Gardeners in the UK are being urged to avoid a common mistake when planting tomatoes this May. According to gardening expert Monty Don, planting tomatoes outdoors too early can lead to stunted growth, poor fruit, and increased risk of fungal diseases.
Monty Don advises that early May is only suitable for planting tomatoes in a greenhouse. Outdoor planting should be delayed until the end of the month, when temperatures are warmer and the risk of frost has passed. Tomatoes require soil temperatures between 13°C and 16°C to thrive.
Another frequent error is failing to remove side-shoots from tomato plants. These shoots, which grow between the leaves and the stem, divert energy away from fruit production. Monty recommends removing them in the morning when the plant is firm, using fingers to snap them off.
For those planting in greenhouses, Monty suggests using soil enriched with compost and planting deeply, burying the stem up to the bottom leaf to encourage extra root growth. A minimum pot depth of 30 centimetres is recommended for healthy root development.
By avoiding these mistakes, gardeners can expect larger and more plentiful tomato harvests this summer.
