2013 Tomato Growing

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by JWK, Dec 8, 2012.

  1. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2006
    Messages:
    17,534
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Suffolk, UK
    Ratings:
    +12,669
    Can't see the join :blue thumb:
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

      Joined:
      Jun 3, 2008
      Messages:
      32,371
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Surrey
      Ratings:
      +49,763
      Well done Loli!

      My grafting experiments have been terrible this year, out of nine grafts only one has survived. I've got a second batch of seedlings to graft this next week, but it's getting a bit late in the season now and they might not catch up.

      The rest of my non-Frankenstein plants are looking good though, all in the greenhouse in 5" pots waiting to be planted in their final positions. It's still a bit too cold at night for that, so I'm using a warming cable and fleece to keep them around 10 deg C.
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jun 3, 2008
        Messages:
        32,371
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Surrey
        Ratings:
        +49,763

        I've added your selections to the list at post #1 :)

        The 'Top List' still has Gardeners Delight a clear favourite:
        14 Gardeners Delight
        9 Sungold F1
        8 Moneymaker
        7 Alicante
        6 Sungella
        5 Maskotka
         
      • AndyS

        AndyS Gardener

        Joined:
        Aug 21, 2012
        Messages:
        155
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        East Yorkshire
        Ratings:
        +50
        I was going to put these in pots but will heed your advice and use the beds instead then, thanks Scrungee. Why does the plastic mulch help? I was going to just mulch them with banana leaves and wilted comfrey but would you suggest a layer of plastic around them, just under the top inch of soil say?
         
      • Scrungee

        Scrungee Well known for it

        Joined:
        Dec 5, 2010
        Messages:
        16,524
        Location:
        Central England on heavy clay soil
        Ratings:
        +28,997
        The mulch goes on top of the soil, retains moisture, keeps the roots warm, producing a healthier plants and keeps the fruits off the soil. Mypex (woven plastic) sheet lets rain through, but if using polythene sheet I use upturned plastic pop bottles with the bottoms cut off held in place with a sticks to direct water straight to the roots.

        P.S. Wilkos are currently selling off 6 x 2m sheets of heavy duty Mypex mulch sheet reduced to only 75p (from £7.50) - details on this thread http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/wilkos-half-price-sale.42517/page-7#post-678249
         
        • Informative Informative x 1
        • Vince

          Vince Not so well known for it.

          Joined:
          Mar 10, 2008
          Messages:
          1,861
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Retired
          Location:
          North London / Lincolnshire Fens
          Ratings:
          +3,499
          It's going to be a good year?

          Big Boys are in the lead, Early Goliath's a close 2nd, Better Boys 3rd, Big Zac running a disappointing 4th and Delicious trailing in in last place...... My giant tomatoes?

          All healthy and sturdy plants though, given a decent summer, I may beat last years record, just where to put them all? :phew:
           
          • Like Like x 2
          • Scrungee

            Scrungee Well known for it

            Joined:
            Dec 5, 2010
            Messages:
            16,524
            Location:
            Central England on heavy clay soil
            Ratings:
            +28,997
            I asked myself that question this time last year with 100's of plants busting to get outside and it was still far too cold & wet, so I've gone for late sowing with most stuff this year as I don't want a repeat of last year's disaster.
             
            • Useful Useful x 1
            • Jack McHammocklashing

              Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

              Joined:
              May 29, 2011
              Messages:
              4,423
              Gender:
              Male
              Occupation:
              Ex Civil Serpent
              Location:
              Fife Scotland
              Ratings:
              +7,375
              Flippin Heck
              I planted all my tomato seeds on Tuesday (late start)
              Unbelievably Angelina's Bulgarian Beauties, are already up and half an inch tall !
              along with the cucumber seeds I put in
              At this rate I will soon have a clear windowsill, and attempt a second crop for
              outside
              I really can not believe that in three days I have plants half and inch tall with a pairs of leaves THANKS ANGELINA

              Jack McH
               
              • Like Like x 4
              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

                Joined:
                Jun 3, 2008
                Messages:
                32,371
                Gender:
                Male
                Location:
                Surrey
                Ratings:
                +49,763
                Just shows how they catch up at this time of year.

                We all need to be a bit careful with the cold/frosts predicted for next week. Anyone who has already planted will need to fleece them over.

                I'm going to bring all mine back indoors from the g.house next Tuesday until the night-time temps improve. It is a bit of a faff, they are now in 5" pots and take up a lot of space.
                 
              • Kristen

                Kristen Under gardener

                Joined:
                Jul 22, 2006
                Messages:
                17,534
                Gender:
                Male
                Location:
                Suffolk, UK
                Ratings:
                +12,669
                What sort of canes have you got supporting them John? Mine get canes that are waist high at that stage (so that they can continue to grow until they get planted out towards end of May (in greenhouse, currently in conservatory as greenhouse is full of overwintering plants that are hardy but being give a Spring Boost :)

                Not sure if I said earlier??

                I am growing two of each variety. I have potted on one to 2L pot (about 5" dia), and the other to a 3L Deep Rose pot. Its about the same dia. The Deep one is planted with only an inch of compost under its original 1L rootball, so about 3" of stem buried. Be interesting to see if there is any different. 2L ones will pot on once more, I think (to about 5L ... normall I get to at least 10L, not this year ...) before planting out, but the 3L Deep ones won't be [physically] able to be potted on again. I do have some larger Deep Rose Pots (5L I would guess) that I could try next year ... perhaps a conventioanl 2L would pot-on to 5L Deep, I'd need to check the sizes though.
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • Fat Controller

                  Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

                  Joined:
                  May 5, 2012
                  Messages:
                  27,742
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Occupation:
                  Public Transport
                  Location:
                  At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
                  Ratings:
                  +52,149
                  A couple of my Maskotkas have the beginnings of flower buds on them, despite being only 6-8 inches tall. As soon as the coming cold snap is past, I must get them out into their pots/baskets
                   
                  • Like Like x 1
                  • Agree Agree x 1
                  • JWK

                    JWK Gardener Staff Member

                    Joined:
                    Jun 3, 2008
                    Messages:
                    32,371
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Location:
                    Surrey
                    Ratings:
                    +49,763
                    18" high, I'm hoping to get the majority planted before they need taller canes.
                     
                  • JWK

                    JWK Gardener Staff Member

                    Joined:
                    Jun 3, 2008
                    Messages:
                    32,371
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Location:
                    Surrey
                    Ratings:
                    +49,763
                    Very interesting Kristen, do let us know how that goes. You should get a very good rootball in the deeper pots.
                     
                  • Lolimac

                    Lolimac Guest

                    Ratings:
                    +0
                    Planting my Alicante's and Gardeners Delight into their big pots today,and my Tumbler F1 basket has started to get little toms on:dbgrtmb:

                    P1000320.JPG
                     
                    • Like Like x 5
                    • Freddy

                      Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

                      Joined:
                      Jul 15, 2007
                      Messages:
                      9,466
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Occupation:
                      Retired - yay!
                      Location:
                      Bristol
                      Ratings:
                      +12,518
                      I've planted up the greenhouse border as they were starting to get too big for their pots, 16 plants in all. I've had to abandon planting out the Rosada as they were looking very sickly. Indeed they've not looked good right from the start, strange that:dunno: As usual, I had too many plants:redface:
                       
                      • Like Like x 2
                      Loading...

                      Share This Page

                      1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                        By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                        Dismiss Notice