Tomato Growing Thread 2022

I just hate the combination of cold and wet, so after the downpour we had earlier its going to be a soggy cold night out there.

 

Mine are going to have to tough it out, so fingers crossed they will be ok.

 

Nothing is growing very quickly at the moment, blame the cold weather or Russia

 

I think it cold nights John, nothing likes them, including me.

 

I've protected as many as I have bubble wrap to cover. And we've just had a power cut.

 

I just left mine out. They can learn to like it. (I know they won't)

Whoever breeds a tasty tomato that actually enjoys consistent sub 10c nights would make a stack of cash. There are some varieties that can still set fruit down to 4c I think but that only goes so far

 

They, like most tender plants are actually hardier at the back end of the season as opposed to now.
All a bit soft and tender now, by October the plants are much harder.

 

Not as cold last night as our local forecast predicted, my little Sensor Push recorded a low of 9.9 degrees and with it being calibrated I'm hoping it's pretty accurate.



Let hope the temps get going soon, though I think it might be a couple of weeks before we see any significant change.

 

I just tell them that they're grown up now. Think 3-6 degrees simply slows them down like it does me. Different varieties probably appreciate some coddling just like different plants do. I've not got any Tom's out yet, simply no longer in any heat. Looks like a cooler week, well Test Match due to start, so digging in compost and some FYM, before putting out the green plastic tomato pots hat I've used in the greenhouse (the bottomless ones with circular trough for watering?) I'm not growing any in the heated conservatory cos of the whitefly, and thinking hard about the cold greenhouse even! Last year ALL my Tom's outside produced really well so am thinking of doing the same this year. Bet you we're going to have an Arctic Summer! I suppose the blight won't like it cold though!?!?

 

The cooler temps do seem to slow them down but while they are not actually frosted they make a fairly quick comeback.

I think it also depends on the varieties we are growing as some are more cold resistant than others. The heirloom varieties are probably amongst the "hardier" of tomatoes as they have been proved over a very long time & that's the reason they become "heirlooms"!

 

Mine have gone purple, which is what they do when they get chilled and they can take a while to get going again, its the blight resistant ones that are looking the worst.

A cooler week than last week?
Christ I hope not.

 

Some of my outdoor ones are producing flower buds now. I did sow them a couple of weeks after the inside ones too. Thanks to @eatenbyweasels I was perusing vertiloom last week for next year's chilli and tomato seeds, they arrived today with a couple of freebies. At least tomato and chilli seeds keep well

 

One of the good things about Vertiloom is that you only need to spend €10 to qualify for free international shipping. Cultive ta Rue, Tomatofifou and my Ukrainian supplier all offer excellent ranges and tend to be cheaper per packet, but have a €30 to €35 minimum spend to avoid shipping charges.