progress of toms

[SMS6]

Hanging my head in shame here



I have about 30 tomato plants scattered around my windowsills all at different stages of growth. Most are about the same stage as Hawthorns Garden Pearl.

These 30 are made up of about 12 different varieties

shall I take photos? Actually I may come unstuck if they all keel over but I have seeds left so I can start again.

[Mrs Dobby]

We planted toms very early last year, in early jan in the house, then ended up with lots of leggy and rather large plants to move to the greenhouse very early! Thankfully the eraly warm spring meant we did ok, not having a frost from Feb last year hereabouts, but this year we're being a little more cautious, we've a few at the 2 leaf stage, and some more to be sown tomorrow, but we definitely dont want them too leggy or have to plant them out in either of the unheated greenhouses just yet, much too cold!

[Cutecumber]

Hawthorns look pretty good for earlies. They are stockier when started later in the year, however.

I've sown a couple of seeds - they will definitely not be the best seedlings as I can't offer a lot of light, but they will give a small early crop in the greenhouse if other years are anything to go by.

I don't start my "real" sowing of toms for a few more weeks.

[hawthorns]

today i have potted them into there own pots and planted them deeper as to encourage bushier and not leggy plants.

[si'sraisedbed]

Inspired by this thread I have sown 3 x Gardners delight, 3 x Tigerella and 3 more Tumblers along with 3 x hot chilli's in a new propagator (£2.49 from Wilkinson!!) Will see how they do....

[zazen999]

Oh no, I'm not taking the rap!

BTW aren't you in the cold wilds of the east mids! Actually I remember now you're in Shardlow near the canal aren't you zazen? Perhaps the water will have a sort of North Atlantic Drift effect?

Yeah - I also have a courtyard to pop the little babies in which very rarely gets frosted...except for when it counts of course. I was out near the canal last week in the sun [plus big wooly jumper, but the principle is there].

I'd keep them in the kitchen/garage/coldframe for a while yet! Lost some last year by being too keen...

I ended up not sowing any more anyway, went to the pub instead

[smallblueplanet]

Wooo Hooo! Baby tomatoes up and showing this morning!

[littlegreenman]

Hi guys, i dont want to hijack your thread but i wanted to ask.
Ive been growing tomatoes in a propergator (unheated) and they have been great but they have hit the roof now, so i have taken them out and planted them in small pots, and they are looking a little sad.
Any ideas if they will pick up, or is there anything i can do. Cheers.

[smallblueplanet]

No hijacking here, every thread is organic in the way it grows!

How long have your toms been looking sad? Where are you keeping them?

[littlegreenman]

Just a couple of days, the thing is they are indoors and whilst they were in the propergator i took the lid of for 1 hour and the same thing happened, is that normal.

[smallblueplanet]

So they went 'sad' when you took the lid off the propagator? How cold are they indoors?
Do they pick up again if they get more light?

I'm a bit unsure what might be the problem, but someone will come along and recognise the symptoms of your toms.

[littlegreenman]

The house is quite warm, but it was amazing put the lid back on and within minutes they had picked up, just wondered if they will pick up this time, cheers for input anyway.

[zazen999]

Hi
How deep did you plant them? Are they leggy? Sometime if they are leggy and too hot then too cold, they wilt. You need to bury them deeper and keep it as warm as you can.

i usually keep the prop off for a few days before pricking out, so that they get used to a little colder air; and blow on them every few days to try and strengthen the stem.

[littlegreenman]

Cheers zazen

[davefromthechipie]

i sowed 5 gartenperle toms back on the 6th of jan they started off in heated propagator, once germinated i moved them to kitchen window sill. for the last 2 weeks they have been moved to my heated propagator in the greenhouse so they get maximum light. they seem to be doing very well i know i sowed early but ive not done toms before.

looking good hawthorns