How to grow tomatoes from seed

Position your geminating pots on the sunniest windowsill in the house (keeping central heating to a minimum) or your greenhouse if you have one. From cherry strains to beefsteaks types and yellow to almost-black hues, the number and range of varieties to tempt gardeners is growing every year.

A temperature of 18°C is ideal - this is when an electric, thermostatically controlled propagator is particularly useful, though raising seedlings in non-electric versions, or simply under a transparent sandwich-bag cloche, can work nicely, too.

Sow the seeds in January (in a heated greenhouse) or February (on a windowsill) in small pots or a seed tray. Once they've germinated and two true leaves have developed (those that follow the first pair), transplant into pots up to 9cm wide.

Only when the flowers have opened up should you transfer the plants to outdoors (and ensuring your area has experienced its last frost). This can be any time between the beginning of April and the end of May. Tomato plants do best if grown in a greenhouse or tied to canes secured to a brick or stone wall which releases warmth gradually during the day and overnight. They can be placed straight in the soil, in a pot or a specially tailored grow bag containing the right balance of nutrients - there are many available from gardening centres, including options for those who garden organically.

Tomatoes require regular watering - in fact, during the height of summer, it's a good idea to install miniature reservoirs sunk into the ground in front of them. The best kind are milk cartons or drinks bottles turned upside down so that you can fill them up once a day which they then release steadily. They will also crop more prolifically if nourished once a week with a seaweed-based feed.

You can reap the rewards from July to October when the plant begins to fruit.

Where to buy tomato seeds

Organic Gardening Catalogue