2021 Tomato Varieties
Tomatoes are one of my favourite things to grow and this year I am growing lots of different varieties. I have bought a few packs of seeds from America. Such as the Orange Jazz and Blue Cream Berries. I am excited to try those ones. In fact nearly all of my varieties this year are new to me, except for Yellow Submarine and Gardener’s Delight. I was debating growing the Yellow Submarine, as I wasn’t overly fond of the texture raw. Alas, they did make for great bruschetta when blistered. So, I am giving them another shot. It’s not to late for tomatoes, you can still pick some up at garden centres. Read below for some top tips on growing them.
Tips on Growing Tomatoes
Tomatoes are really quite straightforward to grow from seed. In fact, I’d say that they are one of the easiest. But here’s a few facts to remember:
They can be sown from late Feb-late April, ideal time is in mid March
Ideal temperature for the seeds to germinate is 21c
Seeds can take 7-14 days to pop through
Keep seeds moist with a propagator lid or a sandwich bag
Once germinated, pop in the brightest and warmest spot you have
Don’t plant out until the chance of frost has gone
Could be kept in a cold frame as long as night time temps don’t dip below 4c
When planting out, remove lower leaves and plant as deep as you can, up to the first set of leaves. The stem will grow new roots, making the plant stronger
Calcium deficiency is one of the biggest failures people have, keep moisture levels consistent to prevent blossom end rot
Try not to water the foliage as this can cause fungal diseases like blight
There are two types; determinate and indeterminate. Determinate grows to a certain height and fruits all at once, great for a patio, balcony or pot. Indeterminate will keep on growing and will need to be on a trellis or supported on a cane
A lot of people always ask me what I do with all of my tomatoes. Tomatoes are so versatile and the varieties are so vast. Things like San Marzano and Amish paste are perfect for sauce. The cherries are great for dehydrating, blistering and popping on toast, cooking down with garlic and put in a jar of oil. I’ll dehydrate a heap and make tomato powder for soup. I’ll roast loads and make salsa. Then there’s the fresh eating, sandwiches, salads etc. The possibilities are endless.