Is it too soon to start early chillies and tomatos indoors?

[nomis]

I mean with heated electric incubators etc of course

[Kleftiwallah]

The question is where to put them once they become too large for the propagator/incubator? With the weather still "in evrso clement" ? Cheers, Tony.

[alex-adam]

As Kleftiwallah says, where to put them? - these are plants originating in central America and as well as needing warmth they are light sensitive. - Not enough daylight and they grow weak and 'leggy' - With your tomatoes it really is best to wait util Spring, March for indoor plants and April for those to be grown outside.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Nomis,

I agree with both posts above. However there are grapes who do start this early you might want to look at a thread called 'the early tomato sowing thread' for more info before you make up your mind.

Colin

[bearded bloke]

Save you hunting bud,as Colin ^^^says see ..............

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...t=early+tomato

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...t=early+tomato

[northepaul]

Its not the heat, at this time of year, its lack of light.....I would suggest starting them off at the end of jan or beginning of feb.
If you have itchy fingers (in a nice way of course! ) you could start onions off this month, maybe leeks?

[Two_Sheds]

Definitely click on those links, they're very useful.

I get the sun before any of you other Grapes (barring RustyLady), and I can't get good chillies & toms before a late Jan sowing. Any earlier than that and, even on a south windowsill, they just don't get enough light.

...and it's not worth the money to grow them under electric lights

[jacob]

For chilis, I tend to plant on New Year's Day. They tend to be slow to germinate, and slow to grow and this seems to work out OK, dodgy light or no. They've never really seemed leggy.

Tomatoes are a different matter. Attempts at Jan sowing end up with long spindly things with a low survival rate. I usually sow mid-Feb (although I might experiment with an early sowing for some early toms next year).

You've also got to house them inside until April/May!

[lettucegrow!]

Wish I had time to think about seeds!!

[Alison]

Have sowed chillies, peppers, aubergines and tomatoes in early January in the past. The tomatoes are a total waste of time and the ones sown in March have always done much better. The others do benefit from early sowing BUT experience has shown me that a late January sowing works best for me, earlier than that they don't really grow much or go leggy depending on where I put them and it's just too much work for no benefit what so ever. You're much better spending the time planning.