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Growing Guide – February

13 February 2025 | Martha Hunter

Growing Guide – February

February

Written by Ollie Hutson

February Greenhouse Growing Guide – Ollie Hutson

Our February Growing Guide is here to help you make the most of this key planting time. Towards the end of February is a great time to start sowing your tomatoes for this year. As the days grow longer, seedlings get the natural light they need to establish, giving them a strong start before the growing season kicks into full swing. The seeds can be sown into trays or modules in your greenhouse and require a soil temperature of 18°C to germinate. With the right conditions, you’ll soon see the first signs of growth, setting the stage for a productive harvest later in the year.

Tomato Germination

I like to give my seeds a bit of a head start by using a heated propagator, which not only warms the soil, but also retains moisture. If you don’t have one of these, it’s still possible to achieve similar conditions by placing your seed tray inside a clear plastic bag once the seeds have been sown. Next our February Growing Guide will cover key tips to ensure strong, healthy seedlings from the start:

No matter what method you use for propagation, it’s really important to uncover the seedlings as soon as they have emerged from the compost – otherwise, you’ll be left with weak, leggy plants and potential damping off of the seedlings.

Once the tomato seedlings have established, I pot them up into small pots (approximately 10cm (4”) diameter), to allow them to grow strong root systems before planting into the raised beds in my Alitex Greenhouse.

I love to grow indeterminate varieties of tomatoes, meaning their growth habit is more vine-like than squatter, bush varieties – and this means that I can fit more plants into a smaller space to really maximise production.

When it comes to planting the potted tomatoes into raised beds, I space them at around 45cm (18”) and plant with either a piece of bamboo or a string line linking the base of the plant to the roof of the greenhouse. This helps to add support as the plant grows.

Once the plants have started growing in their final position, I tie them into their support, removing the lower leaves from the bottom half of the plant and discarding the side shoots that grow from the leaf axils on a weekly basis.

This allows more light and airflow around the plant, which promotes ripening and reduces the risk of fungal diseases such as blight, as well as reducing the competition for resources from any side shoots.

Choosing your Tomato Seeds

I buy the majority of my tomato seeds from a company called Sea Spring Seeds, who are specialists in growing Solanaceae (the tomato family). At THE PIG, I am predominantly growing for chefs – so it is important to select the right varieties. There are a few old favourites I would always grow, but when selecting new ones I’m always looking for a balance of
taste, texture, and aesthetics.

If you’re looking for inspiration on what to grow, you’re in luck, our next step of the February Growing Guide highlights some of the best tomato varieties to start early in the season:

Sungold Tomatoes

In my opinion, this golden variety is the best cherry tomato, especially earlier in the season when the taste and texture are unrivalled.

They are known for their reliable productivity, this variety thrives in greenhouse conditions, producing generous clusters of fruit that ripen early and continue cropping well into the summer. With its balance of sweetness and juiciness, it’s a firm favourite among growers looking for a standout cherry tomato.

February Grow Guide: A group of Sungold Tomatoes hanging on a vine

Green Zebra Tomatoes

Good, firm texture that can add a bit of wow factor to your dishes with its aesthetically appealing green stripes. Just remember to harvest them when they are still green, as they’re much tastier than when they go red.

Just remember to harvest them when they are still green, as this is when their flavour is at its best—bright, zesty, and slightly citrusy. If left to fully ripen and turn red, they lose some of their signature sharpness and complexity, becoming much milder in taste.

February Growing Guide: A vine of Green Zebra Tomatoes

Steak Sandwich Tomatoes

A classic beef tomato that you can bite into like an apple. These tomatoes are so juicy, it feels like you could stick a straw in it and start drinking!

Their large size and meaty texture make them perfect for slicing into thick slabs for burgers, sandwiches, or caprese salads. Despite their robust structure, they’re bursting with sweet, rich flavour and an almost melt-in-the-mouth juiciness that makes them a standout choice for fresh eating.

February Growing Guide: A bunch of Steak Sandwich Tomatoes sat in front of a burger. One has been sliced in half.

Orange Wellington Tomatoes

Another beef variety, but this time a golden coloured one. They are firmer variety than the steak sandwich, and the flavour is just fantastic.

They hold their shape beautifully, whether layered into sandwiches, chopped into salads, or used in fresh salsas. The flavour is just fantastic—mildly sweet with a rich, almost buttery undertone that sets them apart from their red counterparts.

February Growing Guide: A group of orange wellington tomatoes piled on one-another

Thanks for reading this February Growing Guide! With the right timing and care, your tomatoes will be off to a strong start, ready for a productive growing season ahead. Whether you’re experimenting with new varieties or sticking to trusted favourites, giving your plants the best conditions now will pay off later in the year.

If you missed last month’s guide, you can catch up below—or take a look at what’s coming up in March’s growing guide.

All gardeners know better than other gardeners.

Unknown, Chinese Proverb

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