Tomatoes, cucumbers and sweet peppers – outside at last!
Once we’ve got past the ‘Ice Saints’ – the cluster of saints’ days that comes in mid-May – it’s the time of year many gardeners have been longing for – when tomatoes, cucumbers and sweet peppers can finally go outdoors!
These warmth-loving plants can only really be happy when the danger of night frosts is over and soil temperatures have become pleasantly warm.
For them to thrive and crop abundantly you just need to bear a few things in mind.
When to plant them out
Tomatoes, cucumbers and sweet peppers are real sun-worshippers. They need continuously warm temperatures, by day and by night. After mid-May, conditions are generally just right for them:
- Soil temperature of at least 15°C – cold soil inhibits their growth and can cause root damage.
- No risk of night frosts – temperatures lower than 10°C can cause growth impairments.
- Stable weather conditions – A few days of mild, wind-free conditions will help them adjust to being outdoors.
The best place for a bumper crop
Tomatoes:
A warm, sunny spot with some rain protection is perfect (by a house wall, for example, or in a greenhouse). Tomatoes like to keep their leaves dry – a roof or canopy will help to keep fungal diseases at bay.
Cucumbers:
They love warmth and moisture but need to be protected from strong winds. Climbing varieties will benefit from a trellis or netting.
Peppers:
Sunny and sheltered, ideally in a raised bed or a large pot with nutrient-rich compost.
Getting the planting right
- Harden off your young plants – If you’ve started your plants on a windowsill they will need to be gradually acclimatised to the outside world (stand them outside during the day, keep them well protected still at night).
- Prepare the ground – Loosen the earth well and enrich with compost or organic fertiliser.
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Tomatoes will love some well-rotted horse manure or horn shavings.
Plant well spaced apart
- Tomatoes: 50–60 cm apart
- Cucumbers: 60 cm (for climbers) or more if they are trailing on the ground
- Sweet peppers: 40–50 cm apart
- Don’t forget supports – tomatoes and cucumbers need climbing supports or poles to keep the plants completely stable.
- Water directly and generously – Water thoroughly after planting to help the roots get established in the soil.
Care tips for healthy plants
- Water regularly and in the way the plants like best – tomatoes like water directly to the roots but not on the leaves. Cucumbers and peppers like even moisture levels.
- Mulching helps – a layer of mulch keeps moisture in the soil and suppresses weeds.
- Pinch out side shoots – tomatoes will benefit from having the small shoots in the leaf axils removed so that more energy goes into the fruits.
- Use natural companion plants – basil and tagetes alongside tomatoes will help against pests. Marigolds and savory support cucumbers and peppers.
To sum up: this is where the main gardening season begins!
With the right preparation there’s nothing to stand in the way of a bumper season. Put your plants out now to enjoy delicious aromatic fruits through the summer.
