Moneymaker

Moneymaker Tomatoes

This British classic has been loved for generations — and for good reason. This variety is famously reliable, producing heavy crops of uniform, medium-sized red tomatoes with a proper traditional flavour. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned grower, Moneymaker delivers consistency, great taste, and a greenhouse full of fruit all summer long.

Best Time to Plant

• Greenhouse: April
• Outdoors: 3rd week in May, once all frost risk has passed
If frost hits, leaves may turn blue but usually recover unless the main stem collapses (very rare).

Harvest

Around 8 weeks after planting, when fruits are deep red, glossy, and swollen.

Growing Instructions

• Planting: Space 45cm apart in well-drained soil, a large pot, or a growbag in a greenhouse.
• Hardening Off: Without a greenhouse, grow on a bright windowsill/conservatory and acclimatise outdoors over 4–6 days after frost danger passes.
• Watering: Keep soil evenly moist at all times — consistency is key.
• Training:
– Use a 6ft vertical string or cane.
– Train each plant clockwise around the string.
– Remove all side shoots as they appear.
– Once the plant reaches the top, loop it over and let it hang down while still removing shoots.
• Feeding: Only start feeding when 3–4 tomatoes begin to swell — not before.
• Maintenance: Remove dead or yellowing leaves. Pinch out the growing tip mid-August to ripen the last fruits.

Top Tips

• Watering Issues: Irregular watering causes splitting, blossom end rot, and uneven ripening — keep the soil consistently moist.
• No Manure: Avoid farmyard manure — herbicide residues can severely damage tomatoes.
• Sunshine = Sweetness: The more warmth and sun, the richer the flavour.
• Perfect Shape: Regular side-shoot removal ensures strong, tall plants with impressive trusses.