EXPERT TIPS FOR GROWING PERFECT TOMATOES
In Celebration of National Allotment Week, with Rob Smith
As the summer sun ripens our gardens and allotments, there’s no better time to embrace the season’s most iconic fruit: the tomato. In celebration of National Allotment Week, we’ve partnered with grower and gardening expert Rob Smith to bring you a simple, beautiful guide to growing, harvesting and storing your own.
Inspired by the earthiness of English kitchen gardens, our Greenhouse Collection is a fragrant tribute to this botanical moment and to the joy of cultivating beauty from soil.
Choose the right variety
- Honeycomb F1: This sweet, golden-orange fruit has a juiciness perfect for snacking and salads.
- Gargamel: This stunning, plum shaped tomato is certain to catch the eye with its gorgeous red, gold and black streaks. Sweet and delicious – an ideal addition to any salad.
- Black Moon F1: These tomatoes have an attractive deep colouring and a flavour to match. Sweet and savoury, it is recognised internationally for its award-winning taste.
- Red Currant: Tiny, punchy and bountiful. This fruit is able to withstand cooler temperatures and resist disease.
- Berkeley Tie Dye: Visually stunning and full of flavour. These sandwich slicing sized fruits are highly praised by tomato enthusiasts.
Grow Smart
To grow healthy, productive tomato plants it’s essential to provide the right support and care throughout the season. Gently secure plants using soft ties or garden mesh to prevent heavy branches from snapping under the weight of developing fruit. For cordon varieties, regularly remove side shoots to encourage the plant to channel its energy into ripening the main crop rather than producing excess foliage.
Watering is best done in the morning to allow moisture to absorb into the soil before the midday heat. Take care to water at the base of the plant and avoid splashing the leaves as excess moisture on foliage can promote fungal diseases and rot. For nourishment, feed your tomatoes with homemade comfrey tea – a naturally rich plant tonic – or mulch around the base with shredded comfrey leaves to release nutrients gradually as they decompose.
In greenhouses or sheltered environments where airflow and pollinators may be limited, gently hand-pollinate your tomato flowers. This can be done by shaking the flowering stem lightly or brushing across the open flowers with a soft paintbrush to mimic the movement of bees.
Pick & Preserve
When it comes to harvesting timing is key. Tomatoes are best picked once they are fully coloured and slightly soft to the touch – this signals full ripeness and peak flavour. Gently twist or snip them from the vine to avoid bruising, especially for larger or heirloom varieties.
If the season turns cool and your tomatoes remain green, don’t discard them. Instead, place them in a paper bag alongside a ripe banana. The ethylene gas released by the banana encourages natural ripening, helping the tomatoes reach their full potential indoors.
Once harvested, store tomatoes at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Avoid refrigerating them unless absolutely necessary, as the cold can dull their flavour and texture. For any surplus, consider freezing, drying, or bottling your crop. Cherry tomatoes dry beautifully and make delicious additions to salads or pasta, while larger varieties can be preserved for sauces, soups, and stews during the colder months.
From Garden to Fragrance
Our Greenhouse Collection is inspired by these very moments: the scent of fresh tomato leaf, cut greens, and sunlit warmth. Featuring Sungold tomatoes from Gravetye Manor, this luxurious set includes bath and body essentials designed to refresh and restore.
As you finish your time in the greenhouse, carry the refreshing aroma of tomatoes with you. Designed to bring cleansing hydration and comfort to your hands, our Greenhouse hand wash and hand lotion uses natural enzymes that gently exfoliate your skin, promoting smoothness and vitality. Rich in antioxidants, tomato extracts help protect your skin from environmental damage and support a healthy, radiant complexion.
Discover more from Rob at Rob’s Allotment and explore our Greenhouse fragrance to bring the English garden into your home.
