New member questions, lettuce, leeks, Toms

[BumbleB]

Hello everyone, I have been reading your posts for awhile and have been sowing seeds and getting a veg patch ready. I have some questions though:

1. Is it ok to put my lettuce seedlings into raised beds now? and what protection from slugs should I use?

2. My leek seedlings are tiny - should I put them on into deeper pots or can they go in the ground yet (they are like thick needles at the moment)

3. I have managed to raise tumbling tom seedlings, but other varieties are taking an age to geminate - what is best technique for tomatoes?

I am sure I will have other questions and it is great to read through all of your posts. Thanks

[Jenegade]

Hi, I don't know all the answers to your questions, but there have been some posts previously about leeks. I think the general consensus is that you should wait until your leeks are as thick as a pencil (mine sound like yours btw ) and then plant out.

Some people use the organic slug pellets, I haven't yet this year, but I do have lots of beer traps out at the moment and catching loads of slugs in them! Would definitely reccomend them.

I think lettuce are usally put out in late spring anyway, they like cooler conditions, so I think if you hardened them off and then planted them, protecting with fleece when a frost is due though, they should be fine.

Anyway, someone else more experienced (this is my 1st real year) will be along soon.

[BumbleB]

Thanks Jenegade, I suppose its all a little bit trial and error. I will search for the leek posts, was just wondering if they need more depth etc.

What are you growing this year and what are you most proud of?

I have taken early retirement, with dreams of the good life ;-) not sure how successful I will be, but already eating mixed salad leaves from the greenhouse.

[Creemteez]

Hi Bumble B, Welcome to the Vine.
In answer to your questions, Lettuce shouls be fine to go out now. If you want to give them frost AND slug protection try sticking a thin garden cane in next to each plant and sliding the top half of a 2ltr pop bottle over it (bottle top off for ventilation). This works for lots of vulnerable veglings in their first couple of weeks outside.
I'd leave your leeks for a while yet. They are tough little beasts and don't mind a bit of rough handling, so it won't be a distaster if you leave them till they are more pencil-like in size. When the time comes, seperate them out, trim off a little root and the top third of their leaves, then drop them into a three to four inch deep hole that you've made with a piece of broom handle or something similar. Don't bother about pushing the soil back into the hole, just fill each hole with water and they'll bed themselves in. (Told you they were tough little beasts!)
Tommies are a bit of a waiting game. Keep the compost moist, but not soggy. Humid conditions encourage germination, so seal the pot or tray inside a clear plastic bag until they show their heads, and when they do water only from the bottom - not too frequently or you risk them all flopping over (damping off)!
When they have thier first proper leaves (after the seed leaves), they should be large enough to pot on into 3" pots. Use good potting compost and be very careful not to damage their roots or stems (hold them by their seed leaves. Plant them deeply into the pots - up to their first leaves, as they will put out extra roots from the stem and you'll get nice chunky little plants.
Honestly, you're doing fine, and I'm sure there will be other grapes along shortly who will pooh-pooh all my advice and give you some much better!

[Jenegade]

I'm waiting for my salad leaves still, the tray that they are in is a bit too shallow really, just getting their true leaves now, yum!

I agree with Creemteez about the tomatoes too, mine came up quite quickly with a plastic bag over the pot on a sunny south facing windowsill.

I'm quite proud of my Parsnips at the moment, they're all outside now and have their 1st true leaves, haven't had a problem with them even though they are meant to be hard to germinate!

Good luck with your vegetable growing!

[BumbleB]

Many thanks creemteez, seems I needed to be patient with the Toms as they have all now finally come through the soil after being on a warm windowsill and are nice mini plants at the moment. I will follow your instructions for watering from bottom and potting on and hope that they continue to thrive. I wonder how long before they are large enough for the garden? I wondered if they would be behind the garden centre raised plants?

I will wait awhile for the leeks if they are quite hardy and have started a few more off.

I will also look out for some parsnips to start as Jenegade has had success with these.

Seems that its a busy time getting everything going now, keep worrying I will miss the right time for things.

[Eyren]

Many thanks creemteez, seems I needed to be patient with the Toms as they have all now finally come through the soil after being on a warm windowsill and are nice mini plants at the moment. I will follow your instructions for watering from bottom and potting on and hope that they continue to thrive. I wonder how long before they are large enough for the garden? I wondered if they would be behind the garden centre raised plants?

With tomatoes, the important thing is not the size of the plant but the weather. You can't put them outside (or in an unheated greenhouse, for indoor varieties) until after the last frost, or they will die. Depending on where you are, that could be any time between late April (on the south coast) to mid May (in Scotland).

Garden centre plants might look good, but unless they have been properly looked after and hardened off, they might suffer if taken from their warm surroundings to a chilly garden! Home-raised plants tend to be more hardy.

I will wait awhile for the leeks if they are quite hardy and have started a few more off.

They are indeed pretty tough - but slow growing! I don't expect to be planting mine out for a couple of months or so.

Seems that its a busy time getting everything going now, keep worrying I will miss the right time for things.

It's definitely a manic time of year - but remember that plants sown later in spring will usually catch up with those sown earlier, owing to the longer days that give them more energy. As long as you get your tender plants like toms sown in time to go out as soon as is practical, so that they get a good growing season before the first autumn frosts, I wouldn't panic too much!