Tomato, Beef, 'Noire de Crimée'

Germination

Sow indoors. Sow seeds onto moist well-drained seed compost and just cover with soil. Propagate with gentle heat. Germination takes 7-14 days. When seedlings have 2 true leaves transplant to 8cm pots, min temp. 15°C. Acclimatise and plant out once danger of frost has passed. Plant 3 per grow bag or with 60cm spacing. If sowing in an unheated greenhouse follow the same process but delay planting until Mar/Apr.

Growing

Easy to grow, keep soil moist, feed with a high potash plant food once fruit appears. Best grown in a greenhouse.

Cultivation

Will require staking/supports. Tie with soft garden twine. Remove any sideshoots that develop between stem and leaf stems. Shake flowers to aid setting. Once plant has 3-4 trusses of fruit pinch out top of main stem. The fruit can be up to 500g each.