STEP BY STEP Pot on young tomato plants

CHECK the base of tomato seedlings’ pots to see if roots are coming out of the drainage holes. If so, it’s time to pot them on. A bigger pot, fresh compost and more space will boost growth. Tomato plants readily send out new roots from their stems, so pot them deeper than they were, to stimulate extra roots. These will help the plant to take up more nutrients and water, resulting in a better crop.

Fill a pot with potting compost and make a deep hole in the centre. Press the young plant out of its old pot and lower it gently into the hole.

Firm the tomato plant into its new pot. Add a label giving the variety name and date, as it’s easy to get small plants mixed up at this stage.

Give the repotted plants a thorough soaking to settle them in. Ideally use water from a can that has been standing at room temperature.