About Tomatoes
The tomato, or solanum lycopersicum, is a flowering plant that's cultivated all over the world. From a strictly botanical viewpoint, the round, juicy things that we call tomatoes are fruits. Yet, they're often treated as vegetables – thanks to their nutritional properties and widespread use in savoury cooking.
There are thousands of tomato types, coming in a diverse range of sizes, colours, and flavours. From the small, purple, and sweet indigo blue cherry tomato to the large, red, and rich beefsteak tomato, the sheer variety of this fruit is astounding.
Thanks to the diversity of tomatoes, they can be put to an impressive number of uses. You can pickle them, eat them raw in salads, and cook them by themselves or as an ingredient in a range of dishes. This versatility makes them a real asset in the kitchen – one of the many reasons they're so popular.
Why Sow Tomato Seeds?
Carrying a basketful of fresh, homegrown tomatoes into your kitchen is a fantastic feeling. The satisfaction, sense of achievement, and overall dopamine boost you experience after a harvest is second to none.
If you're looking for an easy entry point to growing your own food, you'd be hard pressed to find a better option. You don't need a large garden to grow tomatoes from seed. On the contrary, some dwarf varieties can flourish in hanging baskets or window boxes. Plus, you can grow a lot of tomatoes in a small space – letting you harvest enough of them to see you through a whole season, at a fraction of the price you'd pay at a supermarket!
Moreover, growing your own tomatoes from seed gives you access to better quality food. Fresh tomatoes are packed with nutrients and antioxidants like vitamin C, potassium, and lycopene – all essential for good health. They also have a superior flavour-profile, being both sweeter and juicier than their shop-bought counterparts.
What Should You Consider When Choosing Tomato Seeds?
With so many varieties of tomato, it can be difficult to narrow down the options. Here are a few aspects you should consider:
- Attributes – Is there a particular quality that you'd like your grown tomatoes to have? Whether you'd like them to have extra nutritional value or exceptional flavour, you can find something to tick your boxes in our collection.
- Tomato type - There are four main types of tomato: cherry, plum, salad, and beefsteak. Each has its own culinary uses. If you have a particular way you want to use your tomatoes in the kitchen, you need to choose your seeds accordingly.
- Growing style – Will you be sowing your tomato seeds inside or outdoors? Do you want to grow them in a container or a hanging basket? Considering these questions will help you select the right variety. Be sure to read the tips and advice on the individual product pages to help inform your decision.