Tomatoes

[bramble]

Hi Squirrel, I pot all my seedlings on when they are big enough to handle and have never had any problems. Seedlings are far tougher than we give credit for. Good luck.

[Squirrel]

thanks Bramble - if the rain stops tomorrow will pot on the rest of the seedling of which there are plenty! Spent the last two days making newspaper pots as per a thread elsewhere. Everyone thought I was crazy

[Alice]

As for newbie questions about potting on - the general rule is you can pot on once plants have made a couple of true leaves (not the seed leaves which come first) When the plant germinates the seed leaves will appear first but at this stage the plant has no, or very little roots.The plant then "sits still" for a little while and makes roots. Then the true leaves start to grow. By the time the plant has one or two pairs of true leaves it should have reasonable roots and be safe to pot on. I always plant up to the seed leaves when I pot on. And don't worry when you see the seed leaves "dying". Plants always get rid of them. Hopes this helps in some way.

[Squirrel]

Now that makes so much sense! Thanks Alice!

It's the nuts and bolts of the things that gets me! You know - "pot on when large enough to handle" well that is fine if you've got big hands, you'll wait until you can pick them out! Little hands mean smaller plants can be fiddled with! Well you get my drift!

[fruit&vegvirgin]

tomato question - I've put mine out in pots and growbags, they're about 5" tall, but had to get them out as we are on holiday in a weeks time. all but one look good, but one of them is not happy. the main stem seems to have gone weak and bendy, and looks like its rotting - what should I do, cut it off or leave it and hope for the best?

[smallblueplanet]

If you bury tomatoes deep then they grow roots from their stem, so I'd bury upto a good set of leaves.

[julie williamson]

I thought you always removed the side shoots from toms..I usually grow Gardeners Delight, but this year am trying some Italian plum as well.. removed all their side shoots too, as they just flop all over the place otherwise.. have I been wrong all these years?

[smallblueplanet]

you take the side shoots off cordon-type toms, you don't off bush-type toms. (determinate = bush & indeterminate = cordon) sometimes its difficult to find info on what type your variety is.

[Lesley Jay]

Julie what variety of plum tomato are you growing?