Patio, Balcony and Ground Grown Tomatoes

Tomatoes

In the UK tomatoes ripen in August and September but I'm guessing and will experiment this year that in Cyprus we could probably get away with growing 3 crops (if planting time was timed correctly). I will try sowing Feb, April and July for a later crop.

At the end of the season any green tomatoes can be stored and ripened indoors or used in chutney.

Tomatoes grow successfully in pots and containers and I definitely will grow some of my crop on the patio (if only to make it easy for picking when needed in the kitchen).

For plants grown in the open, bush varieties need no de-shooting or stacking and will produce large numbers of small fruits.

Outdoor tomatoes grow at their best in sunny sheltered positions. The soil needs to be rich and moisture holding. In the winter before planting dig into the soil well rooted compost or manure.

It is a good idea if before planting you rake in a dressing of general fertiliser.

How many to plant

Gown outdoors a plant with four trusses of fruit will produce approx 4lb - 2 kg or more of tomatoes.

Growing the Plants

You can of course buy plants from garden nurseries but it is always cheaper to raise the plants from seed.

In the UK if you intend to plant outside, sow the seeds in early April. Sow seeds about 1 in apart in a seed tray filled with seed compost. Sift compost at a depth of 1/4 over the top and water in with fine rose.

Another way to sow and I find this the best way is to sow seeds on top of the soil, cover to keep out the light and after around 3 days start checking for growth. Once the roots have buried themselves and the plant has started to show, remove the cover and continue as normal. NOTE. If you intend to sow this way, the plants, if left covered to long, will become very leggy very very quickly so at the 1st signs that the plants are near ready to uncover, you will need to keep and constant check on them, at least twice a day if not more.

When the seed leaves are fully developed, the seedlings are then ready for planting into 3 in pots filled with potting compost. They will happily remain in these pots until planting time.

Plant outside when the danger of frost has passed (aren't we the lucky ones) this is usually the last week of May in the South of England and a week or two later in the North.

Set plants approx 18 in apart allowing them 2 1/2 ft between rows. Insert a 5 in stack or bamboo for each plant. Tie the plants to the canes throughout the growing period. If not growing bush varieties remove side shoots regularly from leaf axils. Water plants frequently in dry weather and apply liquid tomato fertiliser weekly once the fruits start to develop. Pinch out the top of the plants when 4 trusses have formed, leaving 2 leaves above the top truss.

Growing tomatoes in Pots

A sunny balcony or patio is ideal to grow tomatoes. Grown each plant in a 10in pot. Leave approx 4in space between the compost and the top of the pot to allow room to add a top-dressing of compost when the fruits appear.

Support, remove shoots and feed exactly the same as you would plants grown in the soil. Do remember they will require more water and possibly twice daily during hot weather. Feed double the amount of liquid feed recommended for plants grown in the open.