Monty Don has shared his essential gardening tips for tomato plants for August, aiming to help gardeners achieve the tastiest and healthiest crop yet with 'maximum fruit and flowers'. The advice comes as the UK endures a record-shattering summer with relentless heatwaves, and the Environment Agency (EA) has declared a drought across more than half of England, affecting over 20 million people with a hosepipe ban.
Key Steps for Tomato Plants in August
Writing on his personal blog, the BBC Gardeners' World presenter advises: "Reduce the watering, unless it is very hot, to avoid the fruit splitting, but keep up a weekly feed of liquid seaweed or, if you can make it, home-made comfrey feed. Both are ideal for maximising flower and fruit production."
Additionally, he recommends: "Strip off the bottom half of the leaves on each [tomato] plant. This will let in light and air so that the growing fruits get more sun and also the extra ventilation will reduce the risk of disease. This process can be continued weekly until there are no leaves left at all."
How to Make Comfrey Feed at Home
Comfrey plants have deep root systems that draw nutrients from far beneath the soil, storing them in their leaves. According to Gardeners' World, these nutrients, especially potassium, make an ideal feed to promote flowers and fruits in plants like tomatoes.
To make your own comfrey feed, you'll need comfrey leaves, plastic bottles, a watering can, a large bucket or watertight container, and a heavy stone or brick. Harvest comfrey leaves from the base of established plants (wearing gloves is advised), remove tough stems and flowers, chop the leaves, and pack them firmly into a container. Weigh down the leaves with a stone or brick, and keep the container covered as the mixture can become pungent.
Check every couple of weeks, collecting the brown liquid produced and storing it in a cool, dark place. Top up with fresh leaves as needed. Dilute the liquid at a ratio of one part comfrey to 10 parts water, then apply as a potassium-rich fertiliser for your tomatoes.
