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tomato (standard) 'Shirley' F1

tomato or Solanum lycopersicum 'Shirley' F1

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This award-winning F1 hybrid tomato produces large trusses of perfectly formed, greenback-free, red fruits. 'Shirley' is a popular, early-maturing cordon variety, which is suitable for growing in both the garden (in milder areas), or in an unheated greenhouse. It has very tasty fruits and shows very good resistance to some of the common tomato diseases such as tobacco mosaic virus, cladosporium and fusarium wilt.

How to care for tomato Shirley F1:

Support plants as they grow by tying the main stem to canes or string, and regularly pinch out side-shoots to focus energy into fruiting. Keep soil consistently moist and feed weekly with a high-potash fertiliser once flowers appear.

Towards the end of the season, to help ripen any remaining fruit, lift the plants off supports and lay them flat in a sunny, sheltered spot, ideally under a cloche to retain warmth.

This tomato is an indeterminate cultivar and blooms consistently, sets fruit, and ripens throughout the season. Fruit will be ready to harvest July to October.

Sowing instructions:

Sow from March to May in pots or trays on the surface of barely moist seed compost, and cover with a sprinkling of finely sieved compost. Place in a propagator at 18-20°C (65-68°F) until germination, which usually takes up to 10 days.

Transplant the seedlings into small pots or cells and grow on until they are about 10cm (4in) high, then after all risk of frost has passed, they can be planted outdoors, 90cm (3ft) apart. Alternatively pot them into a growbag or container and keep in the greenhouse.

Eventual height:
2.5m
Eventual spread:
1m
Position:

Full sun

Rate of growth:

Fast-growing

Soil:

Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil, or peat-free general purpose compost

Hardiness:

Frost tender

Product options

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SD30001171
approx 15 seeds
£2.99
In stock
(delivery within 2-3 working days)
1
Delivery options (pick your preferred option at checkout)
Seed Packets (only)£2.99
Named Day Delivery£10.99

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