well, it's been v warm and sunny here this week and as a result, my toms have rather exploded... they're looking pretty good I think. Not as leggy as mine usually get from being indoors, I presume because it's been so sunny - and still is. Weather has got chillier though (now about max 15C by day min 7C by night forecast for the next week) so I'm wondering what to do with them! I think I should probably get another tray to spread them out a bit as they've got rather bushy. That won't make me wildly popular at home - they're in our living room...
I assume though that the forecast nighttime temps are still just too low for me to move them into my small coldframe? Either way, I'll have to keep them in these 3" pots until they're ready to go into final positions (big pots in front of south facing wall).
Any advice appreciated! I'm even half wondering, given there are so many, whether to simply put a few into the coldframe and see if they turn blue?!
I guess I can do the moving them out by day and bringing them in at night thing. It's only really laziness that stops me!
Moving them into slightly larger pots is probably a good call. I've tended, for reasons of space / lethargy, to just go straight from 3" pots to final positions.
Crikey, they're giants! 7C overnight won't hurt them at this stage in a cold frame. Mine are outside on the terrace without protection overnight at temps not much higher.
I wouldn't bother potting them up. They're not long away from being planted out and toms don't mind being a bit pot-bound at this stage. Transplanting gives the roots a wee shock which is good for them. It stimulates them.
I'm in North Devon and we have tomatoes for sale at Waitrose and they're out overnight and don't seem to have come to any harm ( which surprises me ). Overnight down to around 4C.
I don't quite know what's happened, Italophile! They've practically doubled in size this week. It did feel like mid-summer some days though so I guess that's the power of the sun...
Hmm... Perhaps the coldframe it is... Fact is I'm right in central London, my coldframe is on a south facing wall (of the house) so I wouldn't think even if forecast minimums are say 7, it could get too cold or that they'd suffer too much?
If I don't repot them, they'd be manageable enough to still be brought inside if it suddenly gets much colder.
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well, it's been v warm and sunny here this week and as a result, my toms have rather exploded... they're looking pretty good I think. Not as leggy as mine usually get from being indoors, I presume because it's been so sunny - and still is. Weather has got chillier though (now about max 15C by day min 7C by night forecast for the next week) so I'm wondering what to do with them! I think I should probably get another tray to spread them out a bit as they've got rather bushy. That won't make me wildly popular at home - they're in our living room...
I assume though that the forecast nighttime temps are still just too low for me to move them into my small coldframe? Either way, I'll have to keep them in these 3" pots until they're ready to go into final positions (big pots in front of south facing wall).
Any advice appreciated! I'm even half wondering, given there are so many, whether to simply put a few into the coldframe and see if they turn blue?!
Can you put them outside in the sunshine during the day and bring them in at night?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Moving them into slightly larger pots is probably a good call. I've tended, for reasons of space / lethargy, to just go straight from 3" pots to final positions.
Thanks all.
Crikey, they're giants! 7C overnight won't hurt them at this stage in a cold frame. Mine are outside on the terrace without protection overnight at temps not much higher.
I wouldn't bother potting them up. They're not long away from being planted out and toms don't mind being a bit pot-bound at this stage. Transplanting gives the roots a wee shock which is good for them. It stimulates them.
See above, Bf. Don't bother potting them up. Mine live in 3" plastic disposble coffee cups from first transplant till planting out.
I'm in North Devon and we have tomatoes for sale at Waitrose and they're out overnight and don't seem to have come to any harm ( which surprises me ). Overnight down to around 4C.
Hmm... Perhaps the coldframe it is... Fact is I'm right in central London, my coldframe is on a south facing wall (of the house) so I wouldn't think even if forecast minimums are say 7, it could get too cold or that they'd suffer too much?
If I don't repot them, they'd be manageable enough to still be brought inside if it suddenly gets much colder.
As you're in Central London , you'll benefit from the " heat island effect" I think a cold frame would give adequate protection.