English teenager grows tomato plant business to 7,000 plants
Jacob Mann turned a gardening hobby into The Tomato Cart, which now attracts customers from as far as Australia.
Jacob Mann, a 14-year-old from Norwich, England, has expanded his gardening interest into a business called The Tomato Cart. According to the Times of India, the teenager now cultivates up to 7,000 tomato plants to meet demand.
The business began with a few seedlings and a homemade bicycle trailer. Mann's interest in gardening developed during the Covid pandemic through a family vegetable patch competition. He later used saved pocket money to purchase an old trailer base from Gumtree, which he and his father converted into a cart for local markets.
The Tomato Cart sells plants, growing kits, and merchandise through markets, online sales, and a website. BBC reported in March 2026 that Mann initially sold approximately 14 plants before demand increased significantly. His products have attracted buyers from as far away as Australia.
To manage the seasonal nature of the business, Mann developed home growing kits and a pizza-growing kit. He also sells crocheted tomato keyrings through a collection called Adopt a Tomato. The Shropshire Seaweed Company noted that Mann grows thousands of plants each year alongside his school work.
Mann has faced challenges including unpredictable British weather and initial concerns about being taken seriously due to his age. He has since gained confidence through customer support and has appeared on podcasts, radio programmes, and at the RHS Sandringham Flower Show.