2013 Tomato Growing

Ah I see I would encourage one of the side shoots to take over as leader:

 

By encourage, I mean don't nip out

 

Good idea Kristen

Trouble is Jenny, I don't have enough pots or room for them all - I have well over 150 plants; I suppose I could build them into a tomato forest and make the back garden into a theme park..........

I moved on a lot more of the toms today - the yellowing leaves were simply because they were starving poor things. They were pretty much pot bound, with very little left in the way of compost in their wee cups, so hopefully now they are moved on they will brighten back up.

I had 4 x Marmande in large pots in the greenhouse that looked lovely and healthy and were my 'keepers', however as the day progressed they were joined by another four (I know, I'm a big softie!), and now have 9 Caribbean Hot Peppers as neighbours in the same size pots.

In addition to those 8, I have put 12 x Ailsa Craigs into six really large pots which are now outside, and have decided to keep a really happy looking single Ailsa Craig in a smaller pot - here is three of the big pots, and the happier one just watered:



I also moved some more of the Maskotkas outside, bringing the count up to 12. The three in the second trough from the left were really, really leggy ones that I have laid on their sides pretty much the length of the trough (so all crossing each other) and then poking their heads up at relevant points along the trough.



None of the Maskotkas are looking much cop, so I can only hope that moving them on helps (and of course that Mother Nature does her bit and gives us some sun!)

I still have half a dozen 'Millefleur' yellow vine tomatoes in the front porch hardening off a bit - they will go in pots or maybe even a couple of flower pouches.

And nine were re-homed to a good neighbour (3 x Ailsa, 3 x Maskotka, 3 x Marmande), so there is some movement.

 

Thanks Jenny

Are your Maskotkas also looking a bit worse for wear as well? The majority of the plants on the rack to the right of the picture above is Maskotkas that were potted on yesterday, and they look less than chuffed at the moment.

I'm hoping that a few cool (but not cold) nights, followed by some sunny spells will harden them up and spur them into some nice green growth?

 

Sort of glad its not just mine.

The difference between the varieties is quite something - the Marmandes are the best of the bunch for me, with one of them in the greenhouse already blooming even though its only a small plant yet.
The Ailsa's are next up, fairly vigorous and pretty bomb-proof (even one with a snapped stem came back hard as nails, with smashing root growth);

The Millefleur are happy looking wee things, albeit still indoors and still a bit on the slow side, and the Faworyt aren't really lighting any fires either - a bit leggy, and not hurrying themselves.

Bottom of the heap definitely goes to the Maskotkas at the moment - hopefully they will redeem themselves as time goes on.

 

Certainly start feeding them now fruit has set. I reckon that as night time temps have improved it's OK to get them out in the greenhouse in their final position.

 

My toms, Rosada, Shirley, Alicante, Black Seaman, Jaune Flamme in the buckets as they are now: