1st grow, was 6th june too late to sow tomatoes ?

[johnnyd]

Hallo there,

will i still be able to harvest ripe tomatoes as i believe i should have sowed in march ?,

they were in the kitchen window for like 3 weeks and outside in my south-ish facing garden since, ive recently potted em up in 2 litre pots with jab mpc as they were root bound.

the variety are garden pearl from a chatsworth grow your own tomato kit.

ive just taken a pic of the plants as of this evening (15.7) and attached it below, im sorry pic is a bit dark.

all help appreciatted.

[rustylady]

I hope you like green tomato chutney

[taff]

you'll be incredibly lucky to get anything from them. Best plan on constant care and attention and you may be lucky, especially if you could stick them in a greenhouse or somewhere that's not going to fluctuate in temperature much during the night.

[zazen999]

If they are garden pearl then they are a bush and won't grow huge anyway. You could probably bring them indoors come the colder nights and grow them on inside.

I was still picking toms in a greenhouse in Oxford on 23rd November last year so you should get something from them.

[Two_Sheds]

It's your first go, so don't worry too much about 'doing it wrong'. Yes it's late in the year, but you'll get something out of it, even if it's only experience.

Join us in Jan/Feb when we start sowing our toms and chillies http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...thread-10.html

[Flummery]

It really depends on the weather for the rest of the year. We all make generalisations about the best time to do things but there are always exceptions. Let's hope this year is exceptional and you get some ripe ones. You can always try the old trick of putting a few green fruits in a drawer with a ripe one to encourage them to ripen.

Good luck!

[singleseeder]

I was told by someone who had a display at the Gateshead show a few years ago that they 'stressed' their plants to force them to have a display of ripe fruits in time for the show. Once the fruit had begun to set they were very 'mean' with water and apparently the plant panics.

Not sure what to make of that even though I can see where they are coming from.

[Alison]

If there is an Indian summer then you could do OK, the plants look healthy, especially for the first time. I'd suggest that next year you sow in March / April, late means you risk no fruit and too early means you have to find somewhere to house rather large plants and if you're going to be growing them outside you won't be able to put them our until after the frosts which will be well into May by which time a Jan sowing will be huge or have grown leggy due to lack of effective light etc.

[Two_Sheds]

I was told by someone who had a display at the Gateshead show ... that they 'stressed' their plants to force them to have a display

It's very common for breeders and show-ers to force their plants to flower or fruit at a particular time. It's not the best way to have the biggest crop though.

I'm growing a tom in pure leafmold (no nutrients) to see how it does, also got one in water only (no soil or nutrient at all).

[Alison]

It's very common for breeders and show-ers to force their plants to flower or fruit at a particular time. It's not the best way to have the biggest crop though.

I'm growing a tom in pure leafmold (no nutrients) to see how it does, also got one in water only (no soil or nutrient at all).

Quick somebody report her to the RSPT for cruelty to tomato plants

[Florence Fennel]

I had one in water only. The roots were very hairily healthy, but the green gradually yellowed and died off.

You've done well with those plants Johnny to say it's so late. Hope we have a long, hot summer and you get some fruit. If not, better luck next year and put it down to experience.

[johnnyd]

I hope you like green tomato chutney

Thats what i was dreading to hear.

you'll be incredibly lucky to get anything from them. Best plan on constant care and attention and you may be lucky, especially if you could stick them in a greenhouse or somewhere that's not going to fluctuate in temperature much during the night.

im thinking of buying one of them "plastic" greenhouses just incase we dont have a decent rest of summer, which judging by the weather of late, doenst look very likely, mind you my plants have had a nice watering with all this rain.

If they are garden pearl then they are a bush and won't grow huge anyway. You could probably bring them indoors come the colder nights and grow them on inside.

I was still picking toms in a greenhouse in Oxford on 23rd November last year so you should get something from them.

i wont have the space to grow 11 plants inside unfortunately mate.

It's your first go, so don't worry too much about 'doing it wrong'. Yes it's late in the year, but you'll get something out of it, even if it's only experience.

Join us in Jan/Feb when we start sowing our toms and chillies http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...thread-10.html

im determined to get ripe fruit, but even if i dont i get some valuable experience for next time, like you say and i am enjoying looking after them.

It really depends on the weather for the rest of the year. We all make generalisations about the best time to do things but there are always exceptions. Let's hope this year is exceptional and you get some ripe ones. You can always try the old trick of putting a few green fruits in a drawer with a ripe one to encourage them to ripen.

Good luck!

Thank you Flummery, yeah lets hope for an exceptional year, i need it ! i will bare that trick in mind.

If there is an Indian summer then you could do OK, the plants look healthy, especially for the first time. I'd suggest that next year you sow in March / April, late means you risk no fruit and too early means you have to find somewhere to house rather large plants and if you're going to be growing them outside you won't be able to put them our until after the frosts which will be well into May by which time a Jan sowing will be huge or have grown leggy due to lack of effective light etc.

Thank you for your kind words Alison, i have looked after em to the best of my abilities, which has been a joy so far.

I had one in water only. The roots were very hairily healthy, but the green gradually yellowed and died off.

You've done well with those plants Johnny to say it's so late. Hope we have a long, hot summer and you get some fruit. If not, better luck next year and put it down to experience.

Thank you Florence Fennel, your kind words are encouraging, im going to pray to the universe for a long hot one. (which sounds rude reading it back haha)