Sow two or three seeds per module, then remove the weakest seedlings
PHOTOS: NEIL HEPWORTH; AMANDA RAWLING
If you haven’t already, order seeds now for plentiful tomatoes in summer. Check that descriptions mention ‘suitable for outdoors’ and that they are disease or blight resistant. Be realistic about the number of plants you have space for; a few high-yield varieties can go a long way. Cordon tomatoes (called indeterminate) grow up stakes or other supports, making them space-efficient but susceptible to strong winds, while bush tomatoes (often called determinate) are shorter in stature but more sprawling.
Sow seeds from March to early April into individual small pots or modules of peat free compost, 1-2mm deep. Soak from below in a tray of water for a few minutes – if you use a watering can you may displace the seeds. Alternatively sow into a tray, pricking out into pots when they have a set of true leaves (the second pair of leaves).
Cover with a lid to keep in moisture and put them on a sunny, warm windowsill, ideally onto a heat mat or in a heated propagator, though near a radiator usually works. Remove the lid when you see green.