Tomato Marmande: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow 'Marmande' tomatoes under cover?
Start 'Marmande' tomatoes under cover about six to eight weeks before planting becomes possible in warm soil without frost risk. Adjust this interval to your climate and the space available to keep plants warm. Very early sowing in a dark place often produces weak plants.
Use pots with drainage holes or a module tray filled with fine, free-draining seed compost, preferably peat-free. Moisten it, sow without crowding and cover lightly following the packet. A depth of 1–2 cm is unnecessary. For ‘Marmande’, aim for germination warmth around 20–25 °C. Keep the compost moist without standing water.
After emergence, remove any cover and provide plenty of light. Sufficient light limits stem stretching and helps young plants stay sturdy. Ventilate without exposing young plants to a cold draught.
At two true leaves, move seedlings into individual pots while preserving their roots and avoiding pressure on the stem. Do not pinch young shoots to obtain more stems. Continue growing under cover and gradually harden plants off before their final planting.
How do you plant 'Marmande' tomatoes?
How to care for this plant
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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.
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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 'Marmande' tomatoes?
