How to Grow Tomatoes

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HPAA Docs

Where to Grow Tomatoes

Tomatoes need a very sunny spot with rich and fertile soil that has either been well manured or had compost dug into it. Chicken manure pellets are also a very welcome addition to the soil along with Growmore as these are greedy plants! Plants are ready to plant out when the soil is warm, frost chances are zero and the first flowers appear on the plants.

Tips for Growing Tomatoes

Outdoor tomatoes are ready for planting out when they have been hardened off and the first flowers are appearing. If there is a chance of late frosts hold off until you are sure there is zero chance. Always a good idea to cover the plants over night till they are well established. To avoid many problems tomatoes like no other crop must be watered and fed constantly otherwise you will get blossom end rot, splitting of their skins and weak plants more susceptible to diseases like blight.

Tomato Sucker Removal

Vine tomatoes will need support, and their side shoots and suckers pinching out and once 4 or 5 trusses have formed pinch out the tips to aid fruit growth. Most important when watering don't allow the stems or foliage of the plant to be splashed with water, as this will increase risk of blight

Category: Recipes

Classic Rhubarb Crumble

Classic Rhubarb Crumble
Growing up this was my favourite dessert & seeing as only my dad and I liked it I always had a massive portion!

Filo Pie with Swiss Chard, Ricotta Cheese and Tomatoes

Filo Pie with Swiss Chard, Ricotta Cheese, and Tomatoes

Stuck for an idea for how to use Chard, well why not try this dish?

Oca or Potato Homity Pie Recipe

Homity Pie

Homity pie is a traditional British open vegetable pie. The pastry case traditionally contains a filling of potatoes and an onion and leek mixture, which is then covered with cheese. It has a history that dates back to the efforts of the Land girls of the Second World War and the restrictions imposed by wartime rationing.

Category: The Growing Season

Jobs to do in August

Harvest should be bountiful and the allotment is in full swing

August is the month of plenty, virtually everything you planted and sown will be giving you a crop, daily trips to the plot are recommended this month, harvesting, watering, and weeding all needing doing this month!

Jobs to do in April

Spring should be here but watch out for frosts!

Sow seed outdoors
Vegetable growing really takes off this month. Chit and plant out second early potatoes in the first half of the month, maincrop potatoes in the second half. It's also time to sow seed outdoors in well-prepared soil.

Jobs to do in June

Summer should be here!

Usually the risk of frost has passed by now, and with longer days there comes more sunshine and time to be in your allotment. If the weather is dry, then water your seed drills well before sowing any seeds – this way the young plants will develop a good root system.

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