Tomato Growing Thread 2021

Glad it's not just me @JWK . The beginners I completely understand, I've definitely got carried away and sowed things far too early; it's the "influencers" (for want of a better word!) who really frustrate me as they present themselves as a guide for others to follow - and, indeed, often benefit/profit from their followers regardless of the quality of their content.

But let's see how much longer I can hold off sowing mine...

 

From the Daily Express yesterday When to sow cucumber seeds | Express.co.uk

"We're now getting to the point where you should start to think about sowing cucumber seeds ahead of the season"

"You can sow the seeds either indoors or outside from spring to early summer"

I hate the thought of loads of people wasting their time and money after reading that misleading rubbish.


Anyway, getting back on topic, my saved Brasero seeds from what I suspect was 2013 have germinated and the ones in a packet between then and 2009 have started germinating, so I have not lost the variety.

 

Sowed my tomato seeds last Sunday, just checked and at least one seed of each variety has germinated.

 

My 2008 saved Brasero seeds have started germinating, equaling my previous record of growing tomatoes from 13 year old seed.

No sign of life yet from the 2005 and 2006 seeds.

Will only bother saving a few from each year class from these early sowings. I will sow some more at the end of March and use up all of the oldest seeds sown very thickly.

 

Sown my first batch yesterday

 

We normaly plant Tumbling Tom in a hanging basket and it is positioned so as we walk past we just pinch one like a child pinching sweets. Never use them for anything else as just a bit of fun really. However last year they were tastless and very hard skins.
Bit hesitant to grow them this year so open to suggestions for other micro/cherry toms. I am sure a long time ago I did plant Hundreds & Thousands but cannot remember if they tasted any good as was so long ago.Thanks for any advice.

 

Hey, I'm new here. Tomatoes are my favourite thing to grow.

This year I've got 7 varieties, planted most a few days ago indoors with lamps and they're looking great already.

I use majority of my tomatoes for sauces and cooking... I'll admit I actually don't like salad tomatoes at all (but my OH does!). I stew and can a lot of tomatoes and we use them year-round in cooking. This year I've got some interesting sauce varieties and hope they do well in my climate (I'm in Surrey). Also will be my first year trying container tomatoes.

Varieties this year are:

- Ailsa Craig
- Purple Ukraine
- San Marzano
- Amish Paste
- Costoluto Fiorentino
- Long Keeper
- Piccolo Dattero

So far the Purple Ukraines are winning the race. Came up first in the trays and look fab already. Long Keepers are in last place. Only 3 of 8 came up.

No idea what I'm going to do with them all. I wanted 14 plants of my own, but I ended up sowing around 8 per variety because I figured they won't keep longer than a few years so might as well sow and see (glad I did considering how bad the Long Keepers did!) Nearly everything has come up well, got 8 on the Purple Ukraine & Fiorentinos. 7 on the Ailsa Craig & San Marzano, and actually got 9 on the Amish Paste, two seeds must've been stuck together.

My family has put in dibs on some of the leftovers but I was hoping to sell some locally too. Anyone sell much? What sort of prices do you go for and what sizes do you sell? I'm thinking the longer I keep them the more I can charge. Maybe £2 per plant if we go as far as May. £3 for the Amish Paste and San Marzano as they were harder to get hold of?

 

I have a mini greenhouse. One of those wooden types with the lid that opens. Not really big enough for much. I use it to store plants as they harden off, and then for chillis during the summer to get them nice and warm.

Our garden is too small to put much stuff out. I did get approval from OH to buy one of the proper walk-in greenhouses and just dump it straight on our (straggly) lawn, as our lawn is a postage stamp and only about big enough for one normal sized greenhouse! But I've tracked down one of those "mini" ones which is significantly wider and taller than my current so might buy that for this year and put it in front of our shed. The bottom corner will be covered by a bit of bush but I can use that for storage and should be able to get lots more seedlings in there come May.

We're hoping to buy a house this year (we're planning to start looking this summer and hopefully move by Autumn) so a bigger garden is definitely on the list! And my dream of having a proper actual greenhouse.

Bootfair is a good idea. I've posted my chillis on Facebook & Nextdoor and had some response which is great, but still got a few to shift. It's a balance, I can probably get more money for them the bigger they are but that means longer term storage. I don't think most newbies will have greenhouses in which to store tomatoes until the last frost has passed meaning they won't want to hold onto them this long... and most of the oldies (sorry guys) would know it's easier to sow them themselves. Still, I might convince some locals to buy them if they're cheap enough.

 

Just been sowing some old Toms seed too.
Just so i can get some fresh seed to save from them.
Already got too many toms and peppers on the go.

Getting tired of all the youtuber's banging on about testing out their complementary grow light now.
Spiderfarmer this spiderfarmer that... blah blah.

 

Did my toms yesterday...
My stalwart for blight infested S Wales..Crimson crush
Cocktail crush
Oh Happy Day (my fav)
Nagina plum ... outdoors performance is okish but in the greenhouse it grows like a weed and produces 100s of tomatoes!
Black Krim - my fav beefsteak, greenhouse only!
All these are tried and trusted and also trying 3 new types with blight resistance
Rugby pink plum
Pink honeymoon
Consuela

all seeds from Pennard plants

 

Two mini greenhouses have been ordered... I'm going to go the route of growing in large growbags (which will have the added benefit of weighing the frame down) and tomato halos. I had a lot of issues with splitting last year which I understand is due to irregular watering. Oh and some in the open ground too!

 

Thanks @Susieshoe for mentioning Pennard plants, I’ve only gone an ordered more tomato seeds ! Just can’t resist!!!

 

Still waiting with itchy feet before sowing any of mine (or JWK's)

 

Mother sowed some tomatoes and cucumbers seeds on Wednesday afternoon nothing fancy, I think they are Sutton’s Beaf tomatoes and money maker, from our local farmers supplies. I put them in the hot box on Wednesday 10th at 16.49



and was amased to see this morning Saturday at 9am they are sprouting up already. Super pleased as she has always bought plants from down the road, I forgot to take a pic today but fingers crossed I will get one in the morning.

Rapiiiiiiiido or what