Tomato Growing Thread 2023

Sci-Fi, ripening out of nowhere, whilst being endearingly grotesque.

 

Hi guys,

Could anyone recommend good UK website to buy tomato seeds please?what about saving my own seeds is this better option?

Also I am planning to have greenhouse next year. Would be approx. 5mx 2.4 m. I was thinking to have 80 cm walkway in the middle. On each side of the walk way to have two rows of 12 tomato plants. It would be around 48 plants. Spacing would be 40 cm between each plant then. Would this be OK or overcrowded you think?

 

Saving seed is easy, whether you paper-dry the seeds or ferment them. F1 hybrid tomatoes won't grow true from saved seeds, so bear that in mind when choosing varieties.

As to seed sellers, here's another vote for Premier seeds.

 

Premier Seeds for me too @LukeMB everything I've grown from seed this year, Lettuce, Spring Onions and French Beans all came from them, all the seeds have produced really good quality plants.

And I'm quite sure their tomato seeds will be just as good.

 

I also had good success from premier seeds. You get many seeds to each packet normally, apart from the f1s. I've also ordered from real seeds, they are more expensive but have a few different ones that they've trialled in their welsh polytunnels/outside

 

Mmmmm... first Bloody Butcher butty of the year.

 

@LukeMB. I have about 250 varieties of tomato seeds. All sorts of types, although not many large fruited. If you let me know what sort(s) you'd like to grow, I'm sure I can get you a starter selection together.

 

What a lovely gesture @eatenbyweasels

 

Greenhouse a bit full. Tallest is a bit over 6ft, banan krasnyi (red banana) sungold about 5ft. All two stems except Barry's crazy cherry which is one and dwarf Melanie's ballet which I have just let do its thing

 

Oh and I got all exited on new prospects, sort of in line with drawing the sap from certain cacti...


Anyways, I've had some fun times chopping down the jungle off top, side and goodness knows what shoots in my overplanted growbox-blowaway thingy.

In previous years I have not used the plastic cover over the summer but have just let the plants to grow as tall as they please, this year I left the cover on and now the plants are snaking and rambling against the ceiling.

So far the number and maturity of the fruit looks just the same as in previous years, but the shoot and leaf growth is very much more vigorous.

Since I love the scent of crushed tomato plants this experiment is very joyful.

Photos to follow when /if the heavy rain stops at some point before November.

 

Premier Seeds has some good selection indeed. Will deffo order some seeds from them!

 

Just eaten the first Black Opal, probably not fully ripe, delicious though. I left it's neighbour.
@LukeMB I've used Nicky's Nursery for some varieties, they have a good selection.