Is it too late to start again?

[rustylady]

Apt description..............

That will be an Ark, then

[Tomato Head]

Well who'd have thought it. 2 miracles have occurred today - firstly the sun has come out and secondly one of my tomato plants has got a flower bud! Overall, the tomato plants are looking very sorry for themselves but one of them seems to have embraced the bad weather. It is looking a bit bedraggled but I think it's finally embraceed grown up tomato plant life. Gone is the delicate, leggy plant I put outside a few weeks ago and in it's place is a tough "I can cope with anything life throws at me" grown up tomato plant looking ruggedly handsome and even thinking about producing flowers. Is it a case of treat em mean to keep em keen with tomato plants?! They all have some leaves with yellowy brown splotches on them but a couple only have this on the lower leaves and those near the top of the plant are looking much more healthy. should I just remove those leaves? I'm optimistic now that I may be able to save a couple of tomato plants.

Everything else is looking very defeated but I'm waiting to see whether they will revive over the next few days. I have sown some more carrots, beet and radishes today as backup.


ETA - spoke too soon. It's just started raining Please let it be a brief shower.

[Incy]

Whereabouts in Manchester are you tomato head? I may be able to help you with a healthy tomato plant or 2 to complement your straggly ones if you're close. Also I have spotted some for sale near me which might be a help to you. I would remove the lower yellow/brown leaves and let the plant put it's efforts into new growth/flowers.
The forecast for the next few days is reasonably dry with just a few showers so hopefully it will give everything a chance to recover.
It's definitely not too late to sow more things like beet/ radishes and the faster growing varieties of carrots so I hope you've made the most of the dryer weather today.

[Tomato Head]

Hi Incy - I'm in South Manchester - Chorlton to be exact. Where have you seen tomato plants for sale? Parkers in Flixton had some the other week when I was there - ones with tomatoes already forming. I was tempted to buy a couple then but held off as I'd rather grow my own than buy plants that already have tomatoes on them. If mine don't pick up I might go back and see if they still have them. I do still have my indoor tomato plants (red robin) so fingers crossed I can still get some tomatoes one way or another.

[Incy]

In Levenshulme Tomato Head so not far from you. There is a little community organic food shop near the baths that is selling them at the moment. I think B&Q Burnage also has some and I'm fairly sure that BUD will also sell them. BUD is a very small garden centre just off Kingsway on Omer Drive, which is only open Thursday to Sunday and bank holidays. Lovely little place selling quite a lot of locally grown organic stuff.
Anyway, if you do get stuck then give me a shout and I'll donate a plant or 2 for you from my small collection.

[Tomato Head]

Will take a look at those places, thanks. I'm still hoping that maybe my tomato plants will make it if we get a few dry days and I can get rid of some of the damaged leaves.

It's a bit of an emotional roller coaster this growing lark, isn't it? I knew I shouldn't have given my tomato plants names... I am very proud of little Colin though - he was the runt of the litter tbh, but I knew he'd come good and he's the one that's got a flower bud