Alicante Tomato
There are many varieties of tomatoes to try and grow in the garden. In fact there are around 10000 varieties to choose from when growing tomatoes. Some of the popular varieties to grow are Moneymaker, Shirley, Sungold, Marmande Tomatoes. One of the most popular tomato to grow is the Alicante Tomato.
One of the main reason on why so many people grow Alicante Tomatoes is that they are a heavy cropper and produce delicious tomatoes. Alicante Tomatoes are your standard size tomatoes. These are often grown in a greenhouse, polytunnel or even grown outside in a sunny spot.
In this article we will be explaining how to grow Alicante tomatoes, tips for growing them successfully, how to care for them plus lots more.
Find out about different tomato varieties here.
Allotment and Kitchen Garden Book
Are you starting an allotment or planning on growing your own fruit, vegetables, herbs, and flowers in a kitchen garden? If so we highly recommend the book Allotment Month By Month. This does exactly what it does on the cover to help you with what you should be doing in the allotment and kitchen garden each month. Below you can see the link for Amazon where you can purchase the book directly. This book is extremely popular with all allotment holders as you will read in the reviews:-
You can check out all the allotment and kitchen garden books we recommend here.
Alicante Tomato History
Alicante Tomatoes are actually an English variety of Tomato even through the name would suggest Spanish. These have been developed from the Moneymaker variety of tomato and produce bigger tomatoes than moneymaker. These were first introduced in 1966.
What are the health benefits of Alicante Tomato
Tomatoes are a healthy option for meals and drinks. Tomatoes have many great nutrients in them. They are a great source of Vitamin C and other antioxidants. They help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
How to grow Alicante Tomato
When growing Alicante tomatoes is great to know where you actually want to plant them. Sort an area out make sure its clean and disinfected. Some variteies of tomato can be grown outdoors and some are more suitable for growing indoors. When growing tomatoes you will always get a better crop when you grow them in a greenhouse or polytunnel rather than outside. The temperature and the humidity will be better fro growing the Alicante tomatoes. In this guide we will give you a step by step process of growing moneymaker tomato plants from sowing the seeds, potting on the plants and harvesting the tomatoes.
When to sow, plant and harvest Alicante Tomato
Here is an easy table to show you the dates you need for your tomatoes. This chart is for the UK – remember that this is a guide and will all depend on the weather and how warm it is.
| Sow | February to April |
| Plant | May – June |
| Harvest | July to October |
Best place to grow Alicante Tomato
When choosing a space to grow your Alicante tomatoes you want to choose to grow them in a greenhouse or a polytunnel. The returns you will get back in crops will be much bigger than growing them outside. This is because it is warmer and the humidity is better for them. When thinking about how many plants to grow the ideal amount will be around 6 plants. This should provide you with a sufficient crop and you will certainly be giving them to friends and family.
If you are growing your Alicante tomatoes outside you are needing the choose a sunny but sheltered spot ideally against a wall.
Best soil to grow Alicante Tomato
The soil you want to choose when growing your alicante tomatoes is compost you can either purchase a grow bag which will fit 3 tomato plants in or you can buy a bag of compost and put some in tubs. Make sure that your tubs have drainage holes in the bottom for your tomato plants.
How to sow Alicante Tomato seeds
Alicante seed sowing is an easy process which anyone can do even a beginner gardener. Below I have included a video on how I sow tomato seeds which you may find useful.
First you need a seed tray with a layer of compost in. Sprinkle the tomato seeds evenly across the top of the compost then cover with another layer of compost. Sprinkle the compost with water – do not over water them. If it is still cold in your greenhouse you can cover the seed tray with a layer of cling film. This will keep the soil warm and moist and help germination.
Planting your Alicante Tomato
It will take around 14 days for your tomato seeds to germinate. Leave the plants until they get quite big in the seed tray – around 8cm tall. Once they are big enough to handle you can pot them on into plant pots to grow and develop further – you only need plant pots that are around 8cm. Keep watering the tomatoes on a regular basis and keep them in a sunny position in the greenhouse. Always pot up more tomatoes than you actually need just in case any die – you can always give friends and family spare ones.
When the tomato plants reach around 15cm tall you can now pot them in the final growing place. Either transplant them into grow bags – usually you can get three in a grow bag. The other option is to grow them in a big container and add your own compost or a flower bucket. Just make sure there is drainage holes in the bottom or you could water log your tomato plants.
Looking after your Alicante Tomato
When growing all varieties of tomato plants they will require a lot of love and attention from you to get great crops.
One of the main jobs in looking after your Alicante tomato plant is to keep them watered they are extremely thirsty plants especially in hot weather. They often require a drink of water every day. In extreme hot weather they might require water in the morning and at night when the sun is not at it’s strongest.
Make sure that you support your tomato plant by placing a cane in the ground at the side to fasten it too as they are top heavy and can snap. You would not want to loose all your produce from the plant if it snaps and breaks. Keep tying it up as it grows taller. Don’t tie it too tight though as the stem will get thicker.
As the Alicante tomato plant is growing keep snapping off any side shoots that grow this then lets the plant put in all the energy into growing the tomatoes on the main stem.
If you notice any yellow leaves growing on the plant these can be cut off just in case they are diseased.
How to feed Alicante Tomato
Alicante tomatoes will need feeding to encourage great crops from your plants. The best thing you can feed your tomatoes is Tomato Feed including Tomorite – this is a liquid tomato feed that can be added to your watering can. The best time to start feeding your moneymaker tomatoes is when they start to flower. Feed them once a week then when the tomatoes start to appear on the plants feed them twice a week.
Here you can find Tomorite available to purchase on Amazon:-
Harvesting Alicante Tomato
The best part of growing Alicante tomatoes is harvesting them. These tomatoes taste absolutely delicious. You won’t just end up eating one but lots. When one turns red they will all start turning red. Pick the tomato off when it is fully ripe do not leave too long or it will go soft and split. If it is at the end of the season and they are not ripening hang some banana skins in the greenhouse or pick them and put them and place them in a draw with a banana.
Alicante Tomato Pests and Diseases
As with most tomatoes Alicante tomatoes are still prone to be affected by pests and diseases. These include:-
Alicante Tomato Pests:-
The pests which are common to affecting Alicante tomatoes are:-
- Aphids
- Leaf Beatles
- Slugs
- Snails
All bugs can be prevented from attacking your crops.
Alicante Tomato Diseases:-
Alicante tomatoes can be affected by late blight this is when the disease is spread by soil that has been hit by the water and splashed onto the plants. When watering make sure you are careful and don’t have too much pressure on the hose or watering can. If you were to spot any plants that have been affected by blight remove them immediately as it can kill crops overnight if not controlled.
Purchase Alicante Tomato Tomato Plants and Seeds
Here you can purchase your Alicante tomato seeds and plants though our website. The links will take you to Amazon so you know it is safe to purchase.
Seeds:- The link below you can purchase Alicante seeds these are the best ones worth growing where you will have great success.
Plants:- Here you can purchase Alicante tomato plants that are already growing so it saves you the hassle of sowing the seeds:-
Alicante Tomato Questions
Here we answer some of those Alicante questions that you may have.
What variety of tomato is Alicante?
Alicante tomatoes are an improved version of Moneymaker tomato.
How tall do Alicante Tomatoes grow?
Alicante tomato will grow to around 2 metres tall or 200cm.
Are Alicante Cherry Tomatoes?
Alicante are not cherry sized tomato these are normal sized tomatoes like you will see in the supermarket.
