There’s nothing quite like biting into a fresh tomato from your own vegetable patch.
However, growing sweet, juicy tomatoes can be tricky in the UK, especially with temperatures and weather conditions being so unpredictable.
One person who knows exactly how to grow sweet, delicious tomatoes is British horticulturist Monty Don.
The gardening expert said there are two tasks gardeners need to do this month to ensure the plants “grow strongly”.
The 68-year-old said on his blog: “I do not plant my outdoor tomatoes until June. But once they are in the ground they will grow strongly and need regular tying up.
“This is, of course, if you are growing cordon tomatoes rather than bush or determinate varieties.
“The latter can be propped up rather like an herbaceous plant rather than tied regularly in.
“As I tie them with soft twine I pinch out the side shoots and then water them.
“I do not feed the outdoor ones as our soil is plenty rich enough and they had a good mulch of compost just before planting, but the indoor tomatoes will have a weekly seaweed feed at the same time.”
However, the gardening expert also warned gardeners that tomatoes are at an increased risk of blight from July due to increased humidity and heat.
To prevent blight, ensure your outdoor tomatoes have good ventilation and remove lower leaves when the fruits develop.
It’s also important to ensure the tomatoes have lots of exposure to the sun.
