Tomatoes grow well in a sunny, sheltered spot or in a greenhouse. They require regular watering, weekly feeding and staking to prevent the stems from snapping. Plant nasturtiums nearby to repel aphids.
There are many varieties that come in different sizes, colours, shapes, flavours and textures. They are a great addition to salads, pasta dishes, pizza, salsas, the list goes on. Tomatoes are best eaten as fresh as possible, but will keep at room temperature for four to five days. Surplus tomatoes can be cooked then stored in the freezer for use in pasta sauces or stews.
Tomatoes usually start to ripen from mid-summer onwards, but this is weather dependent. Check plants every few days and pick individual tomatoes as soon as they are ripen and fully coloured. At the end of the growing season, place unripe tomatoes somewhere warm and dark to encourage them to ripen. Alternatively, place them next to bananas which release ethylene that aids ripening.
