Tomato Tumbler F1

WHEN TO SOW January to April

WHERE TO SOW Sow seeds underglass 0.5cm (1/4 in) deep in pots or trays of good seed sowing compost and lightly cover with a sprinkling of vermiculite or compost. Place containers in a propagator at a temperature of 18–21°C .

WHAT TO DO NEXT Prick out seedlings, once large enough to handle, into 9cm (3 1/2in) pots. Transplant to hanging baskets or containers. Plants have a bushy habit and do not require sideshooting. Place outdoors once all risk of frost has past. Water and feed plants regularly with a high potash feed once the first truss has set.

MATURITY July to October

HANDY TIP Once stems become laden with fruits, they can get quite heavy and may require a little support to prevent them from breaking. NUTRITIONAL VALUE High in vitamin C and lycopene.

TYPE Determinate - Bush type, do not remove side shoots. There can hardly be a glasshouse in the country that does not have a few tomato plants growing in it, as nothing tastes quite like a tomato freshly picked from your own garden. Even if you have a window box you can produce your own tomatoes. But, they are not without their problems; tomato plants are very delicate and can easily succumb to disease, they need a fair amount of attention and just a whiff of hormone spray from a neighbouring garden or field can result in deformed fruits and plants - but they are still always worth the effort! Tomatoes are so versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes. They can be sliced to go into a sandwich or salad, chopped to be used in many Italian sauces such as a delicious bolognese or if they are a bigger variety, they can be stuffed and baked.