Phil the non-gardeners garden

[Rapscallion]

Hi All, Phil the new boy back.

Have bought three tomato plants and have planted them. Have been told they are unusual varieties:-
- Chocolate stripes
- Fahrenheit blue
- Kumato

I have potted them in a mix of compost and farmyard manure (bought bagged from the garden centre).
Am I silly trying tomatoes without a greenhouse?
How best to look after the plants?
Is the location good? The fence behind runs approx sse, so the tomatoes will get direct sunlight from midmorning to an hour or 2 before sunset.

A picture of the plants, and one of the manure:-

[veggiechicken]

Hi Phil, I don't know where you live but here, in relatively warm South Wales, its too early to put tomatoes outside, especially with the cold overnight temperatures that the UK is having.
Can you bring them back indoors overnight or rig up some sort of frost protection over them.

[WendyC]

I would echo what VC says. I'm in the south east and don't put my tomatoes out until the third week in May. Have they been hardened off? If not you might find that even a windy day is too much for them. As far as success without a greenhouse goes, it depends on your location and whether they are varieties suitable for outdoor growing. What does the label say?

[Bigmallly]

I wouldn't put toms outside without protection till around the end of May to mid June.

[Jungle Jane]

I'd take the bamboo sticks out & bring them indoors soon,if the temp outside is 13 degrees they'l be fine.

[Rapscallion]

Bugger!

The only place I can bring them indoors is the garage! (we have 12 month old who will make a lot of mess if they are brought into the house!)
Will that mean I will have to take them in and out of the garage every day?
What sort of frost protection will be cheap and easy to cover them with?

PS I am in Cardiff, so pretty mild in UK standards.

[veggiechicken]

I'm in Cardiff too
If you want to put them in my greenhouse for a few weeks until the weather picks up, PM me - at your own risk mind

[Bigmallly]

I'd be tempted to put them in the garage overnight then for 10 squid, nip to W1lko's & fix one of these to your fence.

Wilko Tomato Greenhouse with PVC Cover at wilko.com

[muddled]

On another note....I can at least reassure you that the farenheit will do fine without a greenhouse (later in the season).

I'm growing farenheit myself this year. A lottie neightbour grew them last year and they looked so awesome that I begged some seeds of her to try for myself. Don't know about blue though....they're pure jet black when they're ripe!

[Penellype]

I'd be tempted to put them in the garage overnight then for 10 squid, nip to W1lko's & fix one of these to your fence.

Wilko Tomato Greenhouse with PVC Cover at wilko.com

Absolutely agree with BM - these tomato houses and similar items are great. The only thing you will need to be aware of is that they will blow away if it is windy. I solve the problem by putting house bricks on the bottom poles and on the edges of the cover.

[Rapscallion]

Thanks, all. Plants will be in garage tonight. My in-laws have a greenhouse with space, so will use that until I get one of the greenhouses mentioned. I may even get a slightly larger one so I can try growing and propagating a few more plants.

Thanks for the offer veggiechicken!

[veggiechicken]

Glad you're sorted Rapscallion. Did you buy the plants locally? I'm intrigued by the varieties - never heard of them before

[Rapscallion]

I bought them in the Riverside farmers market earlier today. One of the stalls that sell organic fruit and veg were selling them and I though id have a go.

[veggiechicken]

Thanks, I haven't been down there for ages! Definitely worth trying! You must save some seeds from them

[Jay22]

Tom blowaways £8 in Morries!