The 2013 Early Tomato Sowing Thread

[spanish_gardener]

Reached 45-60cm. tall and have their first flowers.

[Stonewaller]

Had my first tom off the Latah last week. More will be edible in a couple of days or so and there are plenty more on their way. Grushovka (also from Real seeds) will probably be ready for eating by the end of the month. Both types were sown 5 Jan and spent most of their life on the bedroom windowsill, the low light levels this year prevented them getting too gangly as once the sun came out they shot up and were banished to the garden, coming indoors at night if temps dropped.
Other toms were planted later and don't even have flowers yet, they're out in the blowaway.

[mothhawk]

Picked the first 2 Red Alert toms today, from the plant that is still on my windowsill. I started 3 in January, two are outside with a bit of protection (an open blowaway) and have flowers that are setting. They lost a lot of leaves from the cold when I first put them out but seem to be filling out again now.

[Tripmeup]

Have to check later what variety it is, but first fruit of the year for me..

[Noosner]

Anyone here grow Latah? I'm unsure whether to pick out the side shoots or not and would be v grateful for any advice.

[mesteve]

Hi all another newbe finding my way around

[GardenNinja]

Early tomato sowings are coming along

Sungold sown 5th February and planted out 2nd May


Kootenai sown 30th January and planted out 9th April


Black from Tula sown 5th February and planted out 1st May

[Mikey]

Anyone here grow Latah? I'm unsure whether to pick out the side shoots or not and would be v grateful for any advice.

Is it the bush variety (determinate) or the cordon (Indeterminate) that you have, if its the latter you take out the side shoots as the fruit comes off trusses from the main stem, whereas you don't on the bush form, as the fruits bares on the side shoots.

[Noosner]

Is it the bush variety (determinate) or the cordon (Indeterminate) that you have, if its the latter you take out the side shoots as the fruit comes off trusses from the main stem, whereas you don't on the bush form, as the fruits bares on the side shoots.

Hi Mikey and thanks. I think it's the bush form but I'm not entirely sure. Anyway, have decided to go with not pinching out!

[Irish-Veg]

Cant wait for these babies to ripen on my tumblr, and surrounded by tonnes of green tomatoes on different varieties, its like waiting for Santa!

how long do tomatoes on average take to ripen btw? a cherry tom for example?

[GardenNinja]

Can any other tomato beat Sungold in terms of taste AND earliness? I have the first two fruits ripening and almost ready to pick.

how long do tomatoes on average take to ripen btw? a cherry tom for example?

It really depends on the variety, Irish-Veg. As stated above, my Sungold is already ripening while my Black Cherry plant that is in the same earthbox is taking its sweet time with fruits smaller than a pea at the moment.

[redser]

Can any other tomato beat Sungold in terms of taste AND earliness? I have the first two fruits ripening and almost ready to pick.

Maskotka in a pot. Been eating them for about three weeks now. Sown second week of February (I think). Lovely taste too, not as sweet as sungold but then the sweetness thing isn't everything.

[GardenNinja]

Are your plants grown in a greenhouse or outside, redser? I can only grow toms outdoors.

[redser]

I sowed 4 at the same time. 3 of them went into the polytunnel around the first of June and I kept one outside the back door. They were already turning at this stage and I had my first one within a few days. Up to this point they were kept on the window ledge at home or put outside when the weather was good duiring the day. The ones in the tunnel are pumping out more than the one outside but that's fine. They are a great early variety, and if you keep them in pots instead of the ground they seem to force the fruit a bit earlier too.

Followed this lady's advice on them and she was true to her word ...
Tomato Report 2012

[Noosner]

I sowed 4 at the same time. 3 of them went into the polytunnel around the first of June and I kept one outside the back door. They were already turning at this stage and I had my first one within a few days. Up to this point they were kept on the window ledge at home or put outside when the weather was good duiring the day. The ones in the tunnel are pumping out more than the one outside but that's fine. They are a great early variety, and if you keep them in pots instead of the ground they seem to force the fruit a bit earlier too.

Followed this lady's advice on them and she was true to her word ...
Tomato Report 2012

Wow, thanks for posting that tomato report, Redser. This is my first year of growing lots of different varieties, encouraged by my purchase of a mini lean-to greenhouse (which although it can only take 6 plants, has made a real difference). Some of my early sown toms went leggy indoors - could I have prevented that by putting them outside regularly before they finally went out?