Grow Master Fact Sheet

If you have any queries please contact your local Grow Master Garden Centre.

How to Succeed with Tomatoes

Tomatoes are the most popular home grown vegetable and deservedly so. You will be rewarded with fresh fruit, picked when you want it, and a taste that you cannot buy in the shops.

BRIEFLY:

Planting Times: August to early January
Position: Sunny, protected and well drained

To successfully grow Tomatoes you need a sunny, well drained spot protected from wind. If you grow taller types, then a position next to a fence is ideal where as smaller growers can be in a more open situation.

Planting & Growing Tips

• Prepare your soil, if possible, several weeks before planting. Dig in Grow Master Organic Planting Compost and Grow Master All Purpose Plant Food as recommended. If your drainage is poor, you could build the soil level up or else grow in containers.
• Fully water your seedlings in the punnet several hours prior to planting
• Determine planting distances and height from the label. Dig the soil over thoroughly.
• Install stakes prior to planting
• Tomato seedlings can be planted deeper than in the punnet. Plant so that the first pair of leaves are only just above the soil hence encouraging roots to grow from the stem.
  N.B. Grafted Tomatoes should be planted to the same depth as they were in the pot.
• Water in well using Grow Master Plant Starter to stimulate root growth
• Fertilize lightly at planting time with Grow Master All Purpose Plant Food and again when the first flowers appear. When flowering commences you can feed with a liquid food high in Potash, such as Grow Master Eco Booster, to assist fruiting.
• Water regularly and thoroughly but probably not daily unless the weather is very hot.

In Containers

Any plant growing in a container will need more care than a similar plant growing in the ground. You need a container of at least 43cm diameter for Tomatoes and a good quality Potting Mix. Garden soils will produce poor results.

Position your container in a sheltered, sunny spot and use a Tomato constrainer with one plant per pot. Add one handful of Grow Master Patio Magic and water in.

Protect from snails with snail pellets. Feeding weekly with a liquid fertilizer such as Grow Master Eco Booster is required as the nutrients used up by the plant are not replaced naturally. More watering will be needed than for Tomatoes in the ground.

Check daily and water thoroughly if needed. You would normally use a dwarf, bush – type Tomato in containers but ask us for advice if you wish to grow taller types.

Pruning Tomato Plants

Break off laterals, shown by arrows, which grow from the leaf axis. If laterals are well developed, cut them off with a sharp knife or a pair of scissors. Tie the leader(s) to the stake at about 30cm intervals just above a leaf. Take care that the tie is able to expand with plant growth and ensure that flower trusses are not squeezed between the leader and the stake.

The Best Tomatoes to Grow

NB. Some varieties may not be available in certain areas so check your local Grow Master centre for recommendations.

EXTRA FLAVOUR - Heirloom varieties

• Tommy Toe. Number 1 for flavor, color & texture. High yielding, medium size fruit January to May.
  2 meter stakes. Advanced size only.
• Rouge De Marmande. Old variety, excellent flavor. Irregular shaped fruit. 1 meter stakes. Punnets only.
• Costoluto Di Marmande. Flavor winner in industry taste tests. Ribbed fruit. 2 meters takes. Advanced size only.
• Green Zebra. Green fruit with yellow stripes. 2 meter stakes. Advanced size only.
• Black Russian. Almost black, large flattened fruit, rich flavor. 2 meter stakes. Advanced size only.
• Tigerella. Red fruit, striped yellow. 2 meter stakes. Advanced size only.
• Azoychka. Very old variety, medium, flattened, yellow fruit. Excellent flavor. 1 meter stakes. Advanced size only.

EARLY FRUIT

• Rouge De Marmande. Old variety, excellent flavor. Irregular shaped fruit. 1 meter stakes. Punnets only.
• Moon shot. Improved”Apollo” type, large round fruit. 2 meter stakes Grafted advanced size.
• KY 1. Bush type with flat ribbed fruit.1 meter stakes or ramble. Punnet & advanced size.
• Taurus. Disease resistant. Fruit ripens evenly with consistent color. 2 meter stakes. Grafted advanced size.

DECORATIVE

• Green Zebra. Green fruit with yellow stripes. 2 meter stakes. Advanced size only.
• Black Russian. Almost black, large flattened fruit, rich flavor. 2 meter stakes. Advanced size only.
• Tigerella. Red fruit, striped yellow. 2 meter stakes. Advanced size only.
• Cherry Cocktail. 3 Tomato plants with small fruit, Orange Sunrise, Sweet bite & Mini Yellow Pear. 2 meter stakes. 100mm size only.
• Sweet bite. Large clusters of cherry sized fruit. 2 meter stakes. Advanced size only.

CONTAINER GROWING

• Mama‘s Delight. Hardy grower, sweet flavor, no pruning. 1.5 meter stakes. Advanced size only.
• First Prize / Super Prize. Dwarf variety with medium fruit. No stake required. Advanced size only.
• KY1. Bush type with flat ribbed fruit. 1 meter stakes or ramble. Punnet & advanced size.

LATEFRUIT

• Rouge De Marmande. Old variety, excellent flavor. Irregular shaped fruit. 1 meter stakes. Punnets only.
• Burnley Bounty. Tall vigorous grower. 2 meter stakes. Punnets only.

LARGEFRUIT

• Burnley Bounty. Tall vigorous grower. 2 meter stakes. Punnets only.
• Burnley Sure crop. Very vigorous growing, medium size fruit. 1 meter stakes. Punnets only.
• Grosse Lisse. Excellent flavor, popular variety. 2 meter stakes. Available all sizes.
• Mama‘s Delight. Hardy grower, sweet flavor, no pruning. 1.5 meter stakes. Advanced size only.
• Mighty Red. Vigorous. Large round fruit with good flavor. Disease resistant. 2 meter stakes. Grafted & advanced size.
• Taurus. Disease resistant. Fruit ripens evenly with consistent color. 2 meter stakes. Grafted advanced size.
• Yellow. Green turning yellow, round, low acid fruit. 2 meter stakes. Advanced only.

PRESERVING/DRYING

• San Marzano Roma. Elongated pear shaped fruit. 2 meter stakes. Advanced size only.
• Mama Mia. Masses of Romaor pear shape fruit. Ideal for sauces & drying. Stake or ramble. Advanced size only.