Growing tomatoes can be very “weather dependent” for those of us who grow outside.
Rain is enemy number one, closely followed by low temperatures and dull light conditions – not to mention the creatures who enjoy a nibble on the tomatoes!
One way to almost guarantee a good crop of tomatoes is to grow windowsill varieties. These aren’t weather dependent, although you will need a sunny windowsill – at least for a few hours each day.
Best Windowsill Varieties
Micro Tom, Vilma and even Balconi Red and Yellow will grow in a 6 or 7 inch pot in a light position.
This season I’m trying Red Robin and a new variety called Sweet’n’Neat to see how they perform against Micro Tom and Vilma.
I was especially impressed with Vilma last season because it produced a good size cherry and a good number of tomatoes for the size of the plant.
Some of the advantages of growing small tomato plants is that they don’t become leggy and won’t take up much room.
Of course, growing inside means that there may be too little light at times, but this problem can be easily over-come with a grow light if you wish to sow in February or March. By the time April comes, light levels are usually sufficient not to need a grow light.
The one disadvantage with these dwarf plants is the small harvest. You could expect well over a hundred tomatoes from a well grown Tumbling Tom (too big a plant for a windowsill), but only 30 or so from a windowsill variety – so grow several plants and save your own seeds for next season!
By saving seeds from the biggest tomatoes and from the most productive plants, you will produce your own superior strain.
Because of the small main stem and weight of tomatoes, the main stem will need support. I put three or four stakes in the soil around the main stem to stop it breaking off at the bottom – you could lose the lot.
It is great fun to grow small tomato varieties on a windowsill and very educational for children – and adults too!
See Also: Growing Tomatoes On The Windowsill
Belinda
NICK
Last year I eventually had to put my windowsill tomato plants out in the greenhouse as there were so many small flies on them. It was much warmer on the landing windowsill as it faces south and I think there would have been a larger crop if I could have kept them there, as it was such a cold summer. Is there a pecticide to use on them which wouldn’t be harmful to us? Thanks for all your help. Belinda
Nick
Hi Belinda,
SP Plant Invigorator is good for plants and also a pesticide and is non toxic – I use it every season.
Flies are usually attracted to split tomatoes, so remove all toms from plants if they are split. It’s because they look so good (the tomatoes that is), there is a temptation to leave them on the plant for too long before picking!
Best wishes,
Nick
Rhys Jaggar
Nick
Do you sell any of these windowsill strains or are they available through most reputable online suppliers?
Cheers
Rhys
Nick
Hi Rhys,
They are all available from seed suppliers – a search on Google should do the job!
Cheers,
Nick