Medium Tomato

Variety:

Matina

Approx. 20 seeds

Sowing:

Seeds should be sown approximately 2cm deep in module trays using 2/3 seeds per module cell.

The seeds should germinate between 6-8 days days once they are in the right environment but tomatoes will germinate quicker if they are started in warmer conditions. 

Tomatoes can be sown in February - March if they are being started inside. If outside, wait until around April when the weather begins to get warmer. 

Harvesting:

Tomatoes usually take 65-80 days to mature and are ready to harvest when they have turned the right colour.

Information:

Tomatoes prefer a a well drained and fertile soil.

Tomatoes can be fussy with their soil type so ensure the soil is not too dry or too wet which can affect germination. Try not to let the soil dry out during the summer. 

Tomatoes love the sun and heat and prefer at least 8 hours of sun per day.

Your tomatoes will get tall so a support system such as twine or.a stake will be needed to assist their growth.

There are two types of tomatoes; "bush" aka determinate and "cordon" aka indeterminate. Just as the name suggests "bush" tomatoes grow in the general shape of a bush and are generally shorter and more compact. They are perfectly suited to pots. Cordon varieties are vine like and grow tall and wide and are the variety that will need to be "pinched out". 

You will need to "pinch out" the side shoots found at the "joints" so that the plant uses their energy for producing fruit and not putting their energy into foliage. That being said, over pruning means the plant won't have enough foliage to convert their energy so try and get a good balance. 

The main pests are aphids, cutworms and looper caterpillar.

Nutritonal Information:

Tomatoes are low in calories and as is well known, high in Vitamin C. They are however also high in folate for red blood cell formation and in potassium which maintains a healthy blood pressure and regulates the heartbeat. 

Fun Fact:

The reason for tomatoes falling into the "fruit" category is due to their botanical definition since they do form a flower and contain seeds. However from a legal perspective, they are classed as a vegetable and since it has a much lower sugar content than other fruit, from a culinary sense, it is for this reason also considered a vegetable.