Lesson 4

Tomatoes, chillies and dwarf vegetables

Tomatoes are possible in a van, but only the smallest cultivars. Forget beefsteak or cordon types — they need 30-litre pots, stakes, and daily watering. Instead, grow determinate (bush) cherry tomatoes in 5–10 litre containers. 'Tumbling Tom Red', 'Balconi Yellow', 'Vilma' and 'Red Robin' all stay under 30cm tall, fruit heavily, and tolerate some drying out between waterings.

Chillies are better suited to van life than tomatoes. They need less water, less space, and they crop for months. 'Prairie Fire', 'Basket of Fire', 'Medusa' and 'NuMex Twilight' are all compact ornamental varieties that fruit prolifically in 12–15cm pots. For eating, 'Apache' (hot) and 'Lemon Drop' (citrus-flavoured, medium heat) are both dwarf and delicious.

Dwarf French beans ('Mascotte', 'Speedy') grow in 2-litre pots and crop in 50–60 days. They need a sunny spot and regular picking to keep them producing. Radishes ('French Breakfast', 'Cherry Belle') are the fastest vegetable: sow to harvest in 25 days, needing only 10cm depth. Spring onions ('White Lisbon', 'Ramrod') grow in any gap, tolerate shade, and regrow if you leave the roots in.

Heritage and specialist picks: if you have roof space or an awning, try 'Sunrise' or 'Heartbreaker' dwarf cherry tomatoes — both bred specifically for containers and balconies. For chillies, 'Piri Piri' (African Bird's Eye) and 'Thai Dragon' stay small but deliver serious heat. 'Patio Pride' is a true micro-tomato (20cm tall) that fruits in a 1-litre pot.

Numbers that matter

Minimum pot size for dwarf tomatoes: 5 litres (10 litres for better yield)
Chilli germination: 10–21 days at 24–28°C
Tomato flowering temperature: 18–24°C (fruit sets poorly above 30°C)
Water needs for a 10-litre tomato pot in summer: 500ml–1 litre daily
Days to harvest for dwarf beans: 50–60 from sowing

Common mistakes

Choosing indeterminate (cordon) tomatoes that grow 2 metres tall
Starting chillies too late — they need 90–120 days from seed to first fruit
Underestimating water needs in a hot metal van
Forgetting to pick beans regularly — unpicked pods stop new flowers forming

Tomatoes hate irregular watering — the fruit splits and flavour suffers. Use self-watering pots or water at the same time every day.

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