Lycopersicon esculentum
HEIGHT X WIDTH: 30cm x 30cm.
DISTANCE APART: 30cm
WHEN TO HARVEST: The little tomatoes are ready to eat when they have turned red. Keep a little bit of the stalk attached so they store better.
HOW MUCH WATER: Water every day unless it rains.
WHERE TO PLANT: Full sun
CAN I GROW THEM IN A POT? Yes, they are perfect for pots and can be mixed with herbs such as Greek basil, chives or even lettuce. Fill a pot that is 30cm deep with premium potting mix. Plant the seedlings and then water.
CAN I GROW THEM IN A GARDEN BED? Yes. The garden bed must get at least 6 hours of sun every day. Mix some compost or animal manure into the soil, plant the seedlings and water lightly. Spread some mulch such as pea straw or lucerne hay over the soil and water the area well.
BEST BUDDY PLANTS: Tomatoes have lots of best buddies! They grow really well with capsicum and chillies, asparagus, cabbage, carrots, celery, onion, chives and of course basil. Marigolds should also be included as these keep away nematodes in the soil. Don’t plant tomatoes with potato and corn though!
OTHER ‘SMARTY PLANT’ TIPS:
- When you get your seedlings home, let them sit in a shallow tray of water which has had a tablespoon of seaweed solution added for an hour or two. This will get them ready for transplanting.
- After planting, water the seedlings with a very soft hose or a watering can several times a day until they settle in.
- Feed tomatoes with a fertiliser designed especially for them which will help keep their stems strong and stop the fruit from dropping.
- Dwarf cherry tomatoes are quite compact and don’t need to have a frame or trestle to climb up.
There’s more information at the Smarty Plants website.