Tomato growing diary 2016

[Scoot]

Nice list Trixc, lots of tastes, colours and shapes
Artisan Bumble Bee varieties are all open pollinated, it's just they are mixed seeds in the packet. You should end up with Purple Bumble Bee, Pink Bumble Bee and the yellow I think is called Golden Bumble Bee. But whether the yellow one is the same as Sunrise Bumble Bee I'm not sure.

I'm growing Sunrise bumble Bee this year, perhaps we can compare notes later on?

Where do you get these different bumble bee tomato seeds from?

[Chris11]

Nice list Trixc, lots of tastes, colours and shapes
Artisan Bumble Bee varieties are all open pollinated, it's just they are mixed seeds in the packet. You should end up with Purple Bumble Bee, Pink Bumble Bee and the yellow I think is called Golden Bumble Bee. But whether the yellow one is the same as Sunrise Bumble Bee I'm not sure.

The three Artisan Bumble Bee types are known as Pink, Purple, and Sunrise.

It's frustrating that the seed companies aren't always accurate in their descriptions of what they're selling. Plants of Distinction sell all three types as well as the mix, but don't give the Sunrise name correctly in the mixed pack information.
TOMATO ARTISAN BUMBLE BEE SUNRISE SEEDS | New & Featured Vegetable Seeds

Confusion about whether they're F1s or open pollinated might have come from Suttons. Their website has the Bumble Bee plug plants wrongly described as F1s.
Suttons - Search Results for artisan bumble bee mix

Artisan Seeds are based in California, and they're also behind the Green Tiger, Pink Tiger, Lucky Tiger and Blush varieties.
Johnny's Selected Seeds - Superior Seeds & Gardening Tools

[Scarlet]

Any ideas why some of my tomato plants are growing well, whilst others are still tiny?

We're they germinated in a propagator or just on a windowsill, were they sown in small modules to start or individually in those pots?

[Scoot]

We're they germinated in a propagator or just on a windowsill, were they sown in small modules to start or individually in those pots?

They were all sown in modules on the windowsill.

[Scarlet]

On a windowsill germination rates can be very different so I'm not surprised that some are at different stages. If you have a propagator the constant even temp often means they all germinate at a similar time. I often do both methods and I get similar results to what you are seeing. Though your seedlings are nice and stocky, (not stretched/leggy) so they are off to a good start.

[MarkPelican]

I decided to wait with my list until I had got (at least some) germinated. I must say, I'm envious of the long lists of varieties that people are growing, I'm suffering from "variety reduction" planning to grow only 30 different varieties down from 70 a couple of years ago.

However, the only seed I've bought this year has been Crimson Crush and Mountain Magic, all the others are my own seed or swapped. With the reduction in plants, keeping my favourites is proving to be a problem.

Until I joined this forum, I didn't realise how much seed swapping went on!

[Scoot]

On a windowsill germination rates can be very different so I'm not surprised that some are at different stages. If you have a propagator the constant even temp often means they all germinate at a similar time. I often do both methods and I get similar results to what you are seeing. Though your seedlings are nice and stocky, (not stretched/leggy) so they are off to a good start.

Oh well, that's good to know.

[brownfingers]

Has anyone still got some of the experimental ones given away last year? I've just sown half a dozen seeds I had left. I was lucky and got a packet with over a dozen seeds in. I must say though, I wasn't too impressed with them last year.

[Scarlet]

Just off to take my toms out for their daily visit to the garden. The weather forcast last night was for temps around 8.... I just couldn't chance it just yet. I'll be he keeping an eye on the night time temps for a while yet.
[
March sown toms

Feb sown toms.
All grown on a sunny windowsill - no grow lights here

[jackarmy]

Doesnt look like you need growlights Scarlet, they all look great
btw, i think i spotted an F1, shame on you

ps, cant take mine up gh yet, its persistantly peeing down

[Scarlet]

Ha, the kids love Sungold ...they have a sweet tooth!

[Scarlet]

Yes, rain for my Mum in Caerphilly. Not so wet after the bridge!

Anyone else trying Or tried Mrs Rucks, garden peach and Lima korai?

[Lisasbolt]

They look very healthy scarlet.

I will be starting to plant mine out this coming week/weekend

[SusieG]

Wow Scarlet, they look wonderful specimens!
Mine are still tiny in comparison. And, as you know, I've been a bit of a bully with mine - having left them in the GH overnight, thought I'd leave 'em to it and wait and see.
Up to today, they seem OK ...

[Lumpy]

Quite forlorn looking so to teach them a lesson they went outside this afternoon. It is supposed to be really warm tomorrow so they might go out for the day so they can practise being big, healthy toms........some hope!