When to plant outside?

This is my first year of trying to grow my own fruit and veg - and I invested in some seed trays, some small pots and a small growing frame in which to experiment with seeds.

I've been very lucky and from seed I've grown Tomatoes, Spinach and lettuce - all of which are now happily sitting in trays and pots in my little frame looking healthy enough and robust.

My problem now is - what do I do next? There isn't a lot of room for the tomatoes to grow much further (they are all around 6-8 inches high now) and the lettuce and spinach are outgrowing their trays.

Am I best to move the tomatoes into bigger pots and put them outside now? Should I transplant the lettuce and spinach into the ground? Or should I get a bigger frame or even a greenhouse?

Although my little frame on the patio gets a lot of sun - I don't have too much garden space that's sunny all day so don't want to move them somewhere which might kill them off.

I'd also like the frame space now to sow another set of seeds (strawberries) so could do with being able to move my existing stuff out.

Any views? Will 6-8 inch high tomato plants now be strong enough to survive outside in either tubs or a veggie patch (albeit partly shaded)

Mike

 

Thanks John.

As I'm keen to keep the sunny patio as their home - Will I be ok to put the tomatoes out in large pots rather than in the ground? I don't want to use grow bags as they look a bit unsightly.

Mike

 

As John said, but if you get a late frost forecast I would bring the Tomatoes in for the night.

The frost may kill them, but even if it doesn't the low temperature will make Toms "stall" and they will be slow to then get going again.

They don't need light, or more warmth, when you bring them in - just put them somewhere that gets them 10C minimum (in fact too much heat would be bad if you are then going to put them back outside the next night!)

 

"Will I be ok to put the tomatoes out in large pots rather than in the ground?"

Yes, 11"-12" / 10 Litre is a good size. You can use growbag "compost" to plant them, or a normal Multi-purpose compost (I pick whichever is cheapest!)

Consider how you will support them - I doubt a cane in the pot will be enough as the whole lot could topple over, so some sort of means of tying the cane to a wall, or somesuch, would be advisable.

 

Yes tomatoes grow well in containers as long as the container is large enough and you keep a close eye on them for watering throughout the season. They will need feed too......you can buy tomato feed. I would grow mine in a container rather than a shady spot in the ground.