planting through to harvest. Practical advice is also available if you need help getting started or dealing with a problem.
Visit us in Kington for practical advice and gardening essentials to support your tomatoes from planting through to harvest.
