Growing Methods

Our plants are selected from in house trials using varieties developed by a wide range of seed houses to satisfy our special requirements. Customer feedback is vital in enabling us to continuously improve the range and flavours.

The seeds are sown by a specialist propagator during October and the baby plants arrive four weeks later, giving us time to establish each plant with its own support before Christmas. The shortest day signals the start of the flower opening and we introduce bumble bees to naturally pollinate our tomatoes. These fruits slowly develop over the winter and start the ripening process with the coming of spring in March.

Our plants grow in a glasshouse environment kept at an average temperature depending on the amount of light available during the day. On sunny days our plants demand more temperature whereas on a dull day they want to grow slowly and quietly at a lower temperature. Carbon dioxide is used as a by product of the heating system to increase the plants photosynthetic process.

The tomato roots are a vital tool in improving water and nutrients to our plants and we use rockwall as an inert material to anchor the roots and using a special recipe of nutrients to provide the flavour to Ironside's special tomatoes.

Leonard Ironside Tomatoes, Hempton Farm Nurseries, Farthing Common, Lyminge, Folkestone, Kent, CT188DH
Tel: 01303862256 | Fax: 01303863347 | Email