Growing Tomatoes on an allotment

Tomatoes are one of the most popular and rewarding allotment crops, but they’re also one of the most misunderstood. With the right variety choice, spacing, watering, and feeding, tomatoes can produce huge harvests in the ground, containers, or under cover.

This guide covers all major tomato types, how to grow them from seed or plug plants, when to plant, spacing, watering and feeding, pests and diseases, container vs ground growing, and proven ways to improve yields.

🌱 1. Types of Tomatoes You Can Grow

Understanding tomato types is key to success.

🍒 Cherry Tomatoes

• Small, sweet fruits

• Very productive

• Good for beginners

• Examples: tumbling or cordon types

🍅 Salad Tomatoes

• Medium-sized fruits

• Balanced flavour

• Versatile kitchen use

🍖 Beefsteak Tomatoes

• Large, meaty fruits

• Fewer fruits per plant

• Need strong supports

🌿 Cordon (Indeterminate) Tomatoes

• Grow tall (1.8–2m+)

• Produce fruit along a single stem

• Need staking and side-shoot removal

🌱 Bush (Determinate) Tomatoes

• Compact plants

• No side-shoot removal

• Ideal for containers

🌰 2. Ways to Grow Tomatoes

From Seed

Best for variety choice and value.

Pros

• Huge range of varieties

• Cheapest option

• Strong root systems

Cons

• Need early sowing and warmth

Plug Plants

Young tomato plants bought ready-grown.

Pros

• Faster start

• Ideal for beginners or late starts

Cons

• Limited variety choice

• More expensive

👉 Healthy plants matter more than starting method.

🗓️ 3. When to Sow & Plant Tomatoes

From Seed

• Sow indoors: Feb–March

• Pot on: March–April

Plug Plants

• Buy: April–May

Plant Outdoors

• After last frost: Late May–June

Tomatoes are frost-tender — never rush planting.

🌾 4. How to Grow Tomatoes in the Ground

Soil Requirements

• Deep, fertile soil

• High organic matter

• Sunny, sheltered position

Add compost or well-rotted manure before planting.

Spacing

Cordon tomatoes

• 45–60cm apart

Bush tomatoes

• 60cm apart

Crowding reduces airflow and increases disease risk.

Supports

• Canes or strings for cordons

• Sturdy stakes or cages for bush types

Install supports at planting time.

🪴 5. Growing Tomatoes in Containers

Tomatoes grow exceptionally well in pots.

Container Guidelines

• Minimum size: 30–40 litres per plant

• One plant per pot

• Free-draining compost

Bush and cherry varieties are best for containers.

💧 6. Watering Tomatoes

Best Practice

• Water deeply and regularly

• Keep moisture consistent

• Water soil, not leaves

Irregular watering causes:

• split fruit

• blossom end rot

• poor flavour

Mulch to maintain even moisture.

🌿 7. Feeding Tomatoes

Tomatoes are heavy feeders once fruiting starts.

Feeding Schedule

• Compost at planting

• Start feeding when first flowers open

• Feed weekly with high-potash (tomato) feed

Too much nitrogen = leafy plants, fewer fruits.

✂️ 8. Pruning & Training Tomatoes

Cordon Tomatoes

• Remove side shoots weekly

• Tie in main stem

• Stop plants after 5–7 trusses (outdoors)

Bush Tomatoes

• No pruning required

• Remove only damaged leaves

🐛 9. Common Pests & Diseases

Aphids

• Cluster on soft growth

• Control with water spray or predators

Tomato Blight (Major Issue Outdoors)

Symptoms

• Brown/black patches on leaves

• Rapid plant collapse

Prevention

• Good spacing

• Water soil only

• Choose blight-resistant varieties

Once blight appears, remove plants immediately.

Blossom End Rot

• Black sunken patches on fruit

• Caused by calcium uptake issues from irregular watering

🧺 10. Harvesting Tomatoes

• Harvest when fruits are fully coloured

• Pick regularly to encourage more fruit

• Ripen green tomatoes indoors at season’s end

🌾 11. Improving Tomato Yields 

Choose the right variety

• Maintain consistent watering

• Feed regularly once fruiting

• Good airflow

• Harvest often

Attention matters more than fertiliser quantity.

⚡ Quick Tomato Growing Tips

• One or two plants per person is often enough

• Mulch after planting

• Remove lower leaves once fruit sets

• Rotate crops yearly

Photo by Stefan Schwinghammer on Unsplash