Don't let the long process put you off

Why bother growing tomatoes when they're so reasonably priced in the shops?

- TOM PATTINSON

I'm constantly asked the question and delight in answering that it's the flavour as much as the reward of successfully cultivating this precious summer crop.

After sampling winter's supermarket offerings, it's a delight to walk along a row of plants and enjoy sweet cherry types straight from the vine.

Considering what can go wrong on the journey from seedling to mature plant with ripe fruit-laden trusses, it's understandable that some gardeners see the process as too time consuming and opt for the weekly shopping route.

But don't let this put you off. They can be grown successfully outdoors here in the North, more so in the warm weather we've recently experienced.