Many varieties of tomato have been tried over the years. The most successful to date have been Matina and Olirose, both small cherry-style varieties. The short growing season here means that we have difficulty in bringing to full ripeness the larger beefsteak varieties and growing tomatoes outdoors is something we have never contemplated, but after a summer like 2006 we'll have a go next year.

The young Matina plant (picture below on the left) is easy to distinguish with its potato like leaves that are quite unlike the more traditional tomato leaf of Olirose (below right). Matina is an early variety which bears a good crop of small red fruit with lots of flavour. Elsewhere, Matina would be a very early variety which makes it quite special and even though it bears fruit early it can last through a long season.

Olirose also has a long season and can be grown outside. The elongated fruits are the shape of olives, have an average weight of 1-2 ozs and the pink flesh has an exquisite sweet taste.

Future varieties we aim to try include Sungold, Gardner's Delight  (a popular variety which we have not grown here yet), Costoluto Fiorentino, Principe Borghese and Marmande. The latter is a larger variety that reputedly does well grown outside and which we will endeavour to grow against a sheltered south facing wall.

The seeds are sown two or three seeds to a 3" pot or individually in a Jiffy. Sow them around the end of February in the conservatory or greenhouse at 21^oC and they will take 5-7 days to germinate. The young seedlings are kept at 13-18^oC and watered from below to prevent damping off.

The young seedlings can be potted on when 4-5" tall, preferably into their final growing place in the soil or large pots to avoid root disturbance. Planting well down encourages root growth. Tomatoes love a well manured rich soil in which to grow and liberal amounts of well rotted organic horse manure and organic garden potash (fresh wood ash) are mixed into the potting compost before planting on.

Continue to water from below and water about two pints consistently from day to day. Tomatoes take their water from the lower roots and feed from the upper roots so water on top when feeding. Feed weekly starting as the first truss sets and keep the greenhouse well ventilated.

Take out the side shoots when small and extend the season by letting some plants grow with plenty of support rather than take out the growing point after 5 or 6 trusses. Remove the lower leaves to the first truss to encourage air circulation.

With luck you will have fabulous tomatoes from July through to October.