tomato seed growing

[Billy's lad]

I am growing tomato plants from scratch for the first time this year

I have set seeds in damp compost and put them in an unheated propogator on the window sill They have all come up and are about 2 inches high

My Dad has told me to prick them out as they have two leaves , do I then leave in the propogator until they get too big or get them out just on the windowsill ?

[Bren In Pots]

Billy's lad my toms were sown on the 12th in a heated propagator and by the 16th they all had germinated and living on a window sill. They have foil behind them to help prevent them getting to leggy but its not the end of the world if they do it just means I'll plant them deeper when I pot them on but that won't be until they have their true leaves.
Hope this helps.

[Snoop Puss]

Are the two leaves the first pair of leaves to emerge, which are seed leaves (cotyledons), or true plant leaves?

Seed leaves tend to be straight-edged, whereas tomato plant leaves are slightly indented, like mini versions of full-sized leaves. If you've only got seed leaves, they aren't ready for potting on yet.

[Billy's lad]

first two leaves are straight edged so will leave in the propogator and be patient

[Scarlet]

I would take them out of the propagator. Too much heat will encourage fast growth, and with low light levels you will end up with leggy spindly plants. Take them out and put them on a sunny windowsill until you can pot them on.

They only need heat to germinate.

[Billy's lad]

Thanks Scarlett they are now out and just sat on the windowsill I am waiting for sunflower seeds to germinate now in the propogator

[Scarlet]

It's quite early for sunflowers....they grow big quick. Remember al the tender things that you start off will need somewhere warm from growing on until the night time temps warm up. There's other flowers that are slower growing that you could use your propagator for first.

What else gave you got lined up waiting for room in your propagator?

[Billy's lad]

I am open to any suggestions as I am starting from scratch I have one decent size bed that I am trying to fill and two greenhouses and loads of pots

Any suggestions ?

[nickdub]

Grow what you like to eat. Obviously the greenhouse space is the one that gives you the widest choice range eg cucumbers, tomatoes, melons, aubergines, grapes .... But don't try to overfill it, and some plants prefer rather different conditions than others, so cucumbers like it a lot more steamy than tomatoes do.

As for the rest salad stuff can be expensive in the shops and is generally better when v fresh so :- radishes, lettuces, onions, beetroot, Chinese greens ... most of these grow quickly so you can get more than one crop from the same space in a year.