Tomatoes are one of those fresh fruits I get through most, so it makes sense to try my hand at growing them myself. With many gardening experts claiming that this fruit tastes far better when homegrown than the ones you buy it at the shop, I was eager to give growing them a go. I opted for a beefsteak tomato plant as they are known as one of the best varieties to go for and grow the biggest tomatoes.
Once I had my tomato plant at the ready, it was important to think about where to plant it. I decided that my greenhouse would be best as tomato plants are known to grow particularly well in them, usually producing an earlier and larger crop, according to the pros at the Royal Horticultural Society. However, to make tomatoes taste their best, it is recommended to plant them near basil, according to garden gurus Jim and Mary Competti of Simple Garden Life – something I already had transplanted to my greenhouse.
They said: “One of the best ways to grow healthier and more productive tomato plants is to companion plant basil with your tomatoes. They love it.
“In fact, not only can it help you to a bigger harvest, but an even tastier and juicier one too. Many well-known chefs and home gardeners swear to it, noting that their tomatoes and basil both have a much greater depth of flavour when they grow together.”
With two basil plants already planted in my greenhouse, it was time to add my tomato plant.
Having been left in the pot in my greenhouse with little water during recent hot weather, the tomato plant looked a little wilted, but it’s nothing that transplanting and a little water couldn’t fix.
To plant the tomatoes, I started by digging up a deep hole so I could add some homemade garden compost to help give some nutrients to the plant.
It was then time to place the tomato plant in the hole deeply, as the buried section of the stem will then produce additional roots. I also made sure that there was a lot of space between the tomato and basil plants so they don’t compete for nutrients.
After planting, I made sure to generously water the tomato plant. It’s important to water the soil around them and never from above.
Aside from being watered, tomato plants have a special requirement for growth. They need to be pollinated if you want the tomatoes and not just the flowers.
Therefore, I make sure to keep the greenhouse door open so that I create the best conditions for pollination.
Once flowers start to appear on the plant, that’s when I’ll start fertilising them every week.
