Tomato

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Tomato (Lycorpersicon esculentum)

When I tell people I have an allotment, the most common reaction is an excited "Oh that's great! You can grow your own tomatoes." Now, if I'm going to be honest, here in the North of England, tomatoes are a bit of a disappointing crop. There is just not enough sun to grow the sweet tomatoes I grew up eating. That said, as long as you sow early on at home, you can grow some nice varieties and have a nice little harvest before the cool weather kills your plants in a single night. So, take the 'sow outside' recommendation below with a grain of salt, unless you live in better climates. I always sow them at home in late February or early March and then plant them outside in late May. They are super easy to grow, but, if you want a good harvest, plant them in a super rich soil and give them plenty of fertilizer while they are fruiting.
Soil
plenty of muck
Aspect
sunny and warm
Row spacing
45 cm
Plant spacing
45 cm
Germination
10 days
Time to maturity
16 weeks
Sow outside
May
Sow undercover
February-April
Plant outside
May-June
Plant undercover
March-May
Harvest
July-September
Pests/diseases
blight

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