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What's wrong with my cherry tomatoes?! First time attempt!

gilla.walmsleygilla.walmsley Posts: 339
in Fruit & veg
I had my first attempt at growing veg this year. My cherry tomatoes germinated prolifically (I now have about 75 tomato plants  :D) but a lot of them have this powdery dry strange look on the leaves. Some of my other (flower) young plants have something similar too. They have all been out in the storms of the last two weeks, not sure if that's the problem! (I did harden them off gradually over a couple of weeks or more). All advice welcomed!

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Too early, and cold,  for them to be out, especially when they're so small.
    They need protection until night time temps are in double figures consistently. 
    Unfortunately, with that amount, that may be difficult!

    In warmer areas, you would normally be able to be getting them hardened off now for outdoor growing, ready to plant out in June, but this spring has been colder so many people have had them indoors far longer than normal. In cold, wet areas, they need to be grown undercover all season.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • gilla.walmsleygilla.walmsley Posts: 339
    Hmm thank you! The packet told me I could harden them off after the last frost (which for London was end of April, and April was a lovely month itself) so I did... Not expecting the end-of-the-world storms we've had for the last two weeks, although it has still been pretty mild! Ah well - thank you Fairygirl!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They're very small to be outside in cold weather.  :)
    It's the night time temps which can set them back, as well as wind and rain. That's why we can't grow outside here.  Weather isn't suitable for them at all. Mine are almost fruiting, but I'm only just getting them out in the greenhouse for a while through the day. Just not warm enough. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • gilla.walmsleygilla.walmsley Posts: 339
    Thanks so much for the advice - I feel a bit stupid!! It might be colder where you are but west (or South West) Scotland happens to be one of my favourite places in the whole world  :)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    No need to feel stupid @gilla.walmsley. The problem with seed packet info is that it's very generalised. It took me a long time to realise that our season is a month later than the south  :)
    You would normally be able to have them acclimatised just now, especially if you're in a town, but this year has been tricky. It's made no great difference here, although it's still been a bit colder than usual, and I would usually have my toms in the greenhouse by now. 
    Yours are quite small though, but once it warms up, they'll crack on quite quickly. If you sow indoors in about mid March, they should grow quite quickly, and that would give you ideal timing for hardening off and planting outside in most years. Maybe don't sow so many next time though  ;)
    Our weather can be difficult at times, but I couldn't live anywhere else  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • gilla.walmsleygilla.walmsley Posts: 339
    I think I sowed everything this year a bit early in my excitement and desperation for the spring to arrive!! I've grown a total of 175 plants between flowers and veg - considering I don't have a greenhouse yet, it's been a bit much!! Next year I'll hold off until mid march... and perhaps do just a few less! Thanks ever so much for your help
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    No probs. You're not the only person on the forum who's sown a bit early and got caught out. I don't think I've ever seen so many queries about toms as this year, as well as shrubs and other plants affected by the colder spring   :)
    If you can protect a batch of the toms and let them get growing a bit more, that will at least ensure you get a crop. The rest will have to take their chances, and you might be lucky with some!
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • gilla.walmsleygilla.walmsley Posts: 339
    thanks Fairygirl - when you say protect - any advice on what with? Should I buy something?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If you have space on windowsills, or if you have a conservatory or porch, that will be ideal, just for the next week or so. I think temps are going to be better by the weekend in most areas, so that will help.
    The other option is one of those plastic growhouses, but they don't offer much protection from cold. If you can get one very cheaply in those shops like Home Bargains etc, that might be worth while for this year though, and maybe for future use just to harden off small plants in spring. It depends how keen you are to protect lots of them. I used one for a few years, but they get annihilated by the weather here, so they aren't great long term. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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