When tomatoes are allowed to ripen on the vine, they develop a fuller flavour, higher sugar content, and an invariably better texture than tomatoes that are picked green and ripened off the plant. The tomatoes that are sold in stores are often picked before they are fully ripe to ensure they survive being transported, which can affect their taste and texture.

Additionally, many commercial tomato varieties have been bred for their ability to withstand shipping and storage and to look good on the supermarket shelves, rather than their flavour. That is unless you want to pay extra for so called…. 'flavour-full'. By contrast, when you grow your own tomatoes at home, you can choose varieties that are specifically bred for flavour rather than shelf life, and pick them at the peak of ripeness for the best flavour. You can grow varieties which suit your growing conditions whether on a patio or in a greenhouse.

The cost of fresh produce can add up quickly, especially if you prefer to buy organic or specialty varieties. However, by growing your own tomatoes at home, you can save a significant amount of money over the course of the growing season.

Seeds and seedlings are relatively inexpensive, and you can reuse pots and soil from season to season. At nearly £2 for a small packet of fancy tomatoes, it's easy for the expense to rack up. Buying just two packets a week (about 1 lb or 500gm) would mean spending almost £50 over the course of the summer months.*

*Tesco Finest Sugarbelle Tomatoes 220G - £1.75, 7th March 2023
Sainsbury's Vittoria Cherry Vine Tomatoes, Taste the Difference 250g - £2.25 7th March 2023

Always Fresh & Ready to Hand - When you grow your own tomatoes at home, you can pick them at the peak of ripeness and have them ready to use whenever you need them. You won't need to worry about tomatoes going bad before you have a chance to use them, as you would with shop-bought tomatoes. This can be especially helpful if you like to cook with fresh ingredients or enjoy salads and sandwiches with fresh tomato.

More Interesting Varieties, both modern and heritage - When you grow your own tomatoes at home, you have access to a wider variety of tomato cultivars than you would find in shops. You can choose from a wide range of modern and heirloom varieties, each with their own unique flavour, texture, and appearance. You can experiment with different types of tomatoes to find the ones that you like best, and try out new recipes that feature different tomato varieties

It's Fun & Connects you with Nature - Growing your own tomatoes can be a fun and rewarding hobby that also connects you with nature. Watching your plants grow from seedlings to mature plants, and seeing them produce fruit, can be a satisfying and enjoyable experience.

You'll learn about the needs of your plants, such as how much water and sunlight they require, and gain an appreciation for the natural world. Gardening can also be a great way to relieve stress and improve your mental health.

Growing your Own Tomatoes Helps Reduce your Carbon Footprint - Commercial tomato growers often use pesticides and other chemicals, which have negative environmental impacts. Additionally, the transportation of tomatoes from as far away as Morocco to your supermarket requires large amounts of fuel, which further adds to greenhouse gas emissions.

By growing your own tomatoes, you can reduce both your reliance on shop-bought produce and the associated environmental impacts. Want to go even further…. you can also compost your kitchen scraps and garden waste to create nutrient-rich soil for your plants, again reducing your environmental impact. Finally, by using reusable pots and avoiding excessive packaging, you can also minimise waste and lessen the environmental impact of your tomato growing.