Skip to main content
The Morning Star Shop
You say tomato
From planting them deeper and watering them less than you might expect, MAT COWARD gives us the secrets to conquering tomato trouble

ALMOST everyone who grows vegetables grows tomatoes — they are always among the best-selling seeds and plants bought by home gardeners.

It must follow that they are also among the main causes of frustration to home gardeners, because they’re not always the easiest crop.

So if you’ve been having trouble with your toms, here are a few suggestions.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
(L to R) Wong Boks and a Chinese cabbage and tofu soup  Pics (L to R): Bayartai/CC and NeoBatfreak/CC
Features / 19 July 2025
19 July 2025

MAT COWARD presents a peculiar cabbage that will only do its bodybuilding once the summer dies down

CRIME
Crime fiction / 8 July 2025
8 July 2025

A heatwave, a crimewave, and weird bollocks in Aberdeen, Indiana horror, and the end of the American Dream

crime
Book Reviews / 10 June 2025
10 June 2025

A corrupted chemist, a Hampstead homosexual and finely observed class-conflict at The Bohemia

Organic beetroot / Pic: Evan-Amos/CC
Gardening / 7 June 2025
7 June 2025

Beet likes warmth, who doesn’t, so attention to detail is required if you’re to succeed, writes MAT COWARD

Similar stories
Gardening / 8 February 2025
8 February 2025
MAT COWARD battles wayward pigeons in pursuit of a crop of purple sprouting broccoli
ARTICHOKES GALORE: (L to R) Growing in a allotment and cooke
Gardening / 3 January 2025
3 January 2025
Although there’s not much growing in the garden in January, globe artichokes are worth a try if you follow these tips from MAT COWARD
Garlic chives on a plate
Gardening / 9 November 2024
9 November 2024
MAT COWARD declares this plant to be one that ‘everyone should grow’
(Left to right) Alpine strawberries; and a strawberry depict
Gardening / 16 August 2024
16 August 2024
MAT COWARD recommends growing Alpine strawberries, which have a stronger flavour than their larger cousins, but which are happily unappealing to slugs and birds