Top p 5... cherry tomatoes

Buy plugs and young plants of these tasty varieties now for pots and hanging baskets

1 ’Summerlast’ A new blight and virus-resistant, compact variety. Small, sweet, cocktailsized fruit. They don’t need de-shooting and have a stay-green trait, so leaves don’t yellow. H: 50cm (1ft 6in), S: 30cm (1ft).

Tip Stake and support plants when fruit begins to swell.

From www.suttons.co.uk; tel: 0844 326 2200. 2 ‘Crimson Cherry’ Excellent tolerance to blight and grafting on a durable rootstock makes it a good performer for pots or growing bags outdoors. Large cherry fruit with a tangysweet flavour. H: 1.8m (6ft), S: 60cm (2ft).

Tip Ideal for growing against a trellis on a sunny, south-facing wall.

From www.suttons.co.uk; tel: 0844 326 2200. 3 ‘Orange Paruche’ Round, orange fruit are crack resistant, with a delicious, tangy tomato flavour. Semi-determinate habit makes it ideal for raised beds or containers. Grafted on vigorous rootstock, but best grown indoors if blight is a problem. H: 1.8m (6ft), S: 60cm (2ft). Tip Grow with ‘Pink Charmer’ and ‘Golden Cherry’ for a multi-coloured eating experience! From www.dobies.co.uk; tel: 0844 967 0303. 4 ‘Peardrop’ A compact variety with pendant branches, making it ideal for hanging baskets or urns. Pear-shaped, yellow fruit have a good, tangy-sweet tomato flavour. H: 1.2m (4ft), S: 60cm (2ft).

Tip Don’t de-shoot pendant branches, but pinch out the main shoots once the desired length is achieved.

From tomato-plants-direct.co.uk; tel: 07840 106983. 5 ‘Lizzano F1’ Bush type with lax habit. Shows strong resistance to blight so good for outdoors. Cherry-sized, deep red fruit is sweet and tasty. H: 60cm (2ft), S: 90cm (3ft).

Tip Don’t pinch out sideshoots to allow fruiting branches to cascade over pot sides.

From tomato-plants-direct.co.uk; tel: 07840 106983.