How to grow your own vegetables

Part 2

Tomatoes need sunshine, so choose an open, warm site. They do fantastically well in a greenhouse but you can gain very good results outside in a container against a warm wall. They need a well drained, fertile soil, that doesn't dry out too quickly.

If growing in containers, use a specially formulated grow bag or good quality potting compost.

• Plant out tomato plants using a stake for support.
• Cut out any side shoots, as they appear to keep to a central stem.
• Water and feed regularly  with a liquid tomato.
• Pick the fruit as soon as they ripen.
• If frost is forecast, harvest the tomatoes green and allow to ripen in doors.
• Tomatoes are definitely best picked fresh but, if do need to store a glut, perhaps consider cooking, pulping and freeze for a burst of summer in the winter months.

We have lots of recipes using this base tomato sauce!