I’m really pleased to be able to introduce the fifth in the series of Tomato Lover interviews. In our last interview we met Kim on the northern fringes of Inner London. Today we are with another urban gardener, Lulu, who also is an allotment holder but south of the river in South-West London.
TL: How long have you been growing tomatoes ?
Lulu: This is my 2nd year.
TL: Where do you grow your tomatoes?
Lulu: Last year I grew them at the allotment and at home in grow bags and this year I am growing them on my allotment where they have their own tomato bed!
TL: Which are your favourite varieties to grow ?
Lulu: I don’t have a favourite yet. Last year I experienced the legendary generosity of other gardeners and was lucky enough to be given my plants by other growers on the allotment and they were delicious. The three I have planted so far this year have also been given to me so I am hoping for more of the same. They were all planted from seed. But not by me!
TL: Do you buy tomatoes plants ?
Lulu: I haven’t done to date but I think I will this year to try some different varieties.
TL: How tomato plants do you grow each year ?
Lulu: Last year I grew 3 which gave me more than enough tomatoes. It felt like masses!
TL: What’s your favourite way to enjoy your tomatoes once you have picked them ?
Lulu: Definitely straight off the plant but I also like them roasted in the oven with olive oil.
TL: Are there any mistakes you made as a beginner last year that you won’t make again this year ?
Lulu: I didn’t take the lower shoots off early enough last year and didn’t start feeding them early enough.
TL: Based on what you have learnt what would be your tips to pass on to a beginner ?
Lulu: Remember to pinch out the side shoots
Have your fertiliser bought and ready for when you need it. I used Tomorite every couple of weeks and that seemed to work well.
If you are using a grow bag remember to keep watering and if you are going away remember to ask someone to stand in on watering duties for you!
Also think ahead to what you are going to do with your tomatoes when they start ripening. When you get a glut it’s great to already have a list of people in your mind who would be happy to receive some tomatoes.
And along the same lines have some recipes ready that you want to make and everything to hand that you will need for making them. Last year I decided to make chutney. I had all my tomatoes ready but then had to go out and track down enough vinegar, pickling spices etc .
Plus I also had forgotten about jars and so ended up having to go out and buy them as I hadn’t been thinking ahead and saving them.
TL: We’re in May – what tomato growing activities are on your to do list for May ?
Lulu: To buy some more plants and to spend as much time on the allotment as I can. There’s so much joy in planting something and seeing it grow.
Many thanks to Lulu for sharing her experience and time.
It was very reassuring for me to meet someone who had grown tomatoes for the first time last year, and despite getting a few things not quite right, had success in producing more than enough tomatoes to go round! Also valuable were Lulu’s tips on thinking ahead. I don’t get through many jars but those that I do normally go straight into the recycling bin. Not now! Now they’ll get washed out and stored ready for chutney making. I’ve also had fun researching and picking out recipes. If it’s not the tomato equivalent of counting your chickens before they’ve hatched then I’m planning on trying my hand at ‘Red tomato and apple’ and ‘Green tomato’ chutney. Good tip !
