Dark Delights

a celestial crop

I really enjoyed growing these gorgeous tomatoes – definitely one of this season's highlights! From the moment they germinated, I knew they were going to be prolific. They grew quickly, and the biggest challenge was keeping them in check so they'd fit in our packaging! Their vigorous growth carried on in the greenhouse, and they were the first of my tomatoes to flower and set fruit. By mid-July, I already had ripe tomatoes from an early planting, and they kept coming right through September.

These are what I'd call large cherry tomatoes or perhaps small standard tomatoes – it's hard to put them in one category. Either way, they were plentiful and put on quite a show.

If you're growing Black Moon, make sure to stay on top of pinching out the side shoots. They grow thick and fast, and if you leave it for more than a week, you could easily find yourself with a full-blown tomato jungle! But it's worth the effort. The tomatoes look amazing as they develop – beautiful contrasting patterns of deep purple and lime green. Just wait until the green ripens to a deep red before picking them – that's when they're at their best.

The skins are nice and thick, with a satisfying crunch when you bite into the juicy, succulent flesh. Like many purple or black fruits, the flavour is deep, rich, and complex. They have a substantial feel, with an almost perfumed, aromatic quality. Sweet, but not overly so – just a beautifully balanced flavour that makes them feel a bit special.

Black Moon tomatoes thrive best in a greenhouse environment. They need warmth and protection from the unpredictable UK weather to truly flourish. Their growth is rampant, and they produce an impressive yield if given the right conditions. The Black Moon has also shown good resistance to common tomato diseases, meaning less hassle and more reward for growers who are willing to provide that extra bit of care.

The Black Moon has rightly earned its RHS Award of Garden Merit. With vigorous growth, high productivity, stunning fruits, and a great flavour, it's been a real joy to grow. A winner for both the greenhouse and the dinner table. I am over the moon!

Tumbling Toms are one of the most popular tomato plants, and it's easy to see why. They are wonderfully low maintenance – no need for the fuss of pinching out side shoots or staking. They do well outside and are pretty tolerant of the British weather, which makes them an ideal choice for those who want an easy, productive tomato without much effort.

They grow quickly, flower early, and set fruit rapidly too. These small cherry tomatoes are the very definition of "hands-off gardening." Just give them a bit of care, and they practically look after themselves. Give them a decent-sized pot, and they'll go all out for you. I used 20-litre pots, and these little overachievers grew into dense, 60cm-wide bushes – quite a sight!

Officially, Tumbling Toms are determinate, which means they should flower once and then set fruit, unlike those never-ending indeterminate varieties. But let me tell you, if you keep picking the tomatoes, they just keep on going. It's like they don't know when to quit! I had three or four of these bushes, and they were my go-to all summer and well into September. Any time I needed a handful of cherry tomatoes, they always delivered – no drama, no fuss.

Now, a couple of downsides. Because they're so low-maintenance and live outdoors, they rely on the rain for a fair bit of watering, which makes it easy to forget to give them enough feed. And I didn't want to add more water when the pots were already wet – that would just lead to split fruit. To be fair, they didn't split easily, probably thanks to their slightly tougher skins.

I'm planning an article on "mollusc warfare" soon – stay tuned for that one. To help with the slug issue, I ended up raising the pots onto upturned buckets, which definitely slowed down the snail brigade. Some people grow Tumbling Toms in hanging baskets, which is great for avoiding pests, but I prefer larger pots for a more substantial plant.

Tumbling Toms produce solid, reliable fruits. They might not be the sweetest or most flavourful tomatoes you'll ever taste, but they're easy to grow, super productive, and look fantastic on the patio. They blend in beautifully among ornamental plants, adding a lovely splash of red amongst the greenery. This year, I only grew the red variety, but I'm definitely adding some yellow Tumbling Toms – should make for a gorgeous mix.

Overall, I'm chuffed with Tumbling Toms. The fact that they grow happily outside the greenhouse means I'll be making space for a few of these on the patio every summer. Easy, cheerful, and always reliable – what's not to love?