The most important thing is to be consistent with your regime. Watering when the foliage is drooping slightly and the top layer of compost is drying out is an ideal method, but if you do that, then stick to that. If you water slightly more frequently, don't then leave them for a week without any. You're more likely to have fruits splitting if you're inconsistent.
Mine have to be undercover through summer as we don't get consistent night time temps, so I would have to water slightly more than someone with plants outdoors in the ground, for instance. Ventilation is important too.
Once you get a feel for what suits your conditions, it becomes much easier
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
With all the advice I have received I should have the best tomatoes in the land! So thanks for all your input. Yes ventilation is important - in my childhood I remember the vents of my family's greenhouses being opened and closed daily - (they were called "lights") but I know that they are mostly automatically controlled nowadays - later I worked at an engineering company where their computerized watering & ventilation systems were being installed in most large vineries.
GD - you'll be fine. Sometimes we make thing more complicated than is necessary. Tomatoes are often seen as difficult but they're not really any worse than anything else! If you have any problems as you go along - get a pic on and you'll get plenty of advice.
Go with your gut instinct as far as watering and feeding is concerned. Too much food is unneccessary so that's one of the main things to remember. Other than that, plant deep each time you pot on, and remove sideshoots. Something I'm not sure has been mentioned is support - get those in earlier rather than later - the stems break easily as they mature. I can vouch for that...
And then enjoy seeing them take shape - and then eating them!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks Fairygirl and all other contributors - yes I will keep you up-to-date with their progress once they have germinated. Pleased to see that 8 of my courgette seeds have germinated (out of about 16) so far - I learned that sowing the seeds on their side is better than laying them flat as I have done in the past. Will try doing that with my squash seeds too.
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The most important thing is to be consistent with your regime. Watering when the foliage is drooping slightly and the top layer of compost is drying out is an ideal method, but if you do that, then stick to that. If you water slightly more frequently, don't then leave them for a week without any. You're more likely to have fruits splitting if you're inconsistent.
Mine have to be undercover through summer as we don't get consistent night time temps, so I would have to water slightly more than someone with plants outdoors in the ground, for instance. Ventilation is important too.
Once you get a feel for what suits your conditions, it becomes much easier
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
With all the advice I have received I should have the best tomatoes in the land! So thanks for all your input. Yes ventilation is important - in my childhood I remember the vents of my family's greenhouses being opened and closed daily - (they were called "lights") but I know that they are mostly automatically controlled nowadays - later I worked at an engineering company where their computerized watering & ventilation systems were being installed in most large vineries.
GD - you'll be fine. Sometimes we make thing more complicated than is necessary. Tomatoes are often seen as difficult but they're not really any worse than anything else! If you have any problems as you go along - get a pic on and you'll get plenty of advice.
Go with your gut instinct as far as watering and feeding is concerned. Too much food is unneccessary so that's one of the main things to remember. Other than that, plant deep each time you pot on, and remove sideshoots. Something I'm not sure has been mentioned is support - get those in earlier rather than later - the stems break easily as they mature. I can vouch for that...
And then enjoy seeing them take shape - and then eating them!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks Fairygirl and all other contributors - yes I will keep you up-to-date with their progress once they have germinated. Pleased to see that 8 of my courgette seeds have germinated (out of about 16) so far - I learned that sowing the seeds on their side is better than laying them flat as I have done in the past. Will try doing that with my squash seeds too.