TOMATO ENDURANCE

It’s no great secret that the UK weather is unpredictable at best, and outright challenging at times, or that our climate varies greatly from north to south. British summers can be glorious, but they are often punctuated by periods of cooler, wetter weather that can be problematic for outdoor grown tomatoes.

Tomato Endurance has been developed over several years by renowned UK breeders Simon Crawford and Kate Ayre; and in partnership with The Gaia Foundation Seed Sovereignty Scheme. Varieties were selected for reliable disease resistance, dependable early cropping, consistently high yields, and resilience in challenging climates, as well as fruit size and flavour.

Finally, after extensive testing in 2024 and 2025 by trial growers in the UK and Ireland, Tomato Endurance has been released into the market and we are truly delighted to have been chosen as one of a select few seed houses to help launch it to gardeners.

Endurance At A Glance:

• ♦ Outstanding blight resistance Impressive resistant to blossom end rot
• ♦ Early cropping
• ♦ Dependable yields throughout the season
• ♦ Strong, vigorous growth once established
• ♦ Excellent resistance to cracking, even under fluctuation moisture levels
• ♦ 40-50g fruits with a Brix sweetness level of 6.5 to 7
• ♦ Semi-determinate habit, offering growers the flexibility to grow to six trusses under cover, or grow outside with cage support, Endurance can also be allowed to cascade but some cage support is recommended.
• ♦ Superior flavour to many varieties bred for disease resistance.

Put simply, Tomato Endurance is a standout choice for real-world UK gardeners seeking resilience, dependability, and consistent yields.

5% of every sale donated The Gaia Foundation – Seed Sovereignty Programme

(The Gaia Foundation is a charity that has been working at the nexus of climate resilience, seed diversity, and indigenous knowledge for over three decades, both in the UK and overseas. Their Seed Sovereignty Programme champions agroecologically produced and open-pollinated seeds, which are grown, saved and shared locally; supporting small-scale commercial growers, community groups, and allotmenteers with training, networks, and information to protect and restore seed diversity across the UK and Ireland.)
https://gaiafoundation.org
https://www.seedsovereignty.info

Tomatoes can be bush, cordon (single stemmed) or vine varieties. Side shoots should be removed from the cordon varieties but are usually allowed to grow on bush or vine types. Vine tomatoes can be compact, intermediate or tall.

There are regular leaf varieties and potato leaf varieties, and types more suited to greenhouse or outdoor growing.

Tomatoes are easy to grow from seed, and the flavour of a ripe, freshly picked, sun-warmed tomato has been likened to tasting sunshine. Tomato seeds should be planted from late January through to April and kept at a temperature of 70-80F where germination occurs within 7 to 14 days.

When the seedlings are large enough to handle (2-4 leaves), transplant into individual 3 inch pots, and space well apart so that the leaves of one plant never overlap another, this helps prevent them getting leggy. Allow the roots to fill the pot before transplanting on again into Gro-Bags or 10inch pots. Keep tomato plants frost free at all times.

Most tomato plants require some kind of support by the time they reach 8 inches, either staking, stringing up or the use of growing frames is recommended.

Lower leaves should be removed as they start yellowing, which improves air flow and helps speed up ripening. Tomato plants need a sunny position.

Most cherry-type tomatoes do very well in sunny patio containers and hanging baskets. Be sure to offer plenty of light, and monitor moisture; plants grown in containers often dry out faster than those planted in the ground.

Space tomatoes around 3 feet apart, it is tempting to place them closer together when planting out but as the plants grow the light and airflow around them will reduce and the risk of disease will increase if they are too close together.

Water tomatoes thoroughly and evenly, but not too often, aim to keep moisture levels constant, avoiding over wetting or allowing the compost to dry out completely. Watering early in the day and keeping water away from the leaves where possible will allow the plants to dry off before evening and help to reduce the risk of disease.

Tomatoes can be harvested when they begin to show colour, they will continue to ripen after being removed from the plant. However, the closer you can get to vine-ripened the better the flavour will be. Fresh ripe tomatoes should not be stored in the refrigerator. Flavour and texture begins to deteriorate when the temperature drops below 12°C . Tomatoes are best stored at room temperature away from direct sunlight until ready to use. Refrigeration slows the ripening of tomatoes. Refrigerate only extra-ripe tomatoes you want to keep from ripening any further.