So, this is the small forest of tom plants currently occupying the south-facing windowsill in my kids' room...
On the whole, I'm reasonably happy so far. Some leginess, which I always get as the light levels aren't brilliant, but once I bury them deeply into bigger pots they seem to recover fine. Ultimately I'm going to have to throw away about half so can keep the strongest. I reckon they range from 15-25cm in height.
What are people's views on when these are ready to go into my coldframe to harden off? It's not practical for me with work to have them outside and then bring them in at night but I'll probably just have them in the coldframe with the lid open during the day and then hopefully remember to close it at night.
Maybe another week indoors, a week in the coldframe then into final pots/positions?Thanks all!
Hi bf206, well I guess it all depends on where you live. If in England, I would think you could put them in the cold frame now, if further north then leave till early June as there can still be a late frost. I don't grow mine outside at all as in Aberdeenshire, you need a good years weather to guarantee a decent crop, so mine are in a greenhouse. I am going to try a few in hanging baskets outside this year just to see what happens.
have a look at my video http://youtu.be/fEhng2J6a-c part 3 of my growing tomatoes videos and let me know what you think, if you haven't already done so. It covers the potting up of tomatoes that are at about the same stage As yours.
I'm in Southwark, South London so it's not so much frost I'm conscious of, more these squally showers which I don't want to expose my toms to yet! So, they've gone into the coldframe... There are about 25 of them, which I'll need to halve for space reasons! I'll wait a few days and see how they cope. I'll see if the neighbours want any...
Hello Simon, I grow greenhouse tomatoes by the "Ring Culture" method. Are you familiar with it? I have used this method successfully for over 40 years.
Hi Dictamnus, yes I am familiar with the ring culture method and I know that lots of Gardeners swear by it. I think it provides a bit more forgiveness in watering, as there tends to be more water available in the gravel mix. Good luck with yours this year!
I'm going to link this thread to my OH who is seemingly besotted with his tomatoes, he has four plugs from Suttons which are doing fantastically size and growth wise in the greenhouse but aren't flowering yet like the grafted plant he bought from a GC, should he be concerned?
At an estimate they're about 60CMs tall, and are being kept in pots inside a plastic greenhouse.
Also he has sown some tomato seeds two weeks ago, and they aren't showing, is germination slow, or was he a bit late to be sowing?
Hi sweet pea 93, I think the 60cm high ones will flower within 1 week, so should be fine. The seeds, usually only take a few days to come through, so 2 weeks seems a long time! Give them another week and if not through buy some plants! Good luck.
SP93, not even the very first indications of flowers? Absolutely miniature versions that will develop? Some varieties will take longer than others. What varieties are they?
In the meantime, how big are the pots? How warm does it get in the greenhouse?
It's not too late to sow in terms of germination. The seeds should be sown no deeper than they are thick - which is to say, very shallow, just covered with mix. The mix should be kept damp, not wet, and the ideal temp for germination is in the 20sC, warmth preferably from underneath.
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So, this is the small forest of tom plants currently occupying the south-facing windowsill in my kids' room...
On the whole, I'm reasonably happy so far. Some leginess, which I always get as the light levels aren't brilliant, but once I bury them deeply into bigger pots they seem to recover fine. Ultimately I'm going to have to throw away about half so can keep the strongest. I reckon they range from 15-25cm in height.
What are people's views on when these are ready to go into my coldframe to harden off? It's not practical for me with work to have them outside and then bring them in at night but I'll probably just have them in the coldframe with the lid open during the day and then hopefully remember to close it at night.
Maybe another week indoors, a week in the coldframe then into final pots/positions?Thanks all!
Hi bf206, well I guess it all depends on where you live. If in England, I would think you could put them in the cold frame now, if further north then leave till early June as there can still be a late frost. I don't grow mine outside at all as in Aberdeenshire, you need a good years weather to guarantee a decent crop, so mine are in a greenhouse. I am going to try a few in hanging baskets outside this year just to see what happens.
have a look at my video http://youtu.be/fEhng2J6a-c part 3 of my growing tomatoes videos and let me know what you think, if you haven't already done so. It covers the potting up of tomatoes that are at about the same stage As yours.
good luck with the tomatoes!
I started my tomatoes at the start of dec last year. checkout my latest post. and here is a link to my latest youtube vid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnxn512EPFM
please feel free to like, comment or even subscribe.
Hello Simon, I grow greenhouse tomatoes by the "Ring Culture" method. Are you familiar with it? I have used this method successfully for over 40 years.
Hi Dictamnus, yes I am familiar with the ring culture method and I know that lots of Gardeners swear by it. I think it provides a bit more forgiveness in watering, as there tends to be more water available in the gravel mix. Good luck with yours this year!
Rusty spade - I enjoyed your videos! Thanks.
I'm going to link this thread to my OH who is seemingly besotted with his tomatoes, he has four plugs from Suttons which are doing fantastically size and growth wise in the greenhouse but aren't flowering yet like the grafted plant he bought from a GC, should he be concerned?
At an estimate they're about 60CMs tall, and are being kept in pots inside a plastic greenhouse.
Also he has sown some tomato seeds two weeks ago, and they aren't showing, is germination slow, or was he a bit late to be sowing?
SP93, not even the very first indications of flowers? Absolutely miniature versions that will develop? Some varieties will take longer than others. What varieties are they?
In the meantime, how big are the pots? How warm does it get in the greenhouse?
It's not too late to sow in terms of germination. The seeds should be sown no deeper than they are thick - which is to say, very shallow, just covered with mix. The mix should be kept damp, not wet, and the ideal temp for germination is in the 20sC, warmth preferably from underneath.