Advice Needed For My Tomatoes

[Gillykat]

As you can *hopefully* see from the pic below my Gardeners Delight tomatoes are looking a wee bit sorry for themselves This is my first time at growing anything that is not a flower so ANY advice will be gratefully received.

I started them at home on 3rd March on a south-facing windowsill and moved them to the greenhouse on the allotment (again south-facing) about three weeks ago. A couple of you guys mentioned that they were looking a bit pale due to lack of enough light. Since moving to the greenhouse the top leaves of a couple have become a lot darker and side shoots began to develop....which I have removed. Yesterday I decided to plant them out into the poly tunnel beds to give them more root room and mixed in a load of compost and watered it in before putting the plants in and giving them a good water. They didn't seem to be pot bound when I removed them from their pots but there was good root growth.

What I'm wondering is....should I start feeding them now or will the extra root room they will now have be sufficient for a few more weeks and then I start feeding? They don't give me the impression of being 'diseased' - just rather pale and 'unhappy' Could they be lacking in certain minerals which feeding will help?

And....is it worth my while persevering with them or should I consign them to the compost heap. I've sown some more seeds in the greenhouse so if I have to write these six off it won't be a complete disaster - more of a learning curve

[fishpond]

The new growth looks healthy so just water and feed and put some supports in before the roots get damaged.

[Bigmallly]

You're not on your own Gilly. Mine are also struggling this year, I put it down to the stoopid weather. I still think it's a bit cold for them, we need some sun & quick. I also sprayed mine with Epsom salts as they were looking pale & yellowish. They are still growing but rather slowly.

[Bill HH]

They look ok to me, I think they will soon green up,I start to feed mine when they develop flowers. What does worry me a little is that they seem a bit close together,In a month or so you will have an inpenertrable jungle. However I am a demented pensioner so don't dig them up on my account.

[marchogaeth]

I think they look too close, too. I would feed them. While it could just be the weather, bottom leaves fading can be nutrient related.

[Jungle Jane]

Plants sulk a bit when they're moved,I think yours will be fine. Do you have any supports for them,they can grow to 5 or 6 ft,it's easier to stick bamboo in now,you know where the rootball is. I've fed my plants once a month with a high nitrogen feed to keep the leaves green,when they have trusses of flowers I swap to high potassium feed. Mixing some grass cuttings into the soil adds nitrogen,I did it to one of my plants & the leaves went quite darkish green. I don't know if it's a good idea though,just thought I'd try it. Also you could raise the soil level higher around the base of the stem if you want,the hairs on the stem grow new roots.

[Guest]

They look fine to me. Mine are in a similar state as they have been in their pots a touch too long and exhausted the compost. As already mentioned get some support in. Start to feed when they get their first flowers. As they are close together remove leaves below and upto each truss of fruit as they form to help improve air flow. I wouldn't move I plant mine close and (touch wood) have never had issues

[Gillykat]

Thank you all SO much - you've put my mind at ease

I'll put some supports in tomorrow and, possibly, move them slightly further apart (they should be ok - they've only been in the poly tunnel 24hrs).

I think next year I shall wait just a little bit longer before I sow my seeds I got a bit over-enthusiastic this year as I'd just got my allotment Having a late Spring didn't help either, did it!

[NatalieCooke]

They look better then mine.
I'm a little worried about mine. Some of the lower leaves are turning purple. I might spray them with some Epsom salts tomorrow.

[skeggijon]

They look fine to me. I don't have anything to add to other peoples advice, except that I've been experimenting with spraying my toms once a week with disolved aspirin and they seem to be loving it, so could be worth a try

[Scarlet]

I'll put some supports in tomorrow and, possibly, move them slightly further apart (they should be ok - they've only been in the poly tunnel 24hrs).

If you are going to move them, space them at least 18inches apart, plant them deeper and stake them at the same time. They look pretty good apart from the lower leaves and they will probably colour up when they get their feet in some new soil.

[bramble]

Join the club. We all rush in too quickly after the winter. I think they look fine and once they settle in they,l take off no bother.
Good luck and keep us posted on the progress.

[Gillykat]

Thanks for all the great advice everyone

I moved them further apart and staked them and buried them a touch deeper yesterday and when I checked the plot today they still seemed happy (ie they hadn't keeled over )