How to grow Tomato (Gardener's Delight)

Solanum lycopersicum

🥕 Vegetable 🌱 Grown each year

A popular and reliable cherry tomato variety, producing abundant clusters of small, sweet, red fruits. Ideal for salads, snacking, and growing in containers or greenhouses.

At a glance: Sow mid February to early March, harvest from late June.

When to sow, plant and harvest

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Sow indoors

Plant

Harvest

Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.

Growing Tomato (Gardener's Delight): what it needs

Light: Full sun · 6+ hours a day
Watering: Regular, consistent watering
Soil: Well-draining, fertile, rich in organic matter · pH 6.0–6.8
Spacing: 75cm apart
In pots: Grows well in containers
Feeding: Feed regularly with a high potash liquid feed once fruits begin to set.
Harvest: About 160 days from sowing
Hardiness: USDA zones 2–11
Difficulty: Intermediate

Step by step

Mid February – early March · 8 weeks before the last spring frost
Sow Seeds Indoors
Sow tomato seeds 0.5cm deep in trays or small pots filled with seed compost. Keep warm (20-25°C) on a windowsill or with a heat mat.
7–14 days after “Sow Seeds Indoors” · Late February – early March
Check Germination
Seedlings should emerge within 7-14 days. Ensure consistent moisture and good light once sprouted.
14–21 days after “Check Germination” · Mid March
Pot Up Seedlings
When seedlings have developed their first true leaves, carefully prick them out and pot them individually into 9-10cm pots.
Early April · 10 days before the last spring frost
Harden Off Plants
Gradually acclimatize plants to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before transplanting. Start with a few hours outdoors in a sheltered spot, increasing exposure daily.
Late April · 7 days after the last spring frost
Transplant Outdoors/Greenhouse
Once all danger of frost has passed, transplant plants to their final growing position in fertile, well-drained soil, 75cm apart.
7–14 days after “Transplant Outdoors/Greenhouse” · Late April – early May
Provide Support
Stake plants or use cages to support the growing vines and heavy fruit clusters. Tie stems loosely to stakes as they grow.
14 days after “Provide Support” · Mid May
Feed and Water Regularly
Water consistently, especially during dry spells and when fruits are developing. Begin feeding with a high potash liquid feed once the first fruits have set.
14 days after “Feed and Water Regularly” · Late May
Prune and Remove Side Shoots
For cordon (indeterminate) varieties like Gardener's Delight, regularly pinch out side shoots that grow in the leaf axils to direct energy into fruit production.
14 days after “Prune and Remove Side Shoots” · Early June
Monitor Pests & Diseases
Regularly inspect plants for common pests like aphids, whiteflies, and tomato hornworms, and diseases such as blight. Address issues promptly.
60–90 days after “Transplant Outdoors/Greenhouse” · Late June – late July
Harvest Ripe Fruit
Pick tomatoes when they are fully red and firm. Harvest regularly to encourage more fruit production. Enjoy fresh!