Do I Have Seed Faeries?

[rogesse]

It was a soggy cold day on the allotment so I decided to hide in the long pastic greenhouse thing and fiddle with my tomatoes. First I noticed a ring of tomato 'seedlings' around my (very) deeply buried Costoluto fiorentino(?). Where did they come from, is it possible for tomatoes to send up runners?

I found more next to my sweet peppers, a long way from the tomatoes. Hubby (who knows nothing) said could they be weeds-I know weeds, I grow enough. There were also some just outside the plastic thing - I have been nowhere near the allotment with any tomato seeds - I've used a lot of horse manure - do horses eat tomatoes?

Everywhere on my plot there are stray potato plants; in my 'greenhouse', in my raised beds, under my shed - everywhere, I know I didn't plant them and I'm sure they are not escapee potato peelings from the compost. At the moment they are more prolific than the bindweed!

Finally - where the b'jesus did the widespread pumpkin/courgette/some sort of cubrita seedlings come from - have I got naughty faeries

[TPeers]

Coo! Can I have some Seed Faeries please?

The ring of 'seedlings' around the tom could be caused if you have grafted plants... would you know?

Other alternatives - silly question - you did grow your plants from seed, yes? Cause if you bought them perhaps someone at the nursery had an accident with a seed pack?

What else - other people on the plot must grow toms and spuds - wildlife eating the toms and fruit from the spuds and using the greenhouse as a perch while they 'clear their systems'?

I think someone let their plot go to rot last year and you are getting the result.

[zazen999]

mine grow from tom seeds in the compost; sometimes it isn't hot enough in there to kill them and they germinate the next year.

[Norm]

have I got naughty faeries

No, they're not naughty, they just don't know what you want. Say thank you and tell them what you would like help with.

[Snadger]

In the right conditions last years tomatoes will seed all over the place. Because they are in patches it sounds as if an old tomato from last year has degraded in the soil and the seedlings have emerged! Either that or you've used compost with rotten tomatoes in it where seeds haven't been killled by the heat of the compost bin?

[rogesse]

Ah ha -from the look of things I reckon it's an old tomato although compost has been involved. I think I'll pot up a few to test this (growing different types this year).

I asked some of the 'old boys' about the potato puzzle - which I should have done in the first place! It seems that the previous tenant was stereotypically Irish and LOVED his potatoes - it was all he grew then stored in clamps on the allotment. They must have been coming up unfettered for the last 4 - 5 years during the gap in tenancy, spreading all over - the wise 'old boys' are laughing their heads off

The cucumber/marrow seedlings remain a mystery so I can still believe in my faeries (don't they die if you deny their existance) - I WILL thank them and drop big hints about my desire for champagne bushes and money trees

[TPeers]

And may your road be straight and your friends plentiful!

If your faeries are generous remember to give honour in the accepted manner!

Terry