Charles Dowding shares his knowledge of the best ways to grow and harvest tomatoes in the UK weather where our summers are shorted and sharper than that of warmer countries around Europe and beyond. 

‍

He talks about the tomatoes he sowed in March. To give them a head start Charles covered them in a double layer of fleece over them, when planting out in early May.

‍

Be aware that you may encounter blight which usually happens in late August if you plant out too late. The signs are brown discoloration over the whole leaf, mottled stems & limpness.

‍

You don’t need the stake in the ground when tomatoes are planted, you can pop them in after, or tie twine to attach them further up as they grow.

‍

The latest time to have your plants in the ground is, 10th October, there just isn't enough light anymore for fruits to get sweet and tasty. In August, when this video was shot, Charles had stopped watering to help speed up ripening and sweetening. 

‍

Here are a few varieties that are bred to resist blight and grow outdoors: Awesome Emma (hardy outdoor variety), Resigrande, Rondogrande, Sunviva.

‍

Food for thought: Ripening doesn’t happen through the sunshine it comes from the sugar in the plant.