Was I too late with my tomatoes?

[Little Dig]

I ask because the plants I started in March (as per packet instructions) are still only 3 or 4 inches high with thin stems and few leaves. All the tomato plants in local garden centres and DIY stores look ready to plant out! Was I a little tardy or have the shops forced theirs in heated greenhouses?

[Lesley Jay]

You were right. March/April is the time to start growing tomatoes from seed especially if you are planting them out doors because you need to make sure all chances of frost are past before planting out.

[eskymo]

Mine are the same - actually smaller - about 6cm high and I planted them ages ago!

[Shortie]

Phew! Mine are only 5-6 cm high too... Was getting worried there as mine were even smaller too. They've started putting on some healthy leaf growth though now so presume all must be okay....

[pigletwillie]

I sow my undercover tomatoes in February, these are now between 18" and 2' high and setting fruit. The outdoor ones I sowed in March and these are about 12"-14" high and will be planted out just before we go to France at the end of the month. I will also sow some more in June to replace some of the tunnel tomatoes and these will crop right through hopefully until Christmas.

Its a fine line between having to wait until August for your first tomato and having a huge plant with no where to plant it as frost is still a threat. Any I get that start getting too big are potted on into taller pots right up to their first pair of true leaves. They are then stockier and put down much more root.

[eskymo]

if mine are 6cm high - can i start feeding them with tomato feed - will it make them grow?

[shine388]

mine were done a few weeks ago, maybe a month, and theyve got their first curvy leaves coming (i cant describe them in any other way than 'proper tomato leaf shaped') and theyre only about 2 inches tall but theyre getting there slowly

[Alice]

Your tomatoes will be fine and will start to grow rapidly now that the days are longer and warmer. There's no pont in starting them too early unless you're prepared to heat the greenhouse for months. I started some in February (garden Pearl - free with the mag) and grew them in doors on a sunny windowsill. They're now out in the greenhouse about 2' high with heat at night. I intend to have them outdoors as soon as frost is past. At Easter I planted some others for the greenhouse - now about 3 inches high. Sure they wil come on rapidly now. I intend to put them in the greenhouse when they need repotted and hope they will do well. The potatoes in buckets (Charlotte) spring onions, carrots, spinach, garlic, lettuce,chives,rocket and herbs are all doing great - all in containers. Definately going to make some raised beds for kitchen garden for next year. Good luck with your tomatoes and let us know how you get on. Post a piccy if you can.

[Alice]

Eskymo, start feeding them with tomatoe feed as soon as the first flowers appear. They will start to grow rapidly any day now. I know the frustration when they are just sitting there but then they take off. Just watch.

[bramble]

pigletwillie, when you come back from France, what variet of tomato will you sow in June. I will be away at the same time and would like to be able to sow some more when i get back.

[GardenFan]

I started my toms in early march and a second sowing in late april. The march sowing was on a sunny windowsill until early april and now lives in my greenhouse. Growth really depends on the seed, one of them is 8 inches while seeds from the same batch are 4 inches. With plenty of light and warmth these will march on and now we are in May we should get plenty of both.