I have never before grown tomatoes so I thought I would now give it a go.

I decided to sow a variety of cherry tomatoes called 'Tumbler.' One can buy tomato plants and this makes the process a little quicker and easier. But they tend to be a little more expensive, yet this way one can limit numbers if one just wants one or two plants. Seed packets generally contain up to 30 seeds. I have chosen to begin with seed, as I feel one gets greater satisfaction at initiating the whole process from sowing of seed to the reaping and eating of the fruits of one's labour.

This tomato is a bush variety, the other variety is called a 'cordon,' due to the way it grows. This variety can grow up to 2 metres, over 6 foot in height and produce fruit on growing branches, hence 'cordons.' The former bush variety is most suitable for my purpose as I don't have a garden as such and my space is limited to a balcony. Indeed the bush variety is most suited to hanging baskets and medium sized tubs from which trusses of exceptionally sweet cherry sized tomatoes form a cascade.

The usual sowing time is March but I started mine off in February. As I don't have a green house I sowed them indoors. As a rule it is wise to plant your seeds 5 to 7 weeks before planting them outdoors and after that there is less risk with frost.

Using organic seed compost, I avoid peat based compost as the removal of peat from peat bogs across Europe is damaging the land. I used a seed tray already divided up into cells and planted one seed per cell at a depth of 1/6 inch deep. If using a seed tray without cells, place them at least 2 inches apart in three rows in the seed try. I chose organic seed as a matter of course. As a rule, germination takes 6-14 days at 24C (70F); at a lower temperature it may take a little longer or may not occur at all.

As I write this my tomato seeds have just broken through the soil. These took 13 days to germinate and grow, and the seedlings are now ¾ inch tall. I kept the seed trays in my kitchen near a radiator but one can keep them anywhere where the temperature is around 24 C. The use of a propagator may also be a good idea; these are usually pre set for a given germination temperature.

Transplant the seedlings when large enough to handle, which is about 3 inches tall. Place into small 2 to 3 inch diameter pots and let them continue to grow in cooler, well lit conditions. When they are a little larger, pace one plant per 10 inch diameter container, again using organic soil, placing some stones or gravel about 1 to 2 inch high at the baser of the pot for the purposes of facilitating drainage of water. Place the plant in full sun. Water daily, and when the first truss (The first sign of tomato growth) has set, feed regularly.

If using hanging baskets, plant carefully one per 30cm (12in) basket leaving a 3cm (1in) space for watering. Do not put outside. Water well and let them stand in a cool, airy place until well rooted, in a week or so. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions by placing outside for short periods, avoiding particularly cold days. Then hang outside permanently after when there is no risk of frost. If planted outdoors in the garden, space 60cm (24in) apart in moist, well drained, fertile soil and in a sunny spot. The fruits should be ripen by June and onwards.

For best results, regular feeding of the tomatoes is advised. This starts when the first fruit begins to set i.e. when you can see tiny tomatoes where the flowers were. Tomatoes like a higher amount of potash. This can be found in commercial tomatoe feeds. If you do this then I suggest an organic feed, or liquid manure or liquid compost. It has been noted that the Herb Comfrey made into a liquid has a natural high level of potash and other nutrients.

The thing to note about the 'Tumbler' Cherry Tomato variety is that they tend to crop all at once so one is left with a lot of tomatoes in one go. Whilst 'cordon tomatoes' such as 'Gardeners Delight' fruit more slowly over the summer and so one isn't left with a surfeit of tomatoes.