Gardening expert reveals how to grow tomatoes as searches skyrocket amid shortage

Google data shows that UK-based searches for ‘tomato shortage’ have grown by 238% in the last week. The shortage has caused searches for ‘how to grow tomatoes’ and ‘tomato seeds’ to skyrocket by 909% and 235%, respectively, in the last week. However, getting started can be challenging for beginners. Craig Wilson, a gardening expert from Gardeners Dream, reveals top tips for growing the perfect tomatoes at home.

Nothing is more satisfying than growing beautiful, fresh tomatoes in your garden. You can grow them indoors as early as January, transferring to the garden after two months when the weather is milder.

It takes about five months from seedling to harvest, so they should be ready in time for summer.

What you need

To grow tomatoes successfully from seeds, you’ll need some starter trays and 3-4 inch pots to transfer them into after they begin to grow. You’ll also need rich, fertile soil or peat-free potting compost and a good spot with plenty of sun (around eight hours a day) and shelter.

Seeds

For beginners, we recommend tomato moneymaker seeds. They are one of the most reliable varieties of tomatoes, popular for being reliable and producing heavy crops of delicious tomatoes.

Sowing

Sow seeds from January to April, about ¼ inch deep. Use deep pots or trays, under glass, with a temperature above 18°C (around 25°C is best). Tomatoes are sensitive to cold and love heat, which helps them to grow. Keep the soil moist but be careful not to overwater, making the soil soggy and inhibiting growth.

Once seedlings are large enough to handle, around five inches tall, transfer them into individual containers or a seedbed. Once the last frost has passed, it is safe to plant them outside.

Prepare your patch

To ensure your tomatoes have the best chance of growing plump and juicy, you need to check your soil is of the highest quality possible with four easy steps:

Remove any larger weeds and debris

Treat soil with weedkiller

Dig over the soil to a depth of at least 12 inches, then rake until the ground is level, which aerates the soil, helping oxygen and moisture reach the roots to encourage growth.

Before planting, water the soil and work in a fertiliser

How to grow

Dig deep enough for the soil to cover about two-thirds of the plant, encouraging strong roots and healthy growth. Each plant should be around 20 inches apart in rows, and the spacing of each row should be double that. Make sure to water the plants consistently. When watering, check the soil’s moisture; the water should go around ten inches deep.

Tomato trellises and support stakes can help your plants to grow. Don’t grow tomatoes near cabbage, fennel, corn, or potatoes, as this will harm the tomatoes’ growth.

Maintenance

Water regularly and feed weekly with a high-potash fertiliser once the plants begin to flower.

Side shoots may appear on your tomato plants. You can prune these.

Harvest

It is safe to harvest tomatoes in the summer, from July to October. Tomatoes ripen after picking but wait until they are beginning to change colour before harvesting.