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Fruit Edible

Solanum lycopersicum

tomato

This is the original plant from which all know varieties of tomato have been bred. The original species is quite a large, branching and climbing plant growing up to 2m tall that is perennial subshrub in its native tropical habitat. The stems and leaves are covered with short hairs. The plant flowers with yellow, star-shaped flowers, 1-2cm across, that produce green berries, ripening to variable-sized tomatoes. There are many different cultivars that bear fruit differing in size, shape and colour

Other common names

love apple
purple calabash tomato

Synonyms

Lycopersicon esculentum

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Plant nurseries
4 suppliers

Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1 year

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

H1C

Botanical details

Family: Solanaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy, Columnar upright, Climbing
Genus: Solanum can be annuals, perennials, evergreen or deciduous shrubs or twining climbers, with simple or pinnnately lobed leaves and star- or bowl-shaped, 5-lobed flowers with prominent stamens, followed by fleshy fruits
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Start from seed or buy as small plants and grow on in a heated greenhouse or warm windowsill. Move to an unheated greenhouse or outside once all risk of frost has passed. Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist, feed every 10-14 days with a balanced liquid fertiliser before switching to a high potassium liquid feed once the first fruits have set. Provide support for cordon tomatoes. See also tomato cultivation for more advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors for further advice

Suggested planting locations and garden types

hanging basket
Patio and container plants
Edible fruit
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Remove all side shoots as they appear. Pinch the growing tip when the plant has formed seven trusses under cover or four trusses outdoors

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly and tomato moth

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), blossom end rot, magnesium deficiency, tomato spotted wilt virus and grey moulds under glass

Get involved

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