FOOD from the SKY

Our first Tomato and Strawberry plants of the season are now for sale

Posted by azulvaleriethome on April 20, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

There’s is nothing quite like the taste of freshly picked, home-grown tomatoes and strawberries.

And we now have some of these lovely plants for sale in Budgens. Our tomatoes are the Moneymaker variety and have gone full circle with Food from the Sky, as these plants were grown from the seeds we saved from last years plants!

Our organic tomato and strawberry plants are only £1.99 each.

Once you’ve got your plants home, here are some tips for planting out and general care to help maximising your harvests.

Tomatoes

• Keep soil moist but not water-logged, dry conditions will significantly increase risk of fruit splitting
• Just before transplanting the tomato plants to their final position drive a strong stake into the ground 5cm from the planting position. The stake should be at least 30cm deep in the ground and 1.2m above ground level. Tie main stem of plan to the stake
• Feed with an organic tomato fertiliser every 2-3 weeks (if growing in containers every 1-2 weeks)
• Tomatoes need a lot of sun so make sure you give them a full-sun position in your garden
• When the first fruits begin to form, the plant will produce side-shoots between the main stem and the leaf stems. These side shoots should be removed by pinching them out
• Pick as soon as they are ripe – as well as tasting great, this encourages production of further fruit
• Cut off yellowing leaves and those shading lower ‘trusses’ of fruit

Strawberries

• Choose a sunny, sheltered site with well drained soil and add plenty of manure before planting out
• Keep strawberry beds free of weeds at all times
• Keep well watered until they are established
• Protect fruit from birds with netting or similar
• As the fruit develops, their weight will cause them to lay on the ground. Before this happens cover the soil around the plants with either straw or black plastic. This will prevent the fruits from lying directly on the soil which will rot them
• Pot up or remove runners

HAPPY GROWING!

Ps. In another few weeks we’ll have more plants to sell. Through spring/summer look out for FOOD from the SKY courgette, chilli, french bean, squash, coriander, lettuce and kale plants for sale in Budgens!