Cherry Tomatoes

My cherry tomato plants are only around 4 inches high.

I am taking them out in the day (when not too windy) and taking them in at night, have them supported on pea sticks, but they are still quite weak and small.

Is it too early to start feeding them?
How big should they be at this time of year?

 

Have 3 sorts of toms growing and most are doing fine - between 4 and 6 inches high (after being potted on and buried up to seed leaves). Size I guess would depend on when you planted them but I've never had to support any yet.

I found mine really shot up and started looking much stronger when I took then into the greenhouse during the day - I still bring them in at night. Before that they were on the windowsill and became really leggy.

 

Mine have gone leggy - planted the seeds in February.

I think I will re pot and plant up to seed leaves, as the legginess has meant that there is a lot of length making them unstable.

 

You shouldn't really feed until the first fruit sets Caz as if you feed they can get too leggy and sappy. Having said that, since mine will spend several weeks in pots I will feed them a couple of times with a weak balanced liquid feed. I feed with a high K feed when the fruit sets. My cherry toms for outdoors are now about 3 inches high and still indoors.

 

No, no greenhouse, but I think my boyfriend could build me a coldframe - he has just offered as I am typing - hurrah!

I have just thought, they are the plants which are furthest away from the window, hence the legginess by what you say.

It's all starting to make sense!

 

Glad I just found this thread as we were wondering if our Gardeners Delight
tomatoes are a bit backward. They are about 4" now and thought they should
have been bigger than that?
Saw some in local QD stores -about 7" tall and rather leggy - 97p each.

Hubby is thinking his are not good enough so perhaps should buy some plants
(but not those from QD). Is he being too impatient? I think because we have
had some warm weather it seems like summer already.

 

They will only get bigger than that if they have min 10C at night, otherwise they will check and stand still ... keep them warm, and give them plenty of light during the day (cupboard under the stairs not a good spot!!)

 

I am less worried about the tomatoes now as the leaves are coming out more now and the advice on here has been really helpful. I think a lot of people have the same concerns which makes me feel better... This forum site is nice as I don't feel daft asking what may seem like an obvious question!!

Am off to re pot them now and bury them to the seed leaves

 

"I don't feel daft asking what may seem like an obvious question!!"

IMHO The only silly question is the one you don't ask!