We’re seeing red for Tomatoes. That’s right we’re encouraging everyone to get growing with some tomatoes. It’s one of the easiest crops to grow and will add the freshest tastes to the table or lunch box. Everyone can grow a tomato whether you have a patio or a garden.
Did you know that Tomatoes are related to Eggplants and chillies? Tomatoes are in fact a fruit, but they are usually classed as a vegetable because of the way they are used in cooking. Tomatoes originated in South America and were fist popularised in Spain by returning conquistadors.
![]() else try Tomatos |
![]() Here comes Tomatoes! |
Today there are many different varieties and shapes adding to their popularity and versatility on the menu. The perfect summer crop to grow your own and to add to your food basket, they are the easiest of all veggies to grow for first timers and experienced hands.
Tomatoes do best in an area that gets full sun or at least 8 hours, otherwise they will get spindly and produce little mature fruit. They also produce well if you ensure a good soil at planting buy adding liberal compost and organic fertiliser BioOcean to get them established.
They prefer a high potassium fertiliser so through the growing period a regular feeding with BioOcean will keep your crop coming. Pokon have released a range of organic fertilisers perfect for the balcony gardeners or as an alternative plant food especially for edible plants. Try the Pokon Veggie Garden fertiliser for all-round success or for tomatoes we recommend the Small fruit Fertiliser to boost your crop.
Crop rotation is one of the best ways to ensure better quality fruit so we would recommend planting them in a different spot every year alternating with non-related veggies such as beans or lettuce.
Quick Tips for a successful tomato crop
- Choose a level area that gets sun most of the day or at least afternoon sun.
- There should be preferably little competition from roots of large trees. Tomatoes also grow very well in containers.
- Soil must have good drainage and be well composted.
- Position a wigwam, trellis or obelisk for the tomatoes to ramble up on.
- Plant with BioOcean and then feed them throughout the summer.
![]() tomato from Mayford |
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Try some of our Favourites from seed:
Legato: The Legato tomato is MayFord’s newest jam tomato variety. Legato is a unique multiple disease resistant processing variety with strong vigour and very good leaf cover. Yield potential is excellent.
Yellow Pear: The cherry tomato Yellow Pear has become a great addition to the veggie garden adding different colour to salads with the ripe fruit a vibrant yellow colour. They are very prolific bearers and you will have an almost endless supply through summer from just a few plants.
Heiz: This is one of the oldest varieties available and as popular as ever. Grow them against a wall or up a trellis for best results as the can get quite tall.
Special Hybrids: The RAW range of seeds has Pink, Orange, Brown and Green Tomato seed in their range for the gardener that has grown it all before.