Tomatoes are one of the easiest types of fruit to grow and are the perfect choice for beginners wishing to grow their own fruit and vegetables. Growing your own tomatoes organically will provide you with a number of benefits as they will be much healthier than the supermarket variety.

When growing tomatoes, the conditions within your greenhouse will need to be just right. If you have a heated greenhouse, then you can begin sowing tomato seeds in winter, usually around Christmas, and plant them out in March. Your tomatoes should then be ready by May. However, in order for your tomatoes to grow successfully your greenhouse will need to remain heated. Consider adding extra heating to your greenhouse if it is needed. If you do not have a heated greenhouse, then sow your tomato seeds in early March and plant them out in late April or at the start of May. Your tomatoes should be ready by July.

Tomatoes require good quality compost. If you are planning to grow a large number of tomatoes, then use the method of sowing thinly in trays with seed and cutting compost. When using grow bags, fill the bags with compost mixture and cut two holes in the top. One of the main benefits of using grow bags is that only a small amount of compost is required and there is less chance of the compost being contaminated. However, you do need to take extra care when using grow bags, as more watering is required and the plants can easily become waterlogged.

If you do not have much time to water your tomatoes, then grow your tomatoes directly into the soil instead of using grow bags. The soil will retain the moisture and therefore result in the plants requiring less water. However, you will need to replace the soil annually and pay extra attention to pests and diseases.

Use a high potassium tomato fertiliser twice a week to keep your tomatoes at their best. Tie the main stem of your tomato plant to a cane to support the plant. Any leaves below the first truss will need to be removed when the plants grow to around 4ft tall. Keep your tomato plants well ventilated during the summer.

Once your tomatoes have a rich colour, they will be ready for harvesting. Always take care when removing the fruit from the plant.