Tomato ‘Merveille des marchés’: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow 'Merveille des marchés' tomatoes under cover?
Start 'Merveille des marchés' tomatoes under cover around six to eight weeks before planting is possible without frost in warmed soil. February or March may suit some regions, but available warm, bright space matters more than a fixed date. Allow enough room for plants as they grow.
Fill pots with drainage holes or a module tray with fine, free-draining seed compost. Moisten it, distribute seeds without crowding and cover with about 0.5 cm of compost according to the packet. Water gently and label the exact cultivar name and date.
Keep the seeds in a warm place, around 20 to 25 °C or at the temperature specified on the packet. Maintain moist compost without saturation. After emergence, remove any cover and provide plenty of light. Ventilate in mild conditions without cold draughts.
At two to four true leaves, move seedlings into individual pots, protecting roots and stems. A few leaves do not mean plants can already go into open ground. Continue growing under cover, increase pot size if roots lack space, then gradually harden off before final planting. Wait for mild nights and no frost risk.
How do you plant 'Merveille des marchés' tomatoes?
How to care for this plant
-
Remove side shoots
If you train an indeterminate tomato on one or two stems, look for small shoots between a leaf and the main stem. Remove only those you do not want to keep, preferably while small, without removing flower trusses. Leave determinate bush tomatoes to branch naturally. If you do not know your variety's growth habit or prefer to let it grow freely, do not prune routinely. Between reminders, check new shoots when harvesting.
-
Install plant supports
If your tomato variety needs support, fit a sturdy stake or string when planting. Tie the stem loosely and check ties as it grows. Bush varieties may not need staking.
How do you harvest 'Merveille des marchés' tomatoes?
