Tomato Problems

[Lovely Helen]

I am experiencing my worst ever germination of tomato seeds. Normally every one I sow comes up. I currently only have 2 out of about 16 up. They were sowed about 4 weeks ago and placed in the greenhouse. I brought them into the house 2 weeks ago but still nothing - shal I give up and just go and buy baby plants this weekend?

What does everyone else do that might make it better next year - they were sown in MPC at the correct depth and placed in the greenhouse in an unheated prop (the method which has worked for me for the last 3 years)! What do you think?

[sagegreen]

I have occasionally had this problem, and not just with tomatoes (just recently a pot of cucumber seeds refused to germinate). Try placing the pots/trays in a really warm place - in my case its the boiler cupboard - for a couple of days. It doesn't always produce results, but then again it could work, as it did with my cucumbers!! Good luck

[Patchninja]

I suspect they've been too cold but Mr Tomatoking should be along soon.

[rustylady]

Are they new seeds, or some you've saved from last year?

[Flummery]

I think maybe cold too. This has really been a perishingly long spring. I put mine in the greenhouse after they've germinated. I keep them indoors till they show through - and for quite a while after that.

[Tomatoking]

I suspect they've been too cold but Mr Tomatoking should be along soon.

Unfortunately Mr TK is away on business until Sunday, but I am sure you will find some information on his blog which may help and I'm sure he willl reply on his return! He did recommend you go and buy some plants!

Mrs TK

[taff]

Most of my first lot came through except for a few esoteric varieties, that I have sown again.

I also sowed some in the polytunnel about 6 weeks ago, and completely despaired of them showing up, today I went up there and they're about an inch high, so they did turn up after all....

[pjh75]

I had lots of problems with tomatoes (and peppers) this year. I persevered sowing and have a few tomato plants now, but I ended up buying pepper plants from the garden centre.

[Lovely Helen]

They were new seeds so I think it's the cold. I'm going to give up and get plants I think otherwise I'll be way behind! At least a couple of the new variety to this year are up so I can try them out. Shame about the Sun gold though as I really liked them last year. Next year they will def start inside!

Thanks for your advice everyone

[Jeanied]

Mine all got shoved in the airing cupboard till I had germination, Helen.

[Tomatoking]

Mine all got shoved in the airing cupboard till I had germination, Helen.

Looks like that's the second person that has posted for me while I am away

Think 18 to 20 degrees, just like Jeanied says, they will really need that constantly till they germinate, then you can be a bit more adventurous with them, as many people have proven from this site.

I really would advise at this time of year, to go out and buy a few plants, its not really cheating, I did it!

PS See you soon Mrs TK , missing you xx

Mr TK, signing out from a hotel room, somewhere in the middle of the channel.

[Lovely Helen]

Thanks for all the advice - went and got little plants today and v happy cos they had the variety I like. Was quite nice really as I got to pick lots of different varities instead of just having 2. Will try again next year - what is so galling is that rogue tomato seeds from the compost bin are coming up beautifully in all the wrong places!