Tomato growing diary 2016

[Scarlet]

I agree with Maverick.stick it in a pot and give it some support. Where did you get the seeds from? It doesn't look like a "tumbler" , there just aren't enough side shoots sprouting. I think it is a cordon...could you have got your seeds muddled up? What else are you growing?

[vixylix]

I thought that Scarlet - it looks nothing like any pics I can find. The seeds are F1s from Seed Parade - definitely the right packet. Whether the right seeds are in there who knows!! I'm growing 9 different types, which were all very carefully labelled - and everything else is definitely a cordon.

I'll shift it into a MFB this weekend - I've not been taking off any sideshoots so hopefully there'll be a couple I can root as Martin suggested.

Thanks both - I may not know what I'm doing most of the time, but my instincts are good

[Scarlet]

I'f only you lived closer! Ive half a dozen spare that I'll be binning later. Just not enough room. I really can't believe that's a bush variety. They usually start throwing out lots of side shoots early on, cordons can grow a foot or more before you see a side shoot and they they are a little slower growing. How many did you sow, are they all growing like that?
If you take a side shoot out you'll have a twin of the same plant - if you want a basket/bush variety dont take a side shoot off that one.

[vixylix]

Hmm good point - I have three and they all look exactly the same. Not a problem though - I'll grow them in pots this year and stick something else in the basket

and poor tumblers scarlet!!

[Scarlet]

I do give them away but I loose all my pots

[bramble]

The very same complaint from me as well Scrlet.
In spite of asking can the pots be returned it usually doesnt happen. I actually had to buy a good few pots this year.

[vixylix]

I got a load of my little pots back from my little brother at the weekend... I was shocked. I fully expected never to see them again!

[Scarlet]

I think peeps think that they are easily replaced but decent ones don't come cheap. A few times lately when ive given plants away ive taken them out of the pot and put them in those veg/mushroom/meat trays.

[Penellype]

One of the tomatoes on a January sown Shirley plant is just starting to turn red this evening

[maverick451]

The outdoor tomatoes are being outside now during the day and bought in at night, ill probably do that until next weekend or so

[veggiechicken]

I thought that Scarlet - it looks nothing like any pics I can find. The seeds are F1s from Seed Parade - definitely the right packet. Whether the right seeds are in there who knows!! I'm growing 9 different types, which were all very carefully labelled - and everything else is definitely a cordon.

I have dubious "Tumbler" toms too. Mine are from Just Seed, bought end of last year.

Tumbler


Tumbling Tom on left and Tumbler on right.

[forgetmenot]

My toms are all in their final pots now. Can't beat B&Q buckets!!

I did realise though as I potted them on that I need to label every seedling next year. This year I did 1 label per each type of toms but as they all grew at different stages and I potted them, they all got separated from each other and now I have 'pot luck' varieties!!

[vixylix]

Glad its not just me VC!

[Chris11]

Earliest tomatoes are now in final tubs outdoors.
Others still at the potting up to encourage root growth and/or hardening off stage.

Growing list now revised:

Aranyalma
Pantano (not particularly productive in previous years in GH, trying outdoors this year)
Roma
'Survivor' unknown volunteer
Urbikany
Sunset's Red Horizon
Green Zebra
Transparent
MrF Tigerella
Mini Orange
MrF Red Cherry
MrF San Marzano 2 (not recovered from feline damage, hoping Jersey Devils will replace)
Black Truffle (zero germination, old seeds)
Spanish Big Globe (grown outdoors previously, in GH this year hoping to get better results)
White Queen
Gardeners Delight (ran out of space, not growing this year)
Black Cherry (ran out of space, not growing this year, growing Chocolate Cherry instead)
Black & Brown Boar (slow growing so far)
Sandpoint
Purple Ukraine
Peacevine Cherry
Orange Banana
Black Icicle
Incas F1 (will be comparing to Roma)
Golden Cherry F1
St Pierre (slow germination, sowed more, now I've got too many so will give some away)
Gold Rush Currant (not earliest sown, but earliest to final position outdoors)
Alicante (slow germination, sowed more, now I've got too many so will give some away)
Summer Cider (thanks MP, they're doing well so far )
Rio Grande (no germination, want to try again next year and compare to Roma)
Chocolate Cherry
Azoychka
Jersey Devil (sown a bit later than ideal, but seem to be catching up )

[Scarlet]

Pantano (not particularly productive in previous years in GH, trying outdoors this year

I think it will struggle outdoors especially as we've had a cold Spring. I use a double cordon method under glass and stop early.