Sub Arctic tomatoes

[Flummery]

pm me with your address and I'll send you some. As they are all open pollinated you can save your tiger toms, sub arctics and golden sunrises for next year too. Bargain eh?

[HeyWayne]

pm me with your address and I'll send you some. As they are all open pollinated you can save your tiger toms, sub arctics and golden sunrises for next year too. Bargain eh?

Open pollinated? Same as self-pollinated?

Sounds cool to me though either way if I get to keep the seeds - just need to make sure I don't eat them all!

pm on it's way.

Thanks.

[Flummery]

Means they aren't F1 hybrids - you get the same from the seeds each year. They rarely cross - most people keep seeds successfully and get the same tom each time.

[Alison C]

Originally posted by HeyWayne
Like the doofus I am, I didn't think to stake them. Looking good Alison, thanks for the prompt.

Hehe I nicked some of my girls pencils, they havent noticed yet

[smallblueplanet]

Hehe I nicked some of my girls pencils, they havent noticed yet

You're in trouble when they take them back!

[Winged one]

I'm after starting a collection of the wooden stirrers from coffee shops (get a good few coffees a week) for use as labels and mini-stakes.

And the local branch of the major global chain has started doing the used coffee grounds for the garden too - so about 4 packs in the boot of those too (I only pick up one at a time, but try to get one on every visit!!).

[kethry]

something else that can be used for ministakes is the skewers that you can buy from chinese supermarkets, you can get long ones, they're quite good for holding things up in the early stages. I've some broadies that are being supported that way atm, very very leggy broadies, i should add, in loo roll tubes that are hitting the top of the bathroom window (they're sitting on the windowsill), i've done my back out trying to shift compost and can't get them outside!

anyway. the skewers are supporting those and they work very well, leggy and floppy that they are..

keth
xx

[Alison]

None of my plants are tall enough to need any form of support at present and I'm hoping that they won't until after they've been planted out - like Flum am aiming for stocky and sturdy numbers!

[HeyWayne]

None of my plants are tall enough to need any form of support at present and I'm hoping that they won't until after they've been planted out - like Flum am aiming for stocky and sturdy numbers!

That's me kicked into touch then...

[rustylady]

You really shouldn't need to stake tomato plants until they are planted in their final quarters (growbags or large pots) and only then if they are the tall growing (cordon) varieties. If your seedlings need staking then you are growing them too warm and wet. You need short, sturdy, self-supporting plants. BTW I pricked out my SubArctic Plenty toms into individual pots today. Short, sturdy and looking good.

[Alison C]

Oh dear, they are too tall are they. Ive got them in the extension at the mo and its currently about 16 degrees C. I water them in the morning. Is the temp too warm? Should I perhapse put them in the porch where there isnt a radiator and bring them back in in the evening. My toms are curently 25cm tall at a month and a half old.

[SarzWix]

The temperature is ok as long as they're geting enough light, that's the main thing. If they don't get enough light they grow tall and thin trying to reach more. So put them where they'll get the most light, and above 10°C. It's not the end of the worl if they've become too tall thin though, try repotting them into a slightly bigger pot but don't put soil in the bottom - just put the plant on the bottom of the pot, then fill it up with soil so that a good part of the stem is buried. It'll then grow roots out of them the stem and become a bit more sturdy. It's safe to cover the stem in soil right up to where the seed leaves are, but don't have them too wet, just damp. And if you're really struggling with the light thing, try rigging up something behind them to reflect some, like a board covered in foil or something.

[Alison C]

Thanks for that, will repot. As for the light as you can see they are on a windowsil and get full sun. Not sure what I've done .
I'ts my first time growing tomatoes. I'm quite excited about them.

[SarzWix]

I'm sure they'll be fine Alison Try the reflective board thingy behind them, if you can, they'll be happier with light from both sides.

[Flummery]

There's actually less light on a windowsill than you think! A reflector is a good idea. If you haven't got something like a coldframe or cold greenhouse for daytime - to ensure maximum light - it might be worth just sowing them a few weeks later next year. I know it's tempting to get a wriggle on but the later sowings grow more robustly and do catch up in the main. Good luck with them. I'm sure they'll fruit fine.