Growing plants at home can be a challenge. Whether it’s frosty weather or garden pests like squirrels eating bulbs, achieving a thriving garden requires serious patience. Many gardeners advise using a greenhouse for this reason, especially when planting seeds that require warmth. This keeps the seeds safe from both the elements and any pests.

A great addition to any garden, made into a delicious homemade pasta sauce or soup, and a tasty addition to a salad, tomatoes are an easy plant to grow at home but require a fair bit of attention. While they can be sown as early as February, many gardeners will recommend placing them in a greenhouse first to keep them toasty in the cooler months. But getting your hands on a greenhouse can be a costly investment, and not all gardens have the space.

Now is the perfect time to start sowing tomato seeds for a ripe harvest come summer. One garden expert has shared a way to grow tomatoes successfully without a greenhouse.

In an Instagram video, Francesca Chadwick, who goes by @diaryofayorkshiregardener, shared that she successfully sows her tomato seeds indoors until the warmer weather arrives by placing them in one spot that guarantees plenty of sunlight.

Placing the pots for her seedlings, the gardener explained how she keeps them on the windowsill until “I can plant outside once all risk of frost has passed (mid-May for me in North Yorkshire).”

While Chadwick shared that she does use a greenhouse to grow some of her favourite varieties, she admitted that she finds they “generally do better outdoors” because they benefit from the rainwater. Using this method, Chadwick managed to harvest over 150 tomatoes from just one cherry tomato plant.

One user, @nictoriandiaries, said, “I never grow mine in the greenhouse…such a waste of space!” While another, @andygrows, commented, “Yes, there are so many options now, and it’s always worth a go, even without a greenhouse.”

Moving the plants outside once it’s warm enough, Chadwick advises removing the bottom few branches and leaves as they grow “to allow lots of airflow and help prevent a disease called blight,” which can cause the plant to rot.

Outdoor tomatoes are more susceptible to the disease, but Chadwick assures that placing plants in a sheltered area can help prevent this.