Now all chance of frosts has passed, it’s time to start planting out the tomatoes, along with their wonderful accompaniment, basil… just add mozzarella, a slug of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of Maldon sea salt flakes.
Last year’s crop was particularly bountiful, in part due to the fact of lining all the terracotta pots with pierced black bin-liners, thus helping to keep them moist between watering and preventing splitting of their skins.
Another trick is to grow them in old toilet cisterns (free and often found in builder’s skips), as they retain moisture much longer due to the porcelain finish.
Don’t forget to pinch out those side shoots that appear between the leaf joints and water at the roots, not the foliage, otherwise, you’ll get mildew.
I do, however, have a confession to make, I don’t grow mine from seed (too busy with other gardening commitments), I’ll simply buy a few small pots for a pound or less, or I’m given them by friends.
