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Sun-loving tomatoes can suffer outdoors during spells of cold weather, with ideal temperatures from 18-24˚C and no lower than 13˚C. If it is too cold there might be poor pollination, curling of leaves and the fruits might be scarred, with holes

and choose resistant varieties such as 'Dombello' and 'Shirley'.tomatoesmid-spring to autumnCommon problems affecting tomatoesTomato blightTomato splittingTomato frost damageBlossom end rot

Spray potatoes and outdoor tomatoes with Bordeaux mixture or similar to prevent blightThin heavy crops of apples, pears and plumsTie in new raspberry canes to support wiresCover brassicas with fine netting to prevent cabbage white butterflies laying

tomatoes with Bordeaux mixture to prevent blightThin heavy fruit crops, picking off the smallest. Aim to leave developing fruits about 10-15cm apart along the stems, perhaps thinning congested spurs down to just a single fruitSow seed of herbs now

there are lots more potatoes out there, but Charlotte is just superb.I haven't started lifting my main crop potatoes yet but I think I may have to soon. Like Pippa, the foliage of my plants has started to show signs of blight. That mottled, spotty, slightly

position.Just one word of caution. In my neck of the woods in the East Midlands I really can't risk growing tomatoes outside without plants succumbing to blight. This really is a devastating fungus disease, attacking the foliage and fruits of tomatoes (as

potato bagMulti-purpose compostPotato tubers - early and second early varieties are bestJune - August20 minutesRoll down the sides of the potato sack and add a 25cm layer of compost to the bottom.Lightly press the tubers on to the surface of the compost

of underground stems that will bear potatoes. This mounding can be repeated once or twice more at 2 - 3 week intervals to ensure the best crop, with the added benefit of smothering any competing weeds.Potato plantsGarden forkRakelate-May - late-June 20 minutes

Seed compostPlastic potsVermiculiteJanuary - April20 minutesFill your pot with seed compost, leaving a couple of centimetres below the rim. Scatter the seeds evenly over the compost and cover with vermiculite. Water well, then cover the pot with a plastic bag

, auberginessummer to autumnCommon fruit and veg problemsTomato blightTomato leaf mouldTomato splittingFrost damage on tomatoesLeatherjackets - brassicas and strawberriesSooty mould - peppers and greenhouse plants