Solanum lycopersicum 'Shirley'

Shirley is a popular early maturing, heavy cropping variety for cold or slightly heated greenhouses with excellent quality fruit. It is recommended for growbag culture with an open growing habit and and good resistances.

Sowing
Sow seeds in late winter for heated greenhouse cultivation or early spring for the cold greenhouse. Sow 6mm (¼in) deep in a good compost. Germination usually take 6-14 days at 24°C (75°F).

Transplanting
Transplant the seedlings when large enough to handle into 8cm (3in) pots and grow on in good light and cooler conditions. When 15-23cm (6-9in) tall plant out 45cm (18in) apart in a prepared greenhouse border soil, growbag, 23cm (9in) pots or ring culture.

Aftercare
Remove side shoots as they appear and pinch out the growing point when 5-7 trusses have been formed.

Feed regularly once the first truss has set.