P OT TO P L AT E S U M M E R V E G
How to
G R OW T O M AT O P L A N T S F R O M S E E D
1. Fill compostable
seed pots with
compost – these
make potting-on
easy at a later date,
and use no plastic.
2. Gently push two
or three tomato
seeds into each pot,
and cover with a thin
layer of compost.
4. Cover the
seed tray with a
lid to encourage
germination, and
place in a heated
greenhouse or on
a sunny windowsill. 7. Add a bamboo
cane for support,
and tie the plant
loosely to the cane
with string. If you’re
using a horizontal-
style growbag, with
circular holes, a plant
‘halo’ is a simple way
to support the cane
and it also makes
watering easier.
5. When the seeds
germinate, remove
the weakest
seedlings leaving
one to grow into a
sturdy baby plant. 8. Water tomato
plants daily, in the
morning or in the
evening, and apply
tomato feed once
the flowers appear.
3. Lightly water
the compost.
in an unheated
greenhouse,or in
a sunny border.
Tumbling or trailing
tomato varieties need no
pinching out, whereas
‘cordon’ varieties are
grown with a bamboo
support, and need their
side shoots pinched out
every few days. All tomato
plants benefit from daily
watering (try using ice
cubes in very hot weather),
plus feeding when the
yellow flowers appear.
With plenty of sunshine,
some varieties can be ready
to eat from mid-July.
Chilli peppers can be
grown in medium-sized
pots on a sunny window-
sill, in a greenhouse, or
outdoors on a bright,
sheltered patio, and they
should be ready to harvest
from late July onwards.
Two of our favourite
chilli pepper plants for heat
and flavour are ‘Apache’
and ‘Jalapeno’, while
‘Sweet Banana’ brings a
spicy sweetness to dishes
rather than full-on heat.
42/BEAUTIFUL GARDENS
YOU’LL NEED
Tomato seeds • Seed & cuttings compost
• Compostable pots • Seed tray and lid •
Watering can (with fine rose) • Growing bag
tray • Growing bag and halo supports • Canes
and string • Tomato feed
6. When the tomato
plants are about
20cm/8ins tall, plant
into a growbag,
covering the bottom
third of the stem
with compost (this
makes the plant
more stable).
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WAT C H T H E V I D EO O N O U R W E B S I T E