Growing tomatoes is not difficult, but it’s all about timing. With tomatoes you do need to be on top of certain tasks.

February and March is when tomato seeds need to be sown because tomatoes have a long growing season and require a long time to mature, well, at least here in Ireland. Whether you plan to grow tomatoes in a polytunnel or outside, the seeds need to go in soil now. I usually sow my tomato seeds around mid-February. This year, I sowed seeds on February 15. But it is not too late to sow now.

Of course if you are buying ready grown seedlings from a garden centre, you can wait until April or May, but I would really encourage you to consider growing tomatoes from seed. It is not as difficult as many gardeners make it sound and you can experiment with varieties, shapes, sizes, and flavours. There are some beautiful heirloom varieties from Irish Seed Savers Association like Caro Riche, Cherokee, or Gabacho Negro.

Some things to consider when deciding on which variety to grow:

1. How much space do you have?

Some varieties require a lot of space in the ground and will grow tall so they will need support. Check the seed packet when you buy seeds to make sure you have enough space to accommodate your plants. Cherry tomatoes and bush variety can be grown in large pots. Have a look at Sungold or Tumbling Tiger if you have a small garden or you live in a city. I’ve had success growing both in medium size pots.

2. Do you have a greenhouse or a polytunnel?

If not, there are still options even if you live in the west of Ireland. Cherry tomato Sungold and Tumbling Tiger can be grown outside. I’ve done it in county Mayo. Of course with a polytunnel you can grow larger varieties and your yield will be greater. And your growing season will be way into December.

3. How many plants?

This is a personal choice. I always end up with too many, but I am a tomato addict. You will be limited by the amount of space you have, so I would suggest first sketching a diagram of the area where you plan to grow your tomatoes. Look at the seed packet, how much space will a mature tomato plant require? Often it’s something between 50 and 120 cm between plants. Have a look at your sketch, how many plants could you fit? Remember, it is always better to have fewer plants and give them more space than to end up with a jungle of tangled stems. I would recommend having one cherry variety, one medium size for cooking, and one beefsteak variety.

4. What equipment do you need?

To sow seeds, you just need potting compost, water, and some pots. Pots can be anything - yogurt pots would be fine too. I also like to make labels for each plant so I remember which one is which. You can buy gardening labels in any garden centre, or you could make your own by cutting up a plastic bottle into strips. When tomatoes become bigger and their roots no longer fit into the pot you will need to pot them on into lagger pots. And then to pot them into their final locations. And that is it, really. You might need a watering can, or if you have a polytunnel or a greenhouse you can install a fancy watering system like this one. Tomatoes will need a support system eventually. Depending on which varieties you grow, you can look up what you might require. I use bamboo canes and gardening twine.

5. How much time will you need to look after tomato plants?

This depends on how many plants you have and how you grow them. Tomatoes are thirsty plants and need watering regularly, especially if you grow them in a polytunnel or a greenhouse in hot weather. Last summer was very hot in Ireland I had to water them every day. You will also need to create a support system for them as they grow. And add a bit of time for pinching the side shoots (I will describe this in the future posts). So multiply each plant you have by about 10 minutes and you will get the amount of time you will need per day. But again, this is only an estimate, you might need less or more time depending on which tomatoes you grow and how.

So you bought your seeds and now what?

I usually sow several seeds into one small pot. Tomato seeds don’t need to be buried deep, just put a few seeds on top of moist compost in your pot and scatter more moist compost on top. Don’t press the soil down as seeds need room to move. Seeds need warmth at this stage, so the best thing to do it to keep them on a warm windowsill inside. I also cover the pots with cling film to create a diy mini-greenhouse for each pot. This way the seeds normally germinate only in one week. As soon as you see tender stems emerge, remove the plastic cling film to let them breathe.

When seedlings are about the size on the photo below, I repot each into its own pot so they have a bit of room to grow and develop a strong root system.

Have a look at the video I made where I show you how to do it.

Tomato seedlings one month old ready to be separated into individual pots

What’s next?

Once the seedlings are in individual pots and have a bit more room, watch them grow for a few weeks, just make sure the soil does not dry up. At this stage all they need is warmth, plenty of light, and water. If you don’t have a heated polytunnel, then you would need to bring your seedlings indoors at night as their delicate foliage and stems will not survive a chilly night.

Othewise, your job with tomatoes is done for now. You need to wait until your seedlings are ready to be potted on into larger pots.

Today I gathered some of the greens that are growing in my polytunnel and made this delicious salad with anchovy dressing, and a carpaccio of turnip with chervil and a home made cider vinegar and olive oil dressing.

Happy growing! x.

Growing tomatoes in Ireland Part 1