The tomato season is upon us and it is time to think about next years crop as well, not just enjoying the well deserved harvest. You can save your tomato seeds with a little work very easily. Open pollinated and heirloom tomato varieties are most suitable to save the seeds from, as the hybrid ones could not come true the next season, as being a hybrid they have been produced by crossing 2 different parent plants. Getting the best seeds: Choose the healthiest plants and the healthiest fruits to save the seeds from. Leave the fruits to ripen fully on the plant. The easiest to get your tomato seeds out to cut the tomato across the equator and scoop the seeds out into a small jar, bowl. The seeds protected by the jelly like liquid, this is what you have to get rid of nicely. Smelly bu

It is commonly know as dry set. During the fertilisation period, the pollen dries out. When this happens only miniature fruits are formed and they will not grow any bigger. Usually the high temperature and the dry atmosphere to blame for such an incident. It can also be caused by infertile pollen. To prevent this to happen to your tomatoes, you should open the ventilation of the greenhouse regularly, especially in the middle of the day. If you don't have an automated system installed on your greenhouse and you know that you will be out all day,  it is better to leave the ventilation open in the morning. In very dry conditions you can create some mist around the tomato plants by spraying some water around them, don't overdo this as fungal disease love dump too, or just poor some water on t

Come sowing time! Spring is approaching fast and everyone is getting ready to sow some tomato seeds. They are fairly easy to grow from seed and if you have a warm windowsill in your kitchen then the germination will not be a problem. For the tastiest fruits many gardener grow the tomatoes in a greenhouse, polytunnel or even in a conservatory. However outside growing is rewarding too, just make sure you grow the plants in the warmest, sheltered area of your plot, garden. Sowing the tomato seeds Ideally label and fill a small pot or a seedtray with seed sowing compost, firm down and water. Scatter the seeds thinly as most of them will germinate be careful not to over sow at this stage. Place the pot on a windowsill or warm light shelf to germinate, and within 2 weeks, you should see