Early Tomato Sowing and Growing thread - poll added please vote

[Lazgaot]

Just following on from the post above mine...I'm using the calendar on the site for my sowing. A few questions though....are there any good days and bad days for transplanting seedlings and what about harvesting? Will the calendar update/develop over time with suggestested days for harvesting? First timer here...apologies if this sounds dumb!

[SlugLobber]

Just reporting in on my early sowings. All have now been potted on, including the January seedlings. Most are in an unheated greenhouse and seem to be doing very well, even the tiny seedlings that seemed to pop up as an afterthought!

The ones covered up outside were got at by late frost, as I'd forgotten to cover them up. They were definitely still living last time I checked, but since last week (Friday?), they have been 'cushioned' by a layer of shredded paper (up to about two inches above each seedling) and covered with a spare mini-greenhouse PVC shell.

[zazen999]

Zazen, I know you've had success with moon planting experiments - but the site you mention
Vegetable Garden planting guides - Gardeners Calendar
- well, it's very interesting but it gives three moon planting systems, much of the time they disagree with each other.

Do you pick one and follow it? Or switch and use the one that suits, say, the one that says Root Day if you want to sow carrots for example (I'm afraid I've done that a couple of times).

Different books also seem to say different things.

I've got completely mixed up with trying to follow moon planting, I'd love to do it but I guess I feel it would help if those who promote it all said the same thing.

Would value your comments, thanks.

Yes, I just go by the first symbol...for my trials!

There are 3 different systems, I am just using the simplest.

[zazen999]

Sowed a variety of toms at the beginning of this trial. Lost my Orange Banana and Pigletwillie Black toms a while back. Looks like I'm losing my Grushovka, leaves are wilting from the bottom up. No fungal disease, on a sunny windowsill etc. My peppers and chillis are thriving - same conditions, compost etc. Never had toms die on me before, any ideas?
Grushovka toms went into the compost bin today (28/03/09).

Was the top of the plant healthy...if so then it is just the plant ditching old leaves.

[zazen999]

UPDATE:

Mine are 12 weeks old, and the tallest is 28cm tall.

Toms on the right were the stragglers, popped into a pot with the chilli stragglers and 2 tagetes [which then died].

Toms on the left was the strongest specimen at transplant, put into it's own pot.

The above, all Grushovka, sown on 27th Dec

Just shows, it's not always obvious which is going to grow the strongest.

Toms in the middle were Rio Grande, sown on 2nd Feb. What I particularly like about these is the reddish blush on the underside of the leaves. Nice touch.

The little thing in the little pot is my first Duronal's Potatoes from Seed seedling.

[maytreefrannie]

Zazen, not only are my French beans (I use the term loosely) nowhere near as developed as yours, but my tomatoes - the ones sown on 27th December - are tiny compared to your middle ones. As for the ones on the right and left - I can only dream!

I don't know how to upload photos, but even if I knew how, I'd be embarrassed next to your fine chorus line.

I think I've got a case of stalk envy (is that legal?).

The Tumbling Toms I sowed on 11th March are making progress, they're just beginning to develop the first true leaves.

[zazen999]

Zazen, not only are my French beans (I use the term loosely) nowhere near as developed as yours, but my tomatoes - the ones sown on 27th December - are tiny compared to your middle ones. As for the ones on the right and left - I can only dream!

I don't know how to upload photos, but even if I knew how, I'd be embarrassed next to your fine chorus line.

I think I've got a case of stalk envy (is that legal?).

The Tumbling Toms I sowed on 11th March are making progress, they're just beginning to develop the first true leaves.

No, it is not legal....I won't tell anyone tho'. These are Grushovkas which are supposed to be earlies and like the cooler temps.

They will all come on soon..now it is getting warmer. Seaweed fertiliser seems to be giving everything a good old kick start though....roll on my greenhouse arriving.

[Cosmo and Dibs]

Here are my tomato seedlings:


I sowed them two at a time in rows, but they have shot up all over the tray. They have been in for 3-4 weeks, but yesterday they sprung up stronger shoots. Are these the ones I should be saving?

[Storming Norman]

Hi there.

I followed this lead with interest so sowed a few gardeners delight seeds at the end of Jan on the window sill. One survived long enough to be planted on and is now in the greenhouse. It looks dark green and solid but is pretty slow growing and has just been caught up by the seeds I grew a month ago and planted out two weeks ago.

Mind you I sowed chilli's, peppers and aubergines at the same time and they all looked a bit sad until recently. It might be the compost that caused this problem - it was cheap stuff.

Ann

[cupcake]

I have been bringing my seedlings into the porch at night as it's been so cold lately ( I had to scrape my car windscreen on thurs a.m.) Will they survive in an unheated green house?

[zazen999]

Here are my tomato seedlings:


I sowed them two at a time in rows, but they have shot up all over the tray. They have been in for 3-4 weeks, but yesterday they sprung up stronger shoots. Are these the ones I should be saving?

I can't see what is in that tray....but to be honest I'm not convinced they are toms.

They don't look big enough...and the compost looks too black - is it soggy and damp?

[Cosmo and Dibs]

I can't see what is in that tray....but to be honest I'm not convinced they are toms.

They don't look big enough...and the compost looks too black - is it soggy and damp?

They are definitely toms! They are MoneyMakers from Morrisons.

Maybe the picture isn't that good.....I have a rubbish camera!

The soil is damp, yes. Am I watering them too much? I usually use a spray bottle daily on them. (Not a bottle full, just 5-10 sprays of it)

I have noticed in the last few days that some new, very large shoots have sprouted up. Are these the 'real' tom plants? If so, what do I do with the other tiny seedlings?

[zazen999]

Yes, I'd say you are watering them too much. Stop spraying for a start, toms hate it and it encourages blight. Only water, from the bottom, when the compost is dry [you can tell as the tray feels light when you pick it up].

Can you take a photo of the seedlings a bit closer up?

[You may have sown toms, but that might not be what those seedlings are].

[Cosmo and Dibs]

I'll just go and take a closer pic' now.

Bear with me!

[Cosmo and Dibs]

Here are what I hope/think are MoneyMaker tom seedlings:




I've also sown in pots:


The compost was fresh when I planted them, and they are kept snug in my porch.