2013 Tomato Growing

That's some serious pruning Nick, they still look very good though.

sumbody you can hopefully see where Nick has cut off the side-shoots, if they were left on those plants would quickly become a jumble/jungle, preventing light getting through and encouraging diseases. All in all it's best to get rid of them

 

I've planted 16 toms into 16 buckets today and that will be plenty for myself, relatives and friends. In the buckets are 4 Shirley, 4 Rosada, 3 Black Seamen, 3 Alicante, 2 Jaun Flamme. The Shirley, Alicante, and Rosada have done very well and are really stocky, while the Jaun Flamme and Black Seamen have struggled to get to half the height but are quite healthy looking. It'll will be interesting to see how they all do, especially as for Jaun Flamme and Black Seamen it will be the first time I've grown them.

 

Funny you should post that Jenny namaste - I looked at my four new wall troughs today, and thought that it was about time that they were made home to two or three Maskotkas each.

I really want to see the plant headcount in the greenhouse start to thin out a bit now - in fact, I am tempted to put all the marigolds, petunias and nicotianas outside permanently as of this coming weekend (I am off work for a wee from the 27th, and would really like to get the bulk of my stuff planted out)

 

I am going to be a bit more scientific than last year, in that I am going to measure the exact sizes of the fence panels and then ensure that the troughs are evenly spaced on each panel (two per panel) - I'll probably do that at the weekend, and then will start to think about moving some of the toms outside.

Then, I need to get scrubbing! My neighbour came over last weekend with six HUGE pots, wondering if I wanted them before he went to the dump with them - - - the dump! They are lovely big solid pots that just need a wash, perfect for my out door tomatoes

 

What is the drill with the Marmande then? Side shoots off, or left on?

Also, I have a few Maskotkas that although still quite small plants are already starting to bloom - the plan is to evict them outside week after next, so should I be nipping these flowers off until they are planted out, or should I just evict them sooner complete with flowers and let them get on with it?

 

Take them off fc.

Leave the flowers on, give them a gentle tap in the mornings to help set fruit. Then plant them outside when the weather is warm enough, no need to rush

 

Thanks John

Sorry Jenny namaste - I can't help but fuss, I'm still a newbie

 

I am putting my maskotkas in troughs mounted on a south facing fence, and it is quite sheltered too; the ailsa craigs will be going in pots further up the same side, with the courgettes in pots in front of them (its the fence on the right hand side of my 'overhead' pictures if you can remember them).

I don't want to rush stuff out and then lose them, but equally space is getting tight and some of the toms are starting to suffer from overcrowding (bottom leaves yellowing). I just hope that this year isn't a wash out like last year.