Gardening: Homebase shares tips to help grow tomatoes
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New research from meal-box delivery company, Grubby, has found a significant increase in UK searches around growing vegetables at home. Growing your own vegetables isn’t only a fun hobby but it’s also a cheaper way to enjoy your five-a-day. From analysing Google Trends data, Grubby found that in the past 12 months, there has been a surge in interest in when to plant certain vegetables.
Searches for when to plant peppers, cabbage, tomatoes and Brussels sprouts have soared up to 500 percent in the past year in the UK.
With this in mind, Fergus Smithers, chef and head of food, at Grubby, has revealed when the best time to sow vegetables and fruit is and how to grow peppers and tomatoes from seed.
What to sow and when:
February – March
Tomatoes
Peppers
Cabbage
Lettuce
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Brussels sprouts
April – May
Broad Beans
Broccoli
Corn
Cucumber
Aubergine
Carrots
Parsnips
Beetroot
Onion
Radish
Peas
Spinach
Leeks
Salad leaves
Turnip
Spring onion
Pumpkins
Potatoes,
Strawberries
Runner beans
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June – July
Squash
Cucumber
Corn
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Beetroot
Lettuce
Carrots
Spinach
Peas
Beans
Artichokes
Garlic
Runner beans
August – September
Courgettes
Lettuce
Spinach
Kale
Winter cabbages
Radishes
Garlic
Onions
Shallots
Turnip
Broad beans
Carrots
Broccoli
French beans
Runner beans
Tomatoes
Strawberries
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October – November
Beetroot
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Onions
Radishes
Spinach
December – January
Basil
Dill
Chives
Mint
Leeks
Aubergines
Lettuce
Cauliflower
After a 500 percent increase in searches for “can you plant pepper seeds?” and a 350 percent increase in “growing tomatoes for beginners” Fergus has shared how to plant pepper seeds and grow tomatoes at home.
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Growing tomatoes
Tomatoes are a really easy fruit to grow at home and are perfect if you’re a beginner.
Fergus said the “best time” to sow tomatoes is from mid-February to late March.
He continued: “The key to ensuring juicy tomatoes is to ensure they are positioned in a sunny spot.
“Tomato plants need a lot of water, so it’s best to water daily and ensure they get around one to two inches of water every week.
“If the leaves begin to wilt or turn yellow, it’s a sign that you’re overwatering them so make sure to keep a check on them.
“Depending on the type of tomato you are growing, they take around 60-100 days until you can pick them off and enjoy them in a tasty summer salad.”
Planting pepper seeds
Gardeners can actually sow pepper seeds from supermarket peppers that have been used for cooking.
Fergus explained: “Planting seeds from your peppers is a great way to reduce waste and enables you to grow your own peppers at home.
“Simply chop the top off a ripe pepper, remove seeds, and place on a paper towel. Plant seeds 2cm deep in a tray with holes for drainage, or in a plastic container with a lid. Give it a good water and then keep it in a sunny spot.
“Water every one to three days as seedlings, reducing to once a week as the plant matures. Replant each sprout at three inches and again at 15 inches.
“It can take around four to five months for your peppers to fully grow, but the wait will definitely be worth it.”
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