Red Alert Tomato (bush, cherry)

Because of our cool, short summers, all tomatoes need starting early, so they’ll have a chance to ripen before the weather gets too cold for them.  Sow them in modules or a seed tray with some seed compost any time between mid Feb and the end of March.  Keep them in a propagator between 18 to 22 degrees, then, once germinated (usually within 14 days), move them somewhere nice and light to stop them getting thin and leggy, but still indoors where it’s warm.  Pot them on when they get a bit bigger, then plant them out once the weather’s warmer – normally at the end of April, but this will depend on local conditions, and whether they’re going in a greenhouse, or outside.  Dig in plenty of organic matter initially, and feed and water regularly throughout the season.

Bush / Determinate tomatoes only grow to about 3-4ft tall, but are wider and bushier.  They may not require supporting, unless heavily laden with fruit, nor should you pinch out any ‘side-shoots’, so are far less fuss.  Smaller varieties can even be grown in hanging baskets and left to trail over the sides.  Their side shoots are quite short, so they will fruit quicker, resulting in most of your tomatoes ripening in a much smaller space of time.