Alan Titchmarsh has shared his expert advice on how to grow sweet, juicy homegrown tomatoes this summer, recommending one essential tool for any gardener – whether you have a large garden or just a balcony.08:40, 17 Jun 2026June seems to be the ideal moment to start growing your tomatoes in the garden, but not before heeding this expert guidance.‌Homegrown tomatoes are beginning to thrive, but there's still time to get yours started as temperatures climb — it simply means your plants will flourish if you get them into the soil now.‌To give them the best opportunity if you're planting tomatoes straight into your garden, overnight air temperatures should ideally remain consistently above 10 degrees.‌Alan Titchmarsh has shared his top advice for cultivating plump and juicy tomatoes with one straightforward technique to enhance their growth this summer. His guidance starts with grow bags, which he regards as standard practice, regardless of your outdoor space's size.In an episode of Gardening With Alan Titchmarsh, he began by saying: "There is nothing more satisfying than biting into a sweet, juicy, sun-warmed, home-grown tomato. And I'm going to show you how to grow your own, whether you've got a large garden, a small garden, or no garden at all."‌He further explained: "The beauty of a grow bag is it can go in any garden or no garden at all. So if you've got a balcony, a terrace, a patio, or a yard where it's concrete, this is your man. Because just lay it on the concrete, plant into it, and you've got an instant pocket border."The real secret lies in inserting grow bag canes into the bags to elevate your plants to greater heights. It's worth bearing in mind that bush tomatoes are a variety that remain low-growing and require no support, whereas cordon tomatoes, for instance, need that additional assistance for their single tall stem.The majority of bags are perfectly suited for cultivating all manner of fruit and vegetables, including cucumbers, green peppers and melons, and can be positioned virtually anywhere, from concrete surfaces to soil beds and greenhouses. Slotting a bag between the support bars of the canes should allow them to wrap around the bag snugly and hold it firmly in place.‌Titchmarsh hails cordon tomatoes as the "best croppers", though they require sturdy cane support owing to their considerable height.Horticultural experts recommend that tomatoes flourish best in nutrient-rich, moisture-retaining soil, combined with a warm and sunny setting. This time of year is particularly favourable, as the summer temperatures give them a fighting chance, though the rest is largely down to your own efforts.Article continues belowConsistency with watering is absolutely essential, so watering deeply and regularly will ensure evenly moist soil throughout.The primary cause of fruit rotting is insufficient moisture and irregular watering, so it's vital to stay on top of this during drier spells. Most gardeners agree that a thorough watering once or twice a week is what's needed.