Should you stab your grow-bag before you plant tomatoes or is it better to do nothing? I’ve been grappling with this issue since I saw Gardener’s World presenter, Alys Fowler, first stab hers along the sides a few weeks ago. She was at it again last Friday, this time on the under-side. She maintains she was ‘only following orders’ as the packaging had instructed her to do so.
I wondered if I should do the same, but my Levington’s grow-bag neglects to mention holes, as does my B&Q Organic, Peat Free grow-bag. I would be interested to hear from anyone who has strong views, or any views at all on stabbing grow-bags. Last time I was at a party with a group of horticultural journalists I tried to arrive at some sort of consensus on the matter to no avail. Could it be that the two manufacturers above thought it was so obvious one should stab one’s grow-bag for drainage, they neglected to tell dim gardeners like myself? Meanwhile, as requested, here’s a list of what I’m growing tomato-wise.
Costoluto Fiorentino
A beef tomato grown as a cordon. I grew up with tomatoes like this. To me these taste of the Mediterranean.
Falcorosso
This is a large cherry tomato which you grow as a bush — no need to take any stalks off, just let it grow and do its own thing.
Shirley
This cordon variety is a strong grower, suitable for heated and unheated greenhouses, it’s an early variety if you want to get a head start.
San Marzano
This is a plum tomato used for cooking – a vigorous, sturdy plant. Making your own passata is not very difficult and tastes sensational thrown over fresh pasta.
Sungold
A sweet, orange-coloured cherry tomato — once eaten, never forgotten. A lot of people say this is their favourite tomato of all time — one of those that barely makes it to the plate, they are so good to scoff from the vine.
Alicante
A trouble free cordon variety. I grow it for sentimental reasons — I used to live in a village called San Juan, a few miles from Alicante.
Tigerella
This is my credit-crunch choice. I got the seeds free with a copy of Kitchen Garden magazine. They have attractive stripes, though not everyone is convinced about taste.
Gardener’s Delight
This is the first tomato I ever grew. Gardener’s Delight may be bog standard, but it’s still a great salad tomato when you grow it yourself.
Marglobe
Italian variety of round tomato with a good tomato-ey taste!
Cherrola
This variety came out with flying colours in a recent ‘Which’ report. It has very long trusses of small, sweet cherry tomatoes and can be grown in the greenhouse or outdoors. Also came free with a magazine!
In the spirit of experimentation I am growing some tomatoes in large pots. Others are in grow-bags using rings with an outer and inner section for watering and feeding. In another grow-bag I have cut off the bottom of tomato pots and fitted them to the top of the bag.
All we need now is for the good weather to last.