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44 Phonebox Magazine | February 2025TOMATOES IN WINTER?It's snow joke... While it's grey outside, inside it's all red! Contrary to what many people might believe, you do not need a greenhouse to grow tomatoes. You just need a bit of know-how.While it%u2019s clearly preferable to grow your tomatoes under glass, for many people that%u2019s just not an option. A greenhouse is a costly investment and, even if you have the money for one, you might not have the space in your garden. So can you replicate in your garden, the warmth, humidity and protection from pests that a greenhouse gives you? The simple answer is %u2018yes%u2019, and it comes down to picking the right tomato to grow.This versatile fruit comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, so a variety can be found to suit almost every shape and size of garden or back yard. If you do have a greenhouse you can plant your seeds this month or in March. If you%u2019re thinking of growing your tomatoes outside, sow from late March.But you don%u2019t even need a garden to grow tomatoes: there are varieties of cherry tomatoes, for example, that can be grown in a window box. Others can comfortably be cultivated in a good-sized pot on your patio. They can also go in a shrub border, against a wall or tied to a fence. The seed packets you buy in specialist gardening shops and outlets will explain all you need to know about the type of plant you are buying and the way in which it likes to be treated and grown. Follow the instructions carefully, keep an eye on the watering and check regularly for pests or blight and you should have an impressive and satisfying crop of tomatoes to harvest and enjoy.TYPES OF BRITISH TOMATOES TO GROW:CLASSICSeasonal, round and great for all dishes like salads, grilling, frying. CHERRYMini and sweet and come in orange, yellow and red. Used for salads and a favourite with young children. COCKTAILBigger than cherry tomatoes but still sweet. Can be used to create sauces and salads.PLUMOval with a plump, fl eshy texture means that it would be perfect for barbecues or for pizzas, and pastas especially. For example, Roma tomatoes. BEEFMeaty and bigger than the classic tomato. It is ideal for baking whole and is perfect to slice and add onto sandwiches or burgers. GRAPESmall but egg-shaped fruit. They are half the size of cherry tomatoes and have thicker skins. Flesh is crunchy, thicker than cherry and less watery. SAN MARZANOPointy-shaped with a thick texture, these are great for pizza toppings and marinara sauces. Commonly used for processing and canning, they are perfect for saucing too.MONEYMAKERThe plants grows up to 10 metres tall and can grow up to 10 tomatoes per vine. They can be eaten as a salad, with snacks, and in soups. MARMANDELarge, unevenly scalloped, beefy, red tomatoes. They are suitable for salads but are more often used for cooking purposes. BLUSHEnlarged, thick, plump, bullet-shaped cherry tomato. A complex fl avour means they can be eaten raw, but are best used for roasting, simmering and baking.