{"id":40604,"date":"2023-03-05T16:27:25","date_gmt":"2023-03-05T16:27:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greensideup.ie\/?p=40604"},"modified":"2023-03-06T09:10:46","modified_gmt":"2023-03-06T09:10:46","slug":"how-to-grow-tomatoes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greensideup.ie\/how-to-grow-tomatoes\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Grow Tomatoes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"How<\/h2>\n

How to Grow Tomatoes<\/h2>\n

It’s difficult to ignore the empty vegetable shelves in the supermarkets right now. The unseasonable weather in Europe, along with rising fuel costs, water shortages and viruses, have had an immediate and real impact on food supply. According to the World Food Programme, the world faces a global hunger crisis of unprecedented proportions, with 345 million people in 82 countries facing or at risk of acute food insecurity, fuelled by conflict, climate shocks and Covid-19.<\/a> Ireland imported 890,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables in 2020<\/a>, a 43% increase in total fruit & vegetable imports since 1992, with only 1% of farmers growing vegetables here, leaving us in a vulnerable position with our food security.<\/p>\n

Given the above, if you’ve never grown tomatoes, or vegetables in general, now might be a good time to start! If you’re in Ireland or the UK and you haven’t already sown tomato seeds, the following might help you start growing. If you’re not sure about timings for starting seed, you might find this video of interest.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

Tomatoes grow really well in greenhouses and polytunnels, but if we have a good summer, they will also grow well outside once they have shelter and are in a sunny spot. I’ve successfully grown tomatoes outside in gardens with groups over the years, be it in large containers in multipurpose compost, as well as grow bags and raised beds.<\/p>\n

Saving Tomato Seeds<\/h2>\n

To begin with, chose a variety (or several) of seeds that you like the sound of. This year I’m growing a few, including Bodglut, Arctic Circle and one of our favourites, Dzintare Lasite from Irish Seedsavers. I used to save the seeds and share them, but whilst on a Seed Guardian course last year, I learnt that tomatoes are very promiscuous. I might have thought I was sharing my Dzintare’s, but they could have been a hotch potch of any of the other varieties! If you do want to save tomato seeds, stick to the one variety unless you have a good bit of space between varieties.<\/p>\n

Once you have your seeds, some containers and compost, get sowing!<\/p>\n