How to Grow
Tomato 'Alicante' from Seed
The RHS AGM traditional tomato — Tender Annual; cordon/indeterminate; medium-sized round deep red fruits; sweet traditional flavour; greenback-free; confirmed reliable and high-quality by the RHS; greenhouse or outdoor; open-pollinated (seed-saveable); sow February–April at 18–21°C; remove sideshoots weekly; feed fortnightly from flowering; harvest August–October
Tomato Alicante is one of the most reliable and widely-grown traditional tomato varieties in the UK, earning the RHS Award of Garden Merit for confirmed high-quality performance in UK conditions. Medium-sized, round, deep red, smooth-skinned and sweet-flavoured, it produces the definitive traditional tomato that works in every application from raw salads to long-cooked sauces. The specific "greenback-free" quality — ripening to a uniform deep red without the tough uncoloured green shoulder zone that affects some traditional varieties — makes every fruit fully usable from stalk to base.
As an open-pollinated variety rather than an F1 hybrid, Alicante offers the additional practical benefit of seed-saving: home-saved Alicante seed from the finest fruits of the best plants produces true offspring the following season, providing a self-sustaining supply of one of the most dependable and productive UK tomato varieties from a single initial packet of seed. For UK gardeners who want a reliable, versatile, consistently-flavourful traditional tomato that performs well whether grown in a greenhouse, polytunnel, or sunny outdoor position — and that earns its space through consistent, generous cropping every season — Alicante remains the first and most obvious choice.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Plant Type
Tender Annual — classic UK cordon tomato; RHS AGM; greenhouse or outdoor; versatile
Fruit
Medium-sized, round, deep red; smooth skin; sweet traditional flavour; greenback-free
RHS AGM
Award of Garden Merit — confirmed reliable, high-quality performance for UK conditions
Versatile
Greenhouse or outdoor; sow Feb–April; open-pollinated (seed-saving possible)
Cordon type
Remove all sideshoots; single main stem; support with cane; pinch at 4–7 trusses
Difficulty
2 out of 5 — tomatoes need attention to watering and sideshoot removal but reward generously
Understanding Tomato Alicante
RHS AGM — A Confirmed British Favourite
Tomato Alicante holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit — awarded for confirmed reliable, high-quality performance in UK garden conditions across independent multi-site trials. The specific quality that earns Alicante its AGM is the combination of reliable, prolific cropping with a consistently good flavour, suitable for both greenhouse and outdoor cultivation, with the added practical benefit of being "greenback-free" — unlike some older varieties that develop a tough, uncoloured green shoulder around the stalk end of the fruit, Alicante ripens to full deep red without this problem. One description calls it "a medium-sized tomato very similar to Moneymaker in size and taste although produces a slightly earlier crop."
Open-Pollinated — Seed-Saving Possible
Alicante is an open-pollinated variety rather than an F1 hybrid. This means: it produces stable offspring true to the parent type from saved seed; seeds are generally less expensive than F1 varieties; and a small number of very ripe fruits at the end of the season can provide the following year's seed supply. To save seed, scoop seeds from a fully ripe fruit, rinse away the flesh, spread on kitchen paper to dry completely, and store in a labelled paper envelope in a cool, dry place over winter.
Sowing — February to April Indoors; Frost-Tender Throughout
Tomatoes are tender annuals — completely frost-tender at every stage and requiring indoor warmth to establish. Sow February–April at 18–21°C, covering seeds with 5–6mm of fine compost or vermiculite. Germination 7–14 days. Prick out into individual 7.5cm pots when 2–3 true leaves appear. Grow on at 15–18°C in the brightest available position. For greenhouse cultivation, sow February–March; for outdoor growing, wait until March–April for better-timed plants. Harden off over 7–10 days before planting out in late May–June when all frost risk has passed.
Cordon Training — Remove Sideshoots Consistently
All three tomato varieties in this range are cordon (indeterminate) tomatoes. Train as a single main stem: remove all sideshoots (the shoots that develop in the angle between the main stem and a leaf) as soon as they are large enough to pinch or snap off. Tie the main stem to a support cane as it grows. Feed fortnightly with a high-potash fertiliser (tomato feed) once the first flowers open. Water consistently — irregular watering causes blossom end rot and cracking. Pinch out the growing tip when the plant has set 7 trusses under cover or 4 trusses outdoors.
Sowing & Growing On
Sow Feb–Apr at 18–21°C — 7–14 Days — Greenhouse or Sunny Outdoor Position — Remove Sideshoots Consistently — Feed Fortnightly from Flowering — Harvest August–October
Sow February–April at 18–21°C (7–14 days). Grow on in bright conditions. Harden off 7–10 days. Plant late May–June. Remove all sideshoots. Feed fortnightly from first flowering. Harvest August–October.
-
Sow February–April at 18–21°C, covering seeds with 5–6mm of fine compost. For greenhouse growing, sow from February; for outdoor plants, mid-March to April is better-timed. Germination 7–14 days. Move seedlings to the brightest available position immediately on emergence — tomato seedlings become leggy rapidly in poor light.
-
Prick out into individual 7.5cm pots when seedlings have 2–3 true leaves. Handle seedlings by a seed leaf rather than the fragile stem. Pot on into larger containers as the plant grows — burying the stem slightly deeper each time encourages additional root development along the buried stem, producing stronger, more productive plants.
-
Harden off and plant out late May–June when all frost risk has passed. Outdoor Alicante: 45cm spacing in the sunniest, most sheltered position available — south-facing against a wall or in a polytunnel produces the best results. Alicante performs well both under glass and outdoors, making it one of the most versatile tomatoes for UK gardeners with or without a greenhouse. For greenhouse growing, plant into the greenhouse border or a grow bag at 45–60cm spacing. For outdoor growing, choose the sunniest, most sheltered position available — south-facing against a wall, fence, or garage is ideal.
-
Remove all sideshoots consistently; feed and water regularly; pinch out the growing tip. Remove sideshoots (developing in the angle between main stem and leaf) weekly or bi-weekly throughout the season. Feed fortnightly with high-potash tomato fertiliser from first flowering. Water at the base consistently — irregular watering is the primary cause of blossom end rot and fruit cracking. Pinch the growing tip at 7 trusses under cover, 4 trusses outdoors.
Growing On & Care
The Fruit Quality
Alicante produces medium-sized, round, deep red fruits with a smooth skin and a sweet, traditional tomato flavour that works in every application — raw in salads, cooked in sauces, roasted, grilled, or fresh on toast. The "greenback-free" quality means every fruit ripens to a uniform deep red from stalk to base, unlike some traditional varieties where a tough, unripe green zone around the stalk end reduces both the appearance and the edibility of part of the fruit.
Greenhouse vs Outdoor Growing
Alicante is described as genuinely versatile for both greenhouse and outdoor cultivation — a quality that makes it particularly valuable for UK gardeners whose growing conditions vary from season to season. In a greenhouse or polytunnel, Alicante can be planted earlier, produces larger plants with more trusses, and harvests from July into November. Outdoors in a sunny, sheltered position, it produces excellent crops from August into October. In a poor British summer, greenhouse-grown Alicante consistently outperforms outdoor specimens that may struggle to ripen all trusses before the season ends.
Sideshoot Removal — The Weekly Task
For cordon training — the growing method that produces the best Alicante yields — sideshoot removal must be performed weekly throughout the growing season. Sideshoots are the shoots that develop in the angle between the main stem and a leaf. They are easy to remove when small (snap cleanly with two fingers when 2–5cm); they become increasingly difficult and damaging to remove as they enlarge. The standard weekly check and removal session is the single most time-intensive management task for cordon tomatoes, and its importance cannot be understated — plants where sideshoot removal is neglected become unmanageably bushy and produce significantly fewer, smaller fruits.
Watering — Consistency is Everything
Consistent watering is the most critical management factor for tomato fruit quality. Irregular watering — alternating between dry and wet conditions — causes two specific problems: blossom end rot (the tough, brown, leathery patch that develops on the bottom of fruits, caused by calcium uptake impairment in dry conditions) and fruit cracking (when a burst of water after drought causes the fruit to expand rapidly, splitting the skin). The solution is simple but requires attention: water at the base consistently, keeping the compost or soil evenly moist at all times. A mulch around outdoor plants helps maintain moisture levels.
Companion Planting
Marigolds (Tagetes) planted alongside outdoor tomatoes are widely used to deter whitefly, a persistent tomato pest in the UK. The strong scent of marigolds confuses and deters whitefly from locating the tomato plants. Basil is the classic culinary companion, placed alongside tomatoes to deter aphids (basil has some natural pest-deterrent properties) while providing the perfect kitchen partnership. Plant marigolds and basil in the same bed or grow bag as outdoor tomato plants for both practical and aesthetic benefit.
Open-Pollinated — Save Your Own Seed
As an open-pollinated variety, Alicante is one of the easiest and most satisfying tomatoes from which to save seed year on year. Select 2–3 of the finest fruits from the most productive plants at the end of the season. Allow them to ripen fully — more than you would for eating. Scoop seeds into a jar of water, leave for 2–3 days (this fermentation process removes the germination-inhibiting gel coating), rinse thoroughly, spread on kitchen paper to dry completely, and store in labelled paper envelopes. Home-saved Alicante seed germinates reliably and maintains the open-pollinated variety characteristics faithfully.
Growing Calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow indoors (Feb–Apr; 18–21°C; 5–6mm deep) |
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Pot on and grow on (Apr–May; bright; 15–18°C) |
|
|
||||||||||
| Plant out (late May–Jun; harden off; frost-free) |
|
|
||||||||||
| Fruits ripening (Aug–Oct; remove sideshoots; feed) |
|
|
|
Common Problems & Solutions
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Blossom end rot — brown leathery patch on the bottom of fruits | Irregular or insufficient watering; calcium uptake impaired | Water consistently and regularly — never allow the compost or soil to dry out between waterings. Mulch outdoor plants. Once started, blossom end rot on existing fruits cannot be reversed, but consistent watering prevents further occurrence. |
| Fruit splitting or cracking | Irregular watering; heavy rain after drought | Water consistently. For outdoor plants in wet summers, ensure adequate drainage. Harvest fruits early if heavy rain is forecast. |
| Blight (brown patches on leaves; fruits rotting) | Phytophthora infestans; common in warm, wet UK summers | Remove and bin (do not compost) all affected material immediately. Ensure good air circulation; avoid overhead watering; keep leaves off the soil. Outdoor plants are more vulnerable than greenhouse ones. |
| Leggy, pale seedlings | Insufficient light during growing-on; too warm without adequate light | Move to the brightest available position. A south-facing windowsill is the minimum; a heated greenhouse is ideal. Turn pots daily to prevent leaning. |
Plant Specifications
The RHS AGM tomato that produces medium-sized, greenback-free, deep red fruits with the classic sweet flavour from August to October — reliable season after season
Sow February–April at 18–21°C (7–14 days). Prick out at 2–3 true leaves. Grow on bright and cool. Harden off 7–10 days. Plant late May–June in greenhouse border, grow bag, or sunny outdoor position. Remove all sideshoots weekly. Feed fortnightly from first flowering. Water consistently. Harvest medium-sized, deep red, greenback-free fruits from August to October.
Shop Tomato Alicante Seeds →