Has anyone started toms yet ?

[wetwalnut]

I started too early last year, and was thinking of sowing now.

I have three varities to try and I have been advised to sow just after valentines day.

An experienced plotter told me to sow in trays and place above kitchen wall units until germination. And said that I must watch them carefully cause they can go leggy very quickly up there. I fogot to ask what to do after they germinate.

I was thinking of transplanting into 3" pots and putting them into a cold greenhouse at the lottie. Then water only when they curl over and desperate for a drink. This I'm told will stop leggy plants.

I don't have a propagator and haven't had much luck using a window cill.

How do you all raise yours ?

[rustylady]

Start mine in heated propagator, then as soon as they germinate transfer to windowsill. As soon as they have two true leaves I prick them out into small individual pots.

[binley100]

unheated prop in the airing cupboard. As soon as they start to pop up , unheated prop on kitchen windowsill ....after a coup;e of weeks there they go into the conservatory . covered or uncovered depending on temp .....until I can move them to the gh ....

[jackyspratty]

Heated prop, take out when appear. Pot on to individual post when two rue leaves, and plant deep to avoid leggyness. I keep potting on and burying deep at each stage.

Last year I blew on them daily once they got into individual pots! I know it sounds crazy (looked crazy anyway!) but I think it helped firm the stems. Its meant to replicate wind/breeze! I also put them outside briefly on sunny days when not too freezing! Overall I had the best year ever and very strong plants.

I grow mine on in an unheated poly and have to grow in florist buckets as its staged on concrete. So I also mulch the pots too! Last year I used the contents of my hoover bags and hair clippings from my lads (looks disgusting!) but great crop!

I also made seaweed tea from seaweed collected from a rare trip to the beach and and used as a foliar feed.

[Canny Grower]

I must watch them carefully cause they can go leggy very quickly

You shouldn't need to worry about tomato plants growing leggy; just bury them deeply each time you pot them on. They will produce more roots from the buried stem and you'll have nice, strong plants.

[Bigmallly]

In answer to the question, I germinate on heated prop then transfer to half loo rools. This year I'm just gonna grow 1 or 2 plants then plant the armpits from them, have had a much better crop from armpits than parent plant, have no idea why.

[jackyspratty]

Thats what Im doing too. Was great last year. Great when you need to do a lot like me for home and to sell at a school group. The kids love armpitting!

[sowitgrowit]

have had a much better crop from armpits than parent plant, have no idea why.

Well, I'll bite; care to share with a beginner what the method is here? I sowed Gartenperle tonight (peat pots) and was going to pot on and bury deep... but armpits?

Confusion reigns!

[Bigmallly]

Well, I'll bite; care to share with a beginner what the method is here? I sowed Gartenperle tonight (peat pots) and was going to pot on and bury deep... but armpits?

Confusion reigns!

It's exactly what it sounds like, when the plant becomes established, it will throw sideshoots out between the main stem and branches, we call these sideshoots armpits. Just break these off, which you should anyway and plant them instead of throwing them.....extra plants...

[Matt94]

between the leaf joint and the stem you'll get little shoot grow nip em out and pot em up - atleast i think thats what there on about hahaha

[Matt94]

ooops bigmally beat me to it hahaha

[Bigmallly]

ooops bigmally beat me to it hahaha

2 heads are better than 1.

[veggiechicken]

2 heads are better than 1.

And 4 armpits are better than 2!

[sowitgrowit]

Thanks guys! Makes good sense to me, so the stem from the armpit is in effect a tiny cutting taken from a young plant?

No rooting hormones, I assume? Just shove them in potting mix?

Thanks for the speedy replies! Got to love it here.

[Bigmallly]

Can't see a dab of rooting powder doing any harm but your gonna have so many you won't notice a few losses.