Tomatoes

01 About

The tomato is one of the most widely grown and rewarding crops in the British kitchen garden. Technically a fruit, used as a vegetable in cooking, the range of flavours, colours, sizes, and uses available to the home grower far exceeds anything found in a supermarket. Tomatoes are tender perennials grown as annuals in the UK climate — frost will kill them outright, and they need reliable warmth to grow well and ripen. With the right variety, attentive watering and feeding, they will reward you with harvests from midsummer right through to the first frosts of autumn.

02 What to Grow

Tomatoes come in an extraordinary range of types, and choosing the right one for your growing space and skill level makes the difference between a bumper harvest and a season of frustration. They fall into two growth habits: cordon (indeterminate) varieties that grow tall and need regular side-shooting and support, and bush (determinate) varieties that are more compact and require little or no training. Within those habits, there are seven distinct families — each with different fruit sizes, flavours, and ideal uses.

03 Varieties

The number of varieties shown for each crop is based on UK consumption data (2025/26) — the more popular the crop, the more variety choices we include.

🍒 Cherry Tomatoes

Small, sweet, and prolific. The easiest to ripen outdoors in the UK.

Gardener's Delight

Cherry · Cordon

The most popular UK garden tomato. Prolific, reliable, and sweet. Performs well outdoors and under glass.

• Outdoor
• Container
• ⭐ Flavour
• Beginners

Sungold

Cherry · Cordon

Orange fruits with outstanding sweetness. Crops prolifically under glass. One of the most praised UK varieties.

• AGM
• F1
• Greenhouse
• ⭐ Flavour

Black Cherry

Cherry · Cordon

Deep mahogany fruits with a rich, complex flavour. Striking on the vine and in the kitchen. Best under glass.

• Greenhouse
• Heritage
• ⭐ Flavour

Sweet Million

Cherry · Cordon

Exceptionally long trusses of small, bright red fruits. Very high yields with good crack resistance.

• AGM
• F1
• Greenhouse
• Container

Yellow Pear

Cherry · Cordon

Distinctive pear-shaped fruits in golden yellow. Sweet, mild flavour and eye-catching in salads. Prolific and easy to grow.

• Outdoors
• Container
• Heritage

Rosella

Cherry · Cordon

Deep rose-pink cherry fruits with a rich, complex flavour. Striking colour on the vine and outstanding in the kitchen.

• AGM
• Greenhouse
• Heritage
• ⭐ Flavour

Gartenperle

Compact trailing cherry tomato bred for hanging baskets and window boxes. Tiny round deep-red fruits in prolific clusters. No pinching needed — the naturally bushy habit stays neat all season. Outstanding for balconies and small spaces.

• Hanging Basket
• Compact
• No Pinching

Ildi

A prolific Italian cherry tomato producing enormous trusses of tiny, oval, pale yellow-gold fruits. Exceptionally sweet and mild. One of the most productive cherry tomatoes available — a single truss can carry 50+ fruits. Outstanding for greenhouse growing.

• AGM
• Prolific
• Yellow
• Sweet

Piccolo

A compact-growing cherry tomato producing heavy trusses of small, round, deep-red fruits with excellent rich tomato flavour. Outstanding reliability in UK greenhouses and polytunnels. Very popular with commercial growers for its consistent cropping and long season.

• Reliable
• Deep Red
• Long Season

🍅 Standard Tomatoes

Medium round fruits — the classic tomato. Reliable and versatile, performing well both outdoors and under glass.

Alicante

Standard · Cordon

A classic reliable variety with medium-sized, well-flavoured fruits. One of the best performers for UK outdoor conditions.

• Outdoors
• Greenhouse
• Beginners

Shirley

Standard · Cordon

Disease-resistant F1 variety. Highly regarded by commercial and amateur growers alike. Consistent heavy yields.

• AGM
• F1
• Greenhouse
• Beginners

Moneymaker

Standard · Cordon

The traditional British greenhouse tomato. Reliable and consistent — a timeless classic for first-time growers.

• Greenhouse
• Beginners

Tigerella

Standard · Cordon

Orange and red striped fruits with a tangy, complex flavour. One of the most visually striking heritage tomatoes.

• AGM
• Outdoors
• Heritage
• ⭐ Flavour

Ailsa Craig

Standard · Cordon

Classic Scottish heritage variety. Medium round fruits with thin skin, sweet flavour and excellent yields. A British garden staple.

• Outdoors
• Greenhouse
• Heritage
• ⭐ Flavour

Harbinger

Standard · Cordon

One of the earliest British varieties to ripen. Medium round fruits, reliable outdoors. Ideal for short growing seasons.

• Outdoors
• Beginners

🥩 Beefsteak Tomatoes

Large, meaty fruits with fewer but impressive harvests. Require greenhouse warmth in the UK to ripen reliably.

Big Boy

Beefsteak · Cordon

Large, smooth, bright red fruits of excellent quality. Requires greenhouse warmth. Fewer but impressive fruits per plant.

• F1
• Greenhouse

Brandywine

Beefsteak · Cordon

Large pink-red fruits with extraordinary flavour widely considered among the finest of all heritage tomatoes.

• Heritage
• Greenhouse
• ⭐ Flavour

Black Krim

Beefsteak · Cordon

Deep purple-brown fruits with a rich, smoky flavour. Unusual and impressive. Originating from the Crimea region.

• Heritage
• Greenhouse
• ⭐ Flavour

Marmande

Beefsteak · Cordon

A classic French beefsteak, widely grown in UK gardens. Deeply ribbed and irregular, with outstanding flavour and size. Superb for slicing.

• AGM
• Outdoors
• Heritage
• ⭐ Flavour

Ox Heart

Beefsteak · Cordon

Dramatic heart-shaped fruits with dense meaty flesh and very few seeds. Deep pinkish-red. Outstanding for slicing.

• Greenhouse
• Heritage
• ⭐ Flavour

Gigantomo

Beefsteak · Cordon

One of the largest tomatoes you can grow. Single fruits regularly reach 500–700g. Deep red, smooth skin. Greenhouse recommended.

• Greenhouse
• F1

🫙 Plum Tomatoes

Oval, dense, and low in water — the kitchen gardener's choice for sauces, passatas, and preserving.

Roma

Plum · Cordon

The classic paste tomato. Meaty, low in water, perfect for passata, sauces, and drying. Reliable and productive.

• Outdoors
• Greenhouse
• Beginners

San Marzano

Plum · Cordon

The Italian culinary classic — elongated, sweet, and intensely flavoured. Best under glass in the UK.

• Heritage
• Greenhouse
• ⭐ Flavour

Principe Borghese

Plum · Cordon

Traditional Italian drying tomato with small oval fruits and thin, flavour-rich skin. Ideal for sun-drying and passata.

• Heritage
• Outdoors

Opalka

Plum · Cordon

Polish heritage variety with exceptionally dense, meaty flesh and minimal seed cavities. One of the finest sauce tomatoes available.

• Heritage
• Greenhouse
• ⭐ Flavour

Amish Paste

Plum · Cordon

American heritage plum with large chunky fruits — bigger and meatier than San Marzano. Outstanding for passata and sauces.

• Outdoors
• Heritage
• ⭐ Flavour

Black Plum

Plum · Cordon

Deep burgundy-black oval fruits with rich complex flavour. Striking in appearance and outstanding roasted or in sauces.

• Greenhouse
• Heritage
• ⭐ Flavour

🌿 Bush Varieties

Compact, self-supporting, no side-shooting required. Bred for outdoor UK conditions.

Red Alert

Bush

Compact, early-ripening bush variety. One of the best outdoor performers in the UK. Good flavour for a bush type.

• Outdoors
• Container
• Beginners

Outdoor Girl

Bush

Bred specifically for UK outdoor conditions. Early and reliable. Medium round fruits with solid flavour.

• Outdoors
• Beginners

Tornado

Bush

Compact spreading habit, no staking required. Consistent heavy yields of well-flavoured fruits outdoors.

• Outdoors
• Container
• Beginners

Totem

Bush

Exceptionally compact upright bush, ideal for pots and patios. Tidy, self-supporting and loaded with medium red fruits.

• Outdoors
• Container
• Beginners

Losetto

Bush

Compact blight-resistant bush variety. Generous clusters of medium-small red fruits. Reliable outdoors even in wet summers.

• Outdoors
• Container
• F1

Balconi Red

Bush · Dwarf

Ultra-compact dwarf — only 30cm tall. Perfect for windowsills, window boxes and small pots. No staking required.

• Windowsill
• Container
• Beginners

🪴 Trailing & Hanging Basket

Compact trailing types bred specifically for hanging baskets and small containers. No training required.

Tumbling Tom Red

Trailing · Bush

The most popular hanging basket tomato. Red cherry fruits on cascading stems. Excellent flavour.

• Outdoors
• Container
• ⭐ Flavour

Tumbling Tom Yellow

Trailing · Bush

Identical habit to the red version but with golden yellow fruits. Milder flavour. Striking in a basket.

• Outdoors
• Container

Maskotka

Trailing · Bush

Vigorous trailing variety producing masses of small red fruits. Good for baskets and window boxes.

• Outdoors
• Container

Hundreds & Thousands

Trailing · Bush

Tiny, intensely sweet fruits in enormous quantities on trailing stems. Perfect for baskets and children's growing.

• Outdoors
• Container
• ⭐ Flavour
• Beginners

Cherry Falls

Trailing · Bush

Bred specifically for hanging baskets. Long cascading stems loaded with clusters of small sweet red fruits all season.

• Outdoors
• Container
• ⭐ Flavour

Terenzo

Trailing · Bush

Compact trailing F1 ideal for hanging baskets. Neat habit, generous red cherry fruits, no training required.

• Outdoors
• Container
• F1

🔬 Miniature

Ultra-compact plants for small spaces, windowsills, and growing with children.

Micro Tom

Miniature

One of the smallest tomato varieties — plants grow to just 15-20cm. Perfect for windowsills and novelty growing.

• Windowsill
• Container
• Beginners

Tiny Tim

Miniature

A reliable dwarf variety growing to just 20cm. Produces masses of tiny red cherry tomatoes. Ideal for pots and windowsills.

• Windowsill
• Container
• Beginners

Minibel

Miniature

French dwarf variety, compact and bushy with clusters of small sweet fruits. Well suited to window boxes and small pots.

• Windowsill
• Container
• Beginners

04 Where to Source

Tomato seeds and plants are available through several routes, each with advantages in variety selection, cost, and timing. Knowing where to look — and when — is as important as knowing what to grow.

📬 Seeds by Post

Far wider variety selection than any garden centre. Specialist seed companies online carry hundreds of varieties including heritage and open-pollinated types unavailable in shops. Check each packet for sow date, germination temperature, days to maturity, and outdoor or greenhouse suitability. Order from January — popular varieties sell out early.

🏪 Garden Centres

Most garden centres stock a solid range of tomato seeds from February, and plug plants or young tomatoes from April. Variety selection is narrower than online but you can inspect quality in person and take advice from staff.

🛍️ Day Markets & Plant Sales

Local markets, farmers' markets, and community plant sales are an excellent source of locally-grown plug plants in May and June — often at lower prices. Church fetes, school plant sales, and open-garden charity days frequently feature excellent plants.

🤝 Friends, Neighbours & Seed Swaps

Do not overlook the value of a friend's spare plug plant or locally saved seed. Many allotment communities and gardening clubs run annual seed swaps where members trade named varieties, including rare heritage types.

05 Planting Options

🪟 Window Sill

Growing tomatoes on a windowsill is a practical option for those without outdoor space or a greenhouse, and is well suited to compact bush and tumbling types that trail attractively without needing support. A south-facing window is essential. Use a pot at least 20-25cm in diameter with good drainage. Use peat-free compost with 20-25% perlite. Rotate the pot a quarter turn every day or two to prevent uneven growth. Check compost daily and water when the top centimetre is dry. Begin a high-potash liquid tomato feed every 7-10 days once the first flowers appear.

Suitable varieties: Tumbling Tom Red, Tumbling Tom Yellow, Micro Tom, Red Alert, Maskotka. Cordon varieties are not suitable.

🏠 Greenhouse

A greenhouse extends the season at both ends and allows varieties that would struggle to ripen outdoors in most of the UK. It is the gold standard for growing tomatoes in Britain, delivering consistently heavier crops with better fruit quality than any outdoor method. Almost all cordon types thrive under glass. Cordon plants need a vertical cane or string — tie or twist the main stem every 30-40cm. Remove all side shoots when under 2-3cm long. On warm days above 25C open vents and the door — poor ventilation causes blossom drop above 30C.

Suitable varieties: Gardener's Delight, Alicante, Sungold, Black Cherry, Tigerella, Shirley F1, Brandywine.

🛍️ Grow Bags

Grow bags are the classic British tomato growing method — affordable, practical, and effective. A standard bag contains approximately 40 litres of growing medium, sufficient for two cordon plants or three bush types. Knead the bag thoroughly before cutting planting holes. Plant deeply, burying the stem to the lowest leaves. Use watering and feeding rings (collars) in the planting holes — without them, water runs off the surface without reaching the roots. Grow bag compost exhausts its nutrients after 4-6 weeks; begin a high-potash liquid tomato feed every 7-10 days after that. Never skip feeding in grow bags.

Suitable varieties: Cordon varieties (2 per bag) or bush types (3 per bag). Works well in greenhouse, polytunnel, sheltered porch, or against a warm south-facing wall outdoors.

🪣 Tubs & Containers

Large containers offer more root space and better moisture retention than grow bags, and the advantage of being moveable. For cordon varieties, use a pot of at least 30-35cm diameter — 40cm is better. Bush varieties manage in 25-30cm pots. Use peat-free multi-purpose compost mixed with 20-25% perlite. Add a slow-release granular fertiliser at planting time. Raise pots on feet to improve drainage and air circulation. Containers with a built-in water reservoir are particularly effective — they maintain consistent moisture and reduce blossom end rot and fruit splitting.

Suitable varieties: All types. Cordons need a minimum 35cm pot and a sturdy cane. Trailing types are excellent in wide shallow containers.

🧺 Hanging Baskets

Trailing and tumbling varieties produce a striking cascade of small, sweet fruits throughout summer. Use the largest basket you can manage — 40cm is ideal. Line with a coco fibre liner. Fill with peat-free compost mixed with water-retaining gel crystals, which make a significant practical difference in a basket that dries out rapidly in warm weather. Plant one plant in a 30cm basket, two in a 40cm basket. Hang in full sun. Water once or twice daily in warm summer weather. Begin a weekly high-potash liquid feed once the first flowers appear.

Suitable varieties: Tumbling Tom Red, Tumbling Tom Yellow, Hundreds & Thousands, Maskotka, Balconi Red only. Do not use standard or upright bush varieties.

🌍 Outside in Ground

Growing tomatoes in open ground gives plants the most root space and, in a warm summer, can produce superb results. Choose the sunniest, most sheltered spot available — ideally against a south-facing wall or fence. Dig in plenty of well-rotted manure or garden compost. Plants raised indoors must be hardened off over 10-14 days before planting out. A south-facing brick or stone wall significantly increases effective temperature — storing heat by day and releasing it at night.

Suitable varieties: Gardener's Delight, Alicante, Outdoor Girl, Tigerella, Red Alert. Beefsteak varieties will struggle to ripen outdoors north of the Midlands.

Keep apart from: Potatoes, Brassicas, Fennel, Sweetcorn

Potatoes and tomatoes share the same family (Solanaceae) and the same diseases — most critically blight, which can devastate both simultaneously.

06 Companion Planting

✅ Grow nearby

• 

  🌿 Basil

  The classic tomato companion. Basil is thought to repel aphids and whitefly and improve the flavour of neighbouring tomatoes. Grow at the base of plants in the greenhouse or outdoors.

• 

  🌸 Marigolds

  French marigolds (Tagetes) deter whitefly in the greenhouse — one of the most reliably effective companion planting combinations. Plant in the same bed or in pots alongside.

• 

  🥕 Carrots

  Carrots loosen the soil around tomato roots and the two crops coexist well without competing. Tomatoes shade carrots beneficially in hot weather.

❌ Keep apart

• 🥔 Potatoes — Same family (Solanaceae) — share blight. Keep on opposite sides of the garden.
• 🥦 Brassicas — Compete for nutrients; brassicas prefer more alkaline conditions.
• 🌿 Fennel — Fennel root chemicals inhibit growth of nearby vegetables.
• 🌽 Sweetcorn — Tall sweetcorn casts shade and competes aggressively for nutrients.

07 Sowing — How To

Timing is everything with tomatoes. Sow too early and seedlings become tall and leggy before conditions allow planting out; sow too late and the season is cut short before all fruits ripen. The ideal sowing window falls between late January and mid-March for most UK growers.

1. 

   Fill trays

   Fill seed trays or modules to within 1cm of the rim with moist seed compost. Firm lightly but do not compress hard — seeds need air pockets to germinate well.

2. 

   Sow seeds

   Place one seed per module, or sow thinly in an open tray. Tomato seeds are large enough to handle individually.

3. 

   Cover lightly

   Cover with a 3-5mm layer of vermiculite or fine-sieved compost. Vermiculite retains moisture and resists forming a crust.

4. 

   Label clearly

   Write the variety name and sowing date on each label. If growing more than one variety, this step is not optional.

5. 

   Water gently

   Water with a fine rose. Moisten without disturbing seeds or creating waterlogged patches.

6. 

   Cover and warm

   Place a propagator lid or cling film over the tray. Position in a warm location — bottom heat of 18-25C is ideal. Check daily.

7. 

   Move to light

   Germination occurs in 5-10 days. Move seedlings immediately to a bright south-facing windowsill. Seedlings in low light become weak and spindly within days.

8. 

   Ventilate

   Remove the cover as soon as seedlings appear to allow airflow and prevent damping off.

9. 

   Prick out

   When seedlings have their first true leaves, prick out into individual 7-9cm pots. Handle by a seed leaf, never the stem.

Regional sowing timing

Region	Sow / plant	Grow / harvest	Notes
Scotland & Far North	Feb–Mar	Apr–Sep	Heated propagator essential; low day length before March limits seedling quality · Late Feb – mid-March
Northern England	Feb–Mar	Apr–Sep	Propagator strongly recommended; windowsill viable from late Feb · Mid-Feb – mid-March
Midlands & Wales	Feb–Mar	Apr–Sep	Good results from heated propagator in early Feb · Early Feb – mid-March
Ireland & Isle of Man	Feb–Mar	Apr–Sep	Good results from heated propagator in early Feb · Early Feb – mid-March
South & SE England	Jan–Mar	Apr–Oct	Heated propagator allows reliable late January start · Late Jan – early March
South Coast & SW	Jan–Feb	Mar–Oct	Earliest reliable UK start; greenhouse growers can try early January · Late Jan – late Feb

08 Using a Propagator

A propagator is a miniature heated greenhouse — a tray with a close-fitting clear lid that traps warmth and humidity around germinating seeds. For tomatoes, a good propagator dramatically improves germination rates and allows you to start sowing earlier than would otherwise be possible.

Heated propagator

Has a built-in electric heating element providing consistent bottom heat regardless of room temperature. The single most useful piece of equipment for an early start. Look for a model with a thermostat. Set to 20-22C for tomatoes.

Standard unheated propagator — A lidded seed tray traps warmth and humidity around germinating seeds without electricity. Performance depends entirely on room temperature — best placed on a warm windowsill and used from March onwards. Replace the lid promptly after watering. Remove it completely the moment seedlings emerge to prevent damping off.

1. 

   Set temperature

   Set thermostat to 20-22C and allow 30 minutes to warm before sowing.

2. 

   Monitor daily

   The compost should remain consistently moist but never waterlogged.

3. 

   Reduce temperature

   Once most seedlings are up, reduce to 16-18C to encourage compact, sturdy growth.

4. 

   Move to light

   Transfer seedlings to a bright windowsill promptly after germination. The lid reduces light transmission.

Windowsill alternative: A bright south-facing windowsill can substitute from late February. Place a clear polythene bag loosely over the pot during germination. Remove immediately once seedlings appear.

09 Soil Requirements

pH

6.0–6.8

Best

Loam, Sandy loam

Tolerates

Clay loam

Avoid

Waterlogged, Pure sand

10 Ongoing Care

💧 Watering

Water deeply and consistently — erratic watering causes blossom end rot and fruit splitting. In a greenhouse, water daily in summer; outdoors every 2–3 days. Always water at the base, never over the foliage. Consistent soil moisture is more important than quantity.

🧪 Feeding

Begin a high-potash liquid tomato feed weekly once the first truss of flowers appears. Continue every 7–10 days throughout the season. Do not use high-nitrogen feeds during fruiting — they promote leafy growth at the expense of fruit.

✂️ Side-Shooting Cordons

For cordon (indeterminate) varieties, remove side shoots weekly when they are under 2–3cm long — the wound closes quickly and the risk of disease is minimal. Bush and tumbling varieties need no side-shooting. Removing side shoots when small is always better than leaving them to grow large.

🪢 Supporting & Tying In

Tie the main stem to its support every 20–30cm as it grows using soft twine or purpose-made tomato clips. Cordon tomatoes can reach 1.8m or more — ensure supports are firmly anchored. Check ties regularly and loosen any that are cutting into the stem.

11 Watch Out For

🐛 Insects & pests

• 🐜 Aphids (Blackfly & Greenfly) — Curled, distorted, or stunted growing tips — aphids inject saliva that causes leaf curl to protect them
• 🕷 Spider Mite — Fine, silky webbing on the underside of leaves and between growing tips — the definitive identification sign
• 🐌 Slugs & Snails — Silver slime trails on leaves, soil, and pots — often the first sign before damage is found

🍄 Diseases to watch

• 🟤 Late Blight — Late blight (Phytophthora infestans) is the most destructive disease in the UK kitchen garden. The same pathogen caused the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s. In warm, humid conditions it spreads with terrifying speed — an entire crop of tomatoes can be destroyed within a week of the first lesion appearing.
• 🩶 Botrytis (Grey Mould) — Botrytis cinerea (grey mould) is the most ubiquitous fungal pathogen in temperate gardens — present in virtually every garden soil and on plant debris. It becomes a disease only when conditions favour it: cool, humid, poorly ventilated environments with damaged or senescent plant tissue. In a greenhouse in autumn it can destroy an entire tomato or grape crop.
• 🌿 Mosaic Virus (TMV / CMV) — Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) are among the most widespread plant viruses affecting vegetable crops worldwide. TMV is extraordinarily stable — it can remain viable on contaminated hands and tools for years, and even survives in processed tobacco. There is no cure; infected plants must be destroyed.
• 🌿 Fusarium Wilt — Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) is a soil-borne vascular disease that invades root systems and blocks the water-conducting tissue of the plant. Infected plants die of internal drought even with adequate soil moisture. Different formae speciales (strains) target specific host plants — asparagus fusarium is different to tomato fusarium.
• ⬜ Powdery Mildew — Powdery mildew is caused by a range of related fungi, each specific to its host plant — courgette mildew cannot infect peas, and vice versa. The characteristic white powdery coating on leaf surfaces appears in warm, dry conditions (unlike downy mildew which prefers cool and wet). Rarely kills plants but severely reduces yield and plant vigour.

Full identification and treatment advice is in the Pests and Diseases sections.

12 Storage & Preserving

🍅 Fresh Storage

Store ripe tomatoes at room temperature, never in the fridge — cold destroys the volatile compounds responsible for flavour and texture irreversibly. A bowl on a sunny windowsill keeps ripe tomatoes in perfect condition for 3–5 days. Use slightly underripe tomatoes immediately after picking for best flavour.

❄️ Freezing

Tomatoes freeze well and it is the best way to deal with a glut. Freeze whole, halved, or as passata. Once frozen they lose their texture and are only suitable for cooked dishes — soups, sauces, and stews. Freeze spread on a tray to keep fruits free-flowing, then bag. Use within 12 months.

🫙 Passata & Sauce

The best use of a large glut. Simmer roughly chopped tomatoes for 20 minutes, push through a mouli or sieve, season, then let it cool and freeze it in tubs or bags. Homegrown passata is incomparably better than shop-bought. A single row of cordon tomatoes can produce enough passata to last through winter.

☀️ Slow-Drying

Slow-dry small and plum varieties at 100°C for 4–6 hours until semi-dried and intensely flavoured. Semi-dried tomatoes still hold some moisture, so they do not keep: put them in a covered container in the fridge and eat them within a few days, or freeze them. For tomatoes that keep for months, carry on drying until they are leathery and dry right through, then store them in airtight jars. Cherry and plum types are best for drying — large beefsteak varieties contain too much water.

13 Expert Tips

14 Common Mistakes

15 See Also

• 🌼 Companion Planting
• 🔄 Crop Rotation
• 🛍️ Standard Grow Bag