UK compost
What compost for amish paste tomato in the UK?
Solanum lycopersicum 'Amish Paste'
More about amish paste tomato in the UK
Which compost amish paste tomato needs
For amish paste tomato the mix to buy is peat-free multipurpose compost. Hungry plants that reward rich soil amended with compost or aged manure. Good drainage paired with steady moisture gives the firm, meaty walls paste tomatoes are grown for.In British garden centres the bagged growing medium is sold simply as “compost” (multipurpose, ericaceous, or loam-based John Innes), which is a different thing from the rotted garden “compost” you make in a heap — for a pot you want the bagged kind.
Peat-free compost
Buy peat-free. The sale of peat compost to home gardeners is being phased out across the UK, and the RHS recommends peat-free on environmental grounds. A good peat-free multipurpose grows amish paste tomato perfectly well; the one habit to change is watering — peat-free dries faster at the surface while still moist below, so check by feel a knuckle deep rather than trusting the look of the top.
Ericaceous or multipurpose?
Amish Paste Tomato is straightforward: an ordinary peat-free multipurpose compost is right. For a big specimen or a pot it will live in for years, mixing in some loam-based John Innes No.2 or No.3 adds weight and holds nutrients longer. Ericaceous compost is not needed unless a plant is specifically a lime-hater.
For the full recipe, pH and drainage detail (US wording), see the amish paste tomato soil & potting-mix guide.
Compost for Amish Paste Tomato in the UK — frequently asked questions
What compost should I use for amish paste tomato in the UK?
Use peat-free multipurpose compost. Hungry plants that reward rich soil amended with compost or aged manure. Good drainage paired with steady moisture gives the firm, meaty walls paste tomatoes are grown for. In UK garden centres this is sold simply as "compost" — the bagged growing medium, not garden-made leaf-mould — so match the description above rather than a brand.
Can I use ordinary multipurpose compost for amish paste tomato?
Yes. A good peat-free multipurpose compost is exactly right for amish paste tomato. For a large or long-term pot you can mix in some John Innes No.2 or No.3 (loam-based) for extra weight and staying power.
Should the compost be peat-free?
Yes. Sales of peat compost to home gardeners are being phased out in the UK, and the RHS recommends peat-free for environmental reasons. Modern peat-free multipurpose composts grow amish paste tomato perfectly well — they dry a little faster at the surface, so check moisture by feel rather than by the look of the top.
Does amish paste tomato need grit or perlite added?
Not essential, but a couple of handfuls of perlite in the mix improves aeration and guards against overwatering — useful on a cool, damp British windowsill where compost stays wet longer.
What pot and drainage does amish paste tomato need?
Always a pot with drainage holes. Fertile, well-drained loam, pH 6.0-6.8. Stand it on a saucer, empty any water that collects after watering, and never leave the pot sitting in a full outer cover — waterlogged compost in a cool UK room is the commonest cause of root rot.
More amish paste tomato care
See the full amish paste tomato care guide, its UK watering and UK hardiness.