Tomato Growing 2024

Really left my sowing late this year and then didn't get round to potting them on for weeks either.

So now they're only a couple inches high, indoors under lights. In hindsight it was a good move as it's so cold. Had sleet a couple of times today.

They should catch up eventually and I won't be battling with leggy plants as usual . Peppers are looking great so all good

 

Mine are similar @WeeTam . It never pays to start them too soon up here. Mine will be fine and will catch up well enough once they've had another month. No lights or anything, they'll just do their own thing when they're ready.

 

Grump, grump, grump...

Already I can tell that I have one variety that isn't what it said on the packet. The seeds weren't cheap, especially when you factor in the p&p. I've emailed the supplier.

 

I usually grow my greenhouse toms two to a 30 litre potato bucket. I think that's a little overcrowded but I don't want to cut down the number of varieties I can squeeze into my 6x6 greenhouse. So, these 20 litre poly pots have just arrived in the post. I can fit two into a 52x42cm gravel tray and when topped up, the bags will give each plant 25% more compost and maximize the use of the tray space. I'm going to replace two 30 litre pots with 4 poly pots this year and observe the results.

 

I think it's always about maximising the space you have @eatenbyweasels , and I found that the round pots I had certainly didn't give that extra volume I got with a square or rectangular one. A few years ago, I just used 2 rectangular plastic boxes - the type of thing you use for storage etc. I got two plants [cherry toms] in each box, whereas with the conventional round pots, I could only fit in three pots with one plant in each. I only have a small growhouse, so it was a much better use of space.
Not sure of the volume, but they were about 15 inches by 12, and about 10 to 12 in height.

 

Ooh, you know, I might have some of those rectangular boxes in the back of of a cupboard.... #starts plotting

 

They worked very well for me @eatenbyweasels . I don't use them now because I moved the gr'house and now plant into the soil directly, but I'm hoping to get a proper greenhouse - at some point, and they'll be useful in there.
They still get used for other plants - mainly things I'm growing on etc.

 

The seed company chap has asked me to sow some more of the seeds and see what pops up. I'll report back. My worst case scenario is that I have a super-delicious accident that I can't replicate.

 

I normally root side shoots when 2 to 3 inches long, how short do you think I can get away with?

 

I'd say about 2 inches would be the minimum - just to ensure they were viable enough.
Always worth pushing it and having a try with a shorter one though

 

Cherokee Purple next to its dwarf descendants, three Cherokee tiger purple striped



Moving them to the greenhouse today, I think it's safe now. Didn't have the two frosts that were forecast


The chillis and aubergines will stay in the sunroom for a while longer though

 

Uggghhh!

 

All of my various seedlings are sulking in the conservatory due to the temperature drop. It is a case of sit it out. Warmer weather due next week. I daren't move anything into the unheated greenhouse.
"Loofah" I have an aluminium framed greenhouse so have put ring bolts along the ridge and tie an 8ft plastic covered bean pole onto them. Then I tie the strings for the tomato plants to the pole. This enables me to fit more plants in.
Still no sign of my Pink Grapefruit tomatoes so I am going to sow some more. Along with more no germination seeds.
Last week I sowed some verbascum seed collected last year. Thinking they must not be very viable since I have never had a problem with self sown seedlings in the garden, I sowed them thickly, they have come up like mustard and cress. Typical. There will be plenty to pass on to the community garden in Par where they run a free seed and plant swap scheme.

 

As soon as you re-sow the Pink Grapefruit, the original seeds will pop up. Mark my words!

 

Sod's law?
Whenever I throw something away I need it within a week!