Rain won't hurt them beyond wetting the foliage. Aim for air circulation as a means of helping against fungal problems.
Plenty of room between the plants, and as they grow upwards, nip off the lower branches and foliage to keep 12-18" of clear space between the lowest foliage and the mix. Fungal spores will turn up, there's no escaping them, and they can and will drop from the foliage down onto the mix. Watering can splash them back up again. The clear space helps against this.
And don't be afraid to thin out foliage across the plant. Judiciously, obviously, you don't want to denude the thing, but you want to be able to see light through all the foliage. Impenetrable clumps of foliage work against air circulation and are heaven for fungal spores.
Here's that tom I photographed (above) when planting out. 9 days later:
It's a Jaune Negib, a yellow French heirloom, pretty unremarkable apart from being very early - around 60 days - and a unique creamy after taste. I grow about half a dozen plants for fruit to make yellow tomato relish.
Thanks for the further tips. I think I've got the plants pretty well spread. The pots they're in are big. I haven't tied them in yet but the canes are in situ ready.
Forecast on the whole doesn't look terrible, after last night's heavy rain. mid to high teens by day but mild nights too as quite a lot of cloud around. Only a few showers which is no bad thing.
I made space in my conservatory for 18 plants (might be a little cramped) so that's what I have (+ a few spares which unless some fail in the next month or so will go to my dad).
I was too late last year so my cherry tomatoes never quite came to their full potential (still in flower in September!), is there a chance I will be overrun this year instead? I'm not too concerned, I get through a lot of tomatoes!
I think more is better - if you've the room! I definitely wouldn't say the same about, say, courgettes, where I think one plant is more than enough...
I've found in recent years it's nice to diversify with a range of tomato varities. If you do end up with loads, making pasta sauce or soup uses lots of them very quickly too.
Grow as many as you have space for and you'll have time to care for. There will always be someone happy to take excess off your hands. Space is the key. Overcrowding works against air circulation hence upping any fungal problems.
Posts
Rain won't hurt them beyond wetting the foliage. Aim for air circulation as a means of helping against fungal problems.
Plenty of room between the plants, and as they grow upwards, nip off the lower branches and foliage to keep 12-18" of clear space between the lowest foliage and the mix. Fungal spores will turn up, there's no escaping them, and they can and will drop from the foliage down onto the mix. Watering can splash them back up again. The clear space helps against this.
And don't be afraid to thin out foliage across the plant. Judiciously, obviously, you don't want to denude the thing, but you want to be able to see light through all the foliage. Impenetrable clumps of foliage work against air circulation and are heaven for fungal spores.
Here's that tom I photographed (above) when planting out. 9 days later:
It's a Jaune Negib, a yellow French heirloom, pretty unremarkable apart from being very early - around 60 days - and a unique creamy after taste. I grow about half a dozen plants for fruit to make yellow tomato relish.
Looks very green and healthy...
Thanks for the further tips. I think I've got the plants pretty well spread. The pots they're in are big. I haven't tied them in yet but the canes are in situ ready.
Forecast on the whole doesn't look terrible, after last night's heavy rain. mid to high teens by day but mild nights too as quite a lot of cloud around. Only a few showers which is no bad thing.
Oh, is that a lot then?
I made space in my conservatory for 18 plants (might be a little cramped) so that's what I have (+ a few spares which unless some fail in the next month or so will go to my dad).
I was too late last year so my cherry tomatoes never quite came to their full potential (still in flower in September!), is there a chance I will be overrun this year instead? I'm not too concerned, I get through a lot of tomatoes!
I think more is better - if you've the room! I definitely wouldn't say the same about, say, courgettes, where I think one plant is more than enough...
I've found in recent years it's nice to diversify with a range of tomato varities. If you do end up with loads, making pasta sauce or soup uses lots of them very quickly too.
Grow as many as you have space for and you'll have time to care for. There will always be someone happy to take excess off your hands. Space is the key. Overcrowding works against air circulation hence upping any fungal problems.