At a glance
Tomatoes are the most popular home-grown vegetable in the UK and the one most likely to convert a sceptic about home growing. The difference between a vine-ripened garden tomato still warm from the sun and the refrigerated, gas-ripened specimens from a supermarket is so dramatic that most people who grow their own successfully never go back to buying them. They are not the easiest crop to grow in the UK’s climate – they want more warmth and sun than Britain reliably provides – but with the right variety selection and a sunny sheltered spot, an excellent harvest is achievable in most UK gardens.
The single most important decision is variety. Not all tomatoes are suited to the UK climate and choosing an outdoor variety for a greenhouse or a greenhouse variety for an exposed garden makes the difference between success and failure before you have planted a seed.
Best varieties for UK gardens
| Variety | Type | Best for | Notes | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardener’s Delight | Cherry cordon | Outdoors and greenhouse | Classic, very reliable, excellent flavour | Best all-round UK variety |
| Tumbling Tom | Cherry bush | Hanging baskets, containers | No staking needed, very productive | Best for containers |
| Alicante | Standard cordon | Greenhouse | Classic medium tomato, heavy cropper | Best greenhouse variety |
| Shirley F1 | Standard cordon | Outdoors in south | Disease resistant, reliable in poor summers | Best for poor summers |
| Black Cherry | Cherry cordon | Greenhouse or sheltered spot | Deep flavour, striking dark colour | Best for flavour |
For outdoor growing in the UK, always choose varieties specifically recommended for outdoor or unheated conditions. Many popular tomato varieties are bred for greenhouse production and will struggle outdoors in the UK’s cooler, less sunny summers. Varieties marketed as suitable for outdoor growing in the UK – Gardener’s Delight, Shirley, Outdoor Girl – have been selected for performance in British conditions. The variety choice makes a bigger difference to outdoor success than almost any other factor.
Sowing indoors
Sow tomatoes indoors from late February to late March. Sowing too early produces large plants that become stressed waiting for outdoor conditions – a March sowing is ideal for most UK gardeners.
- 1Sow 2 seeds per 9cm pot at 1cm depthUse good quality seed compost. Sow two seeds per pot and thin to one seedling once germinated. Germination takes 7-14 days at 18-21°C – a heated propagator significantly improves germination rates.
- 2Provide maximum light after germinationTomato seedlings need the brightest possible light to grow stocky rather than leggy. A south-facing windowsill is the minimum – turn pots daily to prevent one-sided growth toward the light.
- 3Pot on to larger containers as roots fill the potMove seedlings to 12cm pots when roots appear at the drainage holes. Pot on again to final growing containers or grow bags once the plant reaches 15-20cm. Tomatoes can be potted deeply – burying the stem up to the lowest leaves encourages additional root development.
Growing on and potting up
Cordon (indeterminate) varieties grow as a single vertical stem and require regular pinching out of sideshoots – the small shoots that develop in the angle between the main stem and each leaf truss. Removing these keeps all the plant’s energy directed into fruit production rather than excessive foliage growth. Pinch out sideshoots when small, before they become woody.
Bush (determinate) varieties do not require pinching out and are generally more manageable for first-time growers. They produce a compact plant that requires no staking and produces all its fruit within a relatively short window rather than continuously through the season.
Care, feeding and watering
- Water consistently – never boom and bust – inconsistent watering is the main cause of blossom end rot and fruit splitting. Water regularly to maintain consistent soil moisture rather than allowing it to dry out then drenching. In hot weather tomatoes in grow bags may need watering twice daily.
- Start high-potash feed when first flowers appear – switch from a balanced fertiliser to a high-potash tomato feed (Tomorite, Chempak, Levington) when the first flower truss appears. Apply weekly throughout the season.
- Remove lower leaves as season progresses – removing the lowest leaves improves airflow around the base of the plant and reduces blight risk in wet summers. Never remove more than a third of the foliage at once.
- Pinch out the growing tip in August – in late July or early August pinch out the growing tip of cordon varieties 2-3 leaves above the highest flower truss. This stops the plant investing energy in new growth and channels it into ripening the fruit already set.
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Growing tomatoes outdoors in the UK
Outdoor tomatoes in the UK need the sunniest, most sheltered spot available – ideally against a south-facing wall that reflects heat back onto the plants. Plant out only after the last frost date for your area (late May in the south, early June further north) and harden off carefully over 7-10 days before planting. A wall-trained cordon tied to wires or canes against a south-facing fence is the most productive outdoor growing method in the UK.
Blight is the biggest outdoor risk. Tomato blight (Phytophthora infestans, the same organism that causes potato blight) thrives in the warm, wet conditions of a British summer and can devastate an entire crop within a week once it takes hold. Growing under an open-sided shelter or lean-to reduces blight risk significantly by keeping foliage dry. Blight-resistant varieties like Ferline and Crimson Crush offer additional protection.
Common problems
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Blossom end rot (black base on fruit) | Calcium deficiency from irregular watering | Water consistently, apply calcium spray, improve drainage |
| Blight (brown patches, rapid collapse) | Phytophthora infestans – airborne fungal | Grow under cover, choose resistant varieties, remove affected leaves immediately |
| Fruit splitting | Irregular watering after dry period | Water consistently – never allow complete drying then heavy watering |
| Leggy seedlings | Insufficient light after germination | Move to brightest possible position, use grow lights if needed |
| Fruit not ripening | Insufficient warmth or light in UK summer | Move indoors or to windowsill, place in paper bag with apple to ripen |
Tomatoes reward attention and care with the most satisfying harvests a UK kitchen garden produces. Choose the right variety for your conditions, feed weekly once fruiting and water consistently – those three things account for the majority of success or failure. For more on growing productive summer crops read our guides on how to grow courgettes UK and how to grow peppers UK.
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