If I want to grow cherry tomatoes on my south facing window ledge what do I do, and when?

[ThisIsMyYearToFindMyself]

By ‘cherry’ tomatoes I just mean small and tasty ones, of whatever variety.

I’ve never grown any veg, and my knowledge is kind of ‘just put seeds in compost and water them’ level. But what compost? In pots? Plant seeds? Thinning out??? No idea what that is. Do I need to start them somewhere then move them to different containers?

Many thanks!

Now is a good time to start tomato seeds. Choose one specifically for windwsillsnor hanging baskets (e.g. tumbling tom or anything called a 'dwarf bysh' type).

Small pots (individual yoghurt pot size is good) filled with seed compost or multipurpose compost.

Push 1 seed per pot a few mm into the compost. Add a little water (it should be damp, not dripping wet) the put the pots in a large, clear plastic bag on a warm windowsill or in the airing cupboard until you see green shoots.

Then take then out and keep them in a warm bright place, remove bag, keep soil damp..

When they get to about 5 or 6 inches tall move them to a larger pot (pot yogurt size if you want an intermediate step, or to their final planting container). A trough is best for tomatoes because they need a lot of root space and water. You don't say if it's an indoor or outdoor windowsill - if outdoors don't move them there until all risk of frost has passed.

Or wait until April/May and buy ready-grown plants from a garden centre.

Put in a trough with multipurpose compost. Keep soil constantly damp - regular watering is crucial for tomatoes. After the first month feed with tomato feed according to the feed packet instructions.

I grow tomatoes in cntainers every year including cherry tomatoes. Here's what I do:

Choose tomato varieties which are good in containers, such as Veranda Red, or Sungold. If you're not sure, it will say on the seed packet what the best growing conditions are for them. I also like doing hanging basket cherry toms, so I get a lot of Tumbling Toms as well.

Start with a seed planting tray and some seed compost, and plant a few seeds, maybe twice as many as you think you will need plants for. Pop them in a warm spot, inside on a windowsill is good. Keep them damp but not soaking. They should germinate in about 1-2 weeks in my experience.

Once they start to grow, you will see which are the strongest ones. When they get to about 3 inches tall, you can plant them on into your final container, and place them in their outdoor spot. I usually use an all purpose compost for these containers, with a bit of tomato food thrown in.

Note, if you want to skip all of this you can order small plants, usually called plug plants, direct from seed suppliers like Suttons or DT Brown, they will post them to you.

Depending on the size of your container you may be able to do more than one plant per container, but one plant will want about a foot of space around it once it's full size, depending on the variety.

After that, just keep watering it, give it the odd bit of tomato food, and chat to it occasionally (well I do, anyway) and you should wind up with lots of lovely cherry tomatoes.

Once they've got established in their final pot, chuck some lettuce and basil seeds in. Just a sparse sprinkle, rake them lightly into the surface and leave them.

This is a good idea :) Tomato salad all in one pot!

give it the odd bit of tomato food.

Once the first trusses (tiny, green tomatoes) appear, feed them once a week, following the instructions on the Tomato Feed bottle.

I'd buy 2 cherry tomato plants, one grow bag, one bottle of tomorite, 2 canes and a tray in May, fold the growbag in half so that the folded middle bit is in the air and the 2 ends are on the tray, make 2 holes in the middle bit and plant one plant in each half. Then put a cane in, and as they grow, tie them into the cane just to keep them from toppling over. After the first truss of flowers shows, feed with the diluted tomorite once a week.

Do that for a few years until you learn how to grow them and only then, start from seed.

I've grown some varieties in hanging baskets which are freatbif you don't have much room.