Tomatoes are one of the most rewarding crops you can grow — they’re colourful, tasty, and surprisingly simple when you know how. Even if you've never planted a seed before, this guide will walk you through growing your own tomatoes from scratch. Get ready for juicy success!
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So lets get going with growing our tomatoes!
Why Grow Your Own Tomatoes?
Nothing beats the taste of a sun-ripened tomato fresh from the plant. Growing your own also means you can pick varieties you’ll never find in supermarkets — from sweet cherry tomatoes to rich, hearty beefsteaks.
Tomatoes are perfect for beginners because they’re quick to germinate, easy to spot when something’s wrong, and hugely rewarding to harvest.
What You’ll Need
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Tomato seeds (choose a beginner-friendly variety like 'Gardener’s Delight' or 'Sungold')
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Small seed trays or pots
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Good quality seed compost
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A spray bottle or watering can
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A warm, bright windowsill, heated propagator, or warm spot
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Plant labels
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Compost or soil for potting on
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Tall stakes, canes, or string for support
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Tomato feed
Step 1: Choosing the Right Tomato Type
There are two main types of tomato plants:
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Cordon (indeterminate): Tall-growing plants that need support and regular side-shooting. They produce fruit over a long season.
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Bush (determinate): Compact plants that don’t usually need support or much maintenance. Great for beginners!
🌱 If you’re just starting out, bush tomatoes are a brilliant, low-fuss choice.
Step 2: When and How to Sow Your Tomato Seeds
Tomatoes are heat-lovers, so they need a warm start.
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Sow seeds indoors between late February and early April.
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Fill a seed tray or small pots with seed compost and water it lightly.
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Place 2–3 seeds on the surface, cover them with a fine sprinkle of compost (about 0.5 cm deep).
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Mist with water and place somewhere warm (18–21°C), like a sunny windowsill or inside a propagator.
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Cover with a clear lid or plastic bag to retain moisture.
Seeds usually germinate in 5–10 days!
Step 3: Caring for Seedlings
Once your seedlings appear:
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Remove any covers and move them to a bright, cooler spot.
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When they have two true leaves (the second pair of leaves), prick out the seedlings carefully and transplant them into individual pots.
Be gentle with the roots and hold them by a leaf, not the stem!
Step 4: Potting On and Growing Strong Plants
As your tomato plants grow:
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Move them into bigger pots once roots fill the first pot.
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Keep them indoors until the risk of frost has passed (usually mid-May in the UK).
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Gradually harden off the plants by putting them outside for a few hours each day over a week.
Step 5: Planting Out
Once the nights are warm and frost-free:
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Plant tomatoes outside in a sunny, sheltered spot, or grow them in a greenhouse or large containers.
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Dig a deep hole — tomatoes like to be planted deeper than they were in the pot, encouraging stronger roots.
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Space them about 45–60 cm apart.
Add strong support straight away for cordon types!
Step 6: Ongoing Care
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Watering: Water regularly, aiming for the base of the plant. Try not to splash the leaves.
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Feeding: Once the first flowers appear, feed with a tomato-specific fertiliser every 7–10 days.
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Support: Tie plants loosely to canes or string as they grow taller.
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Side-shooting: For cordon types, pinch out little shoots that appear between the main stem and leaves. Bush types don’t usually need this.
Step 7: Harvesting Your Tomatoes
Tomatoes ripen from late summer onwards. Pick them once they turn their mature colour — red, yellow, orange, or even purple depending on your variety.
Tip: If frost threatens in autumn, pick green tomatoes and ripen them indoors on a sunny windowsill!
