Tomato Growing Thread 2012

Hiya John, thanks for that.

I have all of my plants in the propagator at night, maintaining around 15c. Problem is, they're now growing fast and will need potting on, which will mean not enough space to house them in the propagator. I notice the next few nights are more mild than of late, so I'll probably pot them on and leave them out in the next day or two.

Cheers...Freddy

 

I am imagining the same problem when I get the bigger pots to put the Maskotkas in. Their leaf span has trebled since the start and I just know they will only just fit on the window sill. Bit like me after Christmas. A diet is in order....

 

Hiya John.

Trouble is, it goes against the grain to deliberately stress them out. BTW, isn't it usual advice to plant them into the border once the flowers form?

Cheers...Freddy.

 

No flowers as yet, I was able (a little bit) to resist the urge to sow too soon

Only one thing, they are starting to look a bit 'leggy'

 

I got carried away and sowed early.....i was stupidly expecting a spring like last year
Mine are looking a bit stressed ....they're probably getting 'motion sickness' after being shuffled around the greenhouse constantly....think i need to stop messing with them and just keep them cozy....

 

Hiya John.

I think we're all the same, we know we should wait, just a little. I still have some to sow, 'Legend'(for outdoors).

The thing I remember from last year is that Sungold were very early to ripen, so with that in mind, I don't have to worry about getting Toms early. I can therefore take a more relaxed approach as to what follows.
As the years go by, I TRY to learn by my mistakes and experiences. Nothing scientific, just based on memory and 'feel'. With a LOT of luck, one of these years I'll get it right!

Hopefully, that made sense

Cheers...Freddy.

 

So are mine Freddy. I think they are craving warm sunshine. It's a very thin line this growing the perfect tomato plant isn't it?

 

Well I have chomped through them all my life, just tomatoes
Since I produced my own, I have got now that shop bought ones over winter are a waste of money, to the point of me going without, other than for frying for Scottish breaskfast
Shop ones are red, round and taste of err Water

Envy Johns ones, mine are just to the smallest of flower bud stage

Jack McH

 

Hiya Jenny.

Going 'leggy' is usually down to lack of light. I keep my potted plants in seed trays, and as they grow they start to deprive each other of light. I know one or two of the guys on here have 'light boxes' which is something I might give a go at some stage.

Cheers...Freddy

 

Some varieties respond better than others under lights. I'm also checking out which small 'patio' type toms grow best under them and in the autumn I'm intending bringing the light box indoors from the green house and putting some plants from later sown toms in it to see if I can get fresh toms in winter. (don't tell my daughter, but I've already measured up her room for redecorating with Mylar wallpaper for after she's gone to Uni)

 

These blessed 9 Maskotkas in the bedroom are depriving US of light AND oxygen!! I take the point though about them crowding each other out of available light. If I put one of these light boxes up and pull the blind down, I'm afeared that the rozzers may wonder if I'm growing *annabis!!