Story: Growing Tomatoes for Passata
Episode: 10
Presenter: Neville Passmore
Air Date: 18th October 2025

Neville shows a clever way to grow and use our freshly harvested tomatoes, making a delicious Italian tomato paste!

• First up, germinating the seed is easy. Use rockwool cubes and simply drop the individual seed into the hole in the middle and then give these a drink from the bottom up.
• Once germinated and at the second leaf stage, we place them into expanded clay beds or Bato pots. This is a hydroponics system which, as you can see, is highly effective when it comes to growing.
• Bobbins suspended from an overhead wire allow you to train the plants to grow upwards, using these clips that bite onto the string. Every few days, remove side shoots or laterals, so the growth is directed to one vertical stem.
• Feeding takes place in a liquid form from an underground tank, which is adjusted every morning to top up nutrients as required. Because it’s a recirculating system, it's very efficient when it comes to both water and nutrients. We’re talking about 90% less water and nutrients compared to ground grown.
• Once harvested, in the kitchen, we cut, squeeze, and then boil the fruits until they’re soft. Next, go onto a sieve to drain excess moisture before blitzing in the Thermomix. Then place into containers and off to the freezer!