2017 Tomato Growing

I've not heard that before, but I've often seen bargain reduced compost at the end of season, only to discover it's Ericaceous compost so haven't bothered buying any.

But now I wonder why not, surely gardeners living in area with acidic soil can grow tomatoes in the open ground? I'm sure we'd have heard about it if they had to grow them in containers of standard MPC.

It would be interesting if you also grew a tomato in ordinary MPC for comparison and kept us updated.

 

Well I will give a go this season as long as I remember to label each pot and will post the results. I will also give each one the same amount of water/feed.
roll on the summer please

 

Thanks for that info Armandii, my own compost is just over 5 although this does alter but I'll keep checking. Think I will try a couple of plants and see what happens to the taste (if they grow)

 

Just transplanting toms that I'm growing from seed for the first time....is this wilting normal or have i boo booed?

 

The seedlings seem a bit too leggy. I would have removed the cotyledons and buried them to the necks.

 

Thanks @blacktulip just consulted my grandma who said the same! Got plenty more so will do as you advise

 

Mine are a bit leggy too, but I just put them in bigger pots so only the very tops are poking out. Tomato plants are very resilient so should be fine.
Last year I pulled out one of the side shoot of a plant and left it on the soil on its side, and it grew and rooted..
Also one of my cherry tomato plants snapped in half under its weight while I was at work in my conservatory. I staked it up right and taped round the bit that snapped, it grew as normal and produced fruit without any issues.

 

Great....there is still hope thanks @Carllennon

 

Still not sown any, been quite disciplined up till now I think... Will sow some the weekend but not the weirdly named ones

 

I heard that part of the programme too. I believe that was Steve Bradley? His advice is usually quite sound, in my experience.
Still, I haven't sown mine yet ... but that is because I have misplaced my seeds

 

Usual reason for leggy plants is not enough light along with too high a temperature.
Toms are no different.
So without lighting early sowings are likely to be leggy whatever you do.

Lower the temperature and they will check and go purple.

I just think that unless you have the right conditions everyone sows the seed too early.

 

Another reason can be sowing too close then leaving too long before transplanting producing spindly plants that get damaged roots when separating.

But if you follow that advice, keep them moist and out of hot sunlight then there's every chance they'll turn out strong and healthy and nobody would suspect the plants were once spindly seedlings.