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Quick Facts
- Sowing window
- Sow indoors from late February to mid-March for a greenhouse, or late March to early April for outdoors.
- Harvest window
- Pick red fruits from July to October.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Container suitability
- Grow one cordon plant in a 20–30 litre pot or one plant per growbag position. Use fresh multipurpose or tomato compost, add a tall cane or string support at planting time and shelter exposed balcony plants from strong wind.
- Frost sensitivity
- Frost tender
- Typical time to harvest
- Allow roughly 16–22 weeks from sowing to the first ripe tomatoes, with outdoor plants usually later than greenhouse plants.
SOW
When to Sow Tomato Moneymaker in the UK
Sow indoors from late February to mid-March for a greenhouse, or late March to early April for outdoors.
Use that window as a practical starting point rather than a fixed deadline. In colder or exposed areas, delay outdoor sowing and planting; in mild sheltered areas, the earlier end of the range may work. Tender crops should remain protected until frost risk has passed.
Sowing Indoors
Sow Tomato Moneymaker indoors in warmth and strong light. Pot seedlings on by holding a leaf rather than the stem, and bury a slightly leggy stem more deeply at the next potting stage.
Sowing Outdoors
Do not direct sow outdoors. Harden plants off after the last frost and move them into their final position when nights are reliably mild. Choose the sunniest, most sheltered space available.
PLANT
Spacing and Planting Out
Space cordon plants about 45cm apart and train one main stem. Tie in regularly, remove side shoots from leaf joints and stop the growing tip late in the season once enough trusses have formed.
Before planting outside, harden off indoor-raised plants over 7–10 days unless the crop is fully hardy and already accustomed to outdoor conditions. Water the planting hole or container first and avoid leaving young roots exposed to sun or wind.
SMALL SPACES
Growing Tomato Moneymaker in Pots and Containers
Grow one cordon plant in a 20–30 litre pot or one plant per growbag position. Use fresh multipurpose or tomato compost, add a tall cane or string support at planting time and shelter exposed balcony plants from strong wind.
Container checklist
- Use drainage holes and raise pots slightly so surplus water can escape.
- Fill with fresh peat-free compost suited to edible crops.
- Leave a watering lip below the rim and check pots more often in sun or wind.
- Use a strong support at planting time if the mature crop will climb or become top-heavy.
CARE
Watering and Feeding
Water at the base whenever the top few centimetres of compost begins to dry. Keep the pattern consistent to reduce splitting and blossom-end rot. Feed weekly with a high-potash tomato fertiliser after the first truss sets.
Variety note: As a cordon tomato, train one main stem, remove side shoots and support it well.
WATCH FOR
Common Problems
Blossom-end rot
A dark sunken end is linked to interrupted calcium uptake, usually caused by uneven watering in containers rather than a lack of calcium in the compost.
Fruit splitting
A sudden heavy watering after the compost has dried makes fruit swell rapidly. Restore a regular watering routine.
Tomato blight
Remove suspect leaves promptly, avoid wetting foliage and provide airflow. Outdoor plants are most at risk during warm, humid spells.
PICK
Harvesting Tomato Moneymaker
Pick red fruits from July to October.
Allow roughly 16–22 weeks from sowing to the first ripe tomatoes, with outdoor plants usually later than greenhouse plants. Harvest in the coolest part of the day where practical and handle produce gently. Regular picking encourages continued cropping in fruiting and cut-and-come-again plants.
GROW TOGETHER
Companion Plants
Basil, chives, calendula and dwarf nasturtiums suit nearby containers and make good use of a sunny patio. Keep them out of the tomato pot unless it is exceptionally large so they do not compete for water.
QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Tomato Moneymaker in pots?
Grow one cordon plant in a 20–30 litre pot or one plant per growbag position. Use fresh multipurpose or tomato compost, add a tall cane or string support at planting time and shelter exposed balcony plants from strong wind.
How long does Tomato Moneymaker take to harvest?
Allow roughly 16–22 weeks from sowing to the first ripe tomatoes, with outdoor plants usually later than greenhouse plants.
Why is my Tomato Moneymaker tall and leggy?
Seedlings stretch when light is weak or they are kept too warm after germination. Give brighter light, turn pots regularly and plant the stem more deeply when potting on.