Monty Don, the BBC Gardeners' World host, has shared essential watering advice for tomato plants in August to ensure the best and tastiest crop, even as the UK endures a record-breaking summer with heatwaves and a hosepipe ban.
Reduce Watering for Better Tomatoes
In his personal blog, Monty Don advises gardeners to reduce watering of tomato plants unless it is very hot, to prevent the fruit from splitting. He recommends maintaining a weekly feed of liquid seaweed or homemade comfrey feed to maximize flower and fruit production.
Additionally, he suggests stripping off the bottom half of the leaves on each plant to let in light and air, which helps the fruits get more sun and reduces the risk of disease. This process can be continued weekly until no leaves remain.
DIY Comfrey Feed Recipe
Comfrey plants have deep roots that extract nutrients from deep in the soil, storing them in their leaves. Gardeners' World explains that these leaves can be harvested and broken down to create a rich, nutrient-rich plant food, especially high in potassium, ideal for promoting flowers and fruits in tomatoes.
To make comfrey feed, harvest comfrey leaves from the base of established plants (wearing gloves to avoid skin irritation), remove tough stems and flowers, chop the leaves, and pack them tightly into a water-tight container. Use a stone or brick to weigh down the leaves, and check every couple of weeks. Collect the brown liquid that is released and dilute it at a ratio of one part comfrey to 10 parts water before using it as a potassium-rich liquid fertilizer for tomatoes.
