Indoor Tomatoes Anyone..?

**burnie** · 24-07-2009, 09:35 PM

Growing in the winter of anything is hit and miss due to short daylight hours.With tomatoes you've also got to polinate and ripen,the ones grown in the Canaries don't taste of much,so I wouldn't expect much from our dismal winters,good luck however interesting idea.

**bramble** · 24-07-2009, 09:41 PM

Braders, If you want to try, go right ahead ,but with our dismal autumn and winter skies and lack of sunlight i have to say you are wasting your time.

**rustylady** · 25-07-2009, 05:19 AM

Seems like a lot of bother to me, and I don't have any spare room.

**rana** · 25-07-2009, 06:05 AM

Rejoice in the seasonal nature of food crops and accept that the tomato is a summer fruit and grow something else for the winter. (eg. leeks, brussels etc.)

**Two_Sheds** · 25-07-2009, 07:02 AM

I agree with all the above, and with my customary bluntness: "don't waste your time". Tomatoes are tricky enough to grow in our "summer"

**sarraceniac** · 25-07-2009, 07:11 AM

Not often I'm in the majority (I'm known locally for trying 'impossible' plants) but I agree with the consensus. You might manage it if you spend a fortune on grow-lights and keeping the temperature up. As Bramble points out, and everybody else implies, it is not just heat you need but sunlight for long periods or you just get forced, sickly plants. And who wants tomatoes at �20 a lb?

**cupcake** · 25-07-2009, 07:24 AM

I know alot of the chilli-heads in the USA and Canada do this kind of thing, but I think that as Sarra says it's a way to inferior expensive tomatoes. I think that as gardeners we grow and enjoy seasonal veg that is packed full of taste (hopefully) and vitamins.We can tweak Nature, but I don't think we can improve on it. (is that English?)

**gojiberry** · 25-07-2009, 09:13 AM

I don't eat a lot of fresh tomatoes in the winter, but I do like them to add flavour to cooked dishes. So I always grow enough to dry and make into puree's for winter use. Having done this I don't see the need to go to all the trouble just for the odd requirement of a fresh tomato.

Ian

**zazen999** · 25-07-2009, 09:15 AM

If I get enough to, I oven dry and freeze them. They can pep up a meal during mid winter like that. I also use beetroot and mayo in place of them for winter salads......gotta have some red on the plate.

**shirlthegirl43** · 25-07-2009, 11:16 AM

I overwintered some miniature tomatoes (Robin F1) last year and planted up cuttings in the spring. They kept going on my kitchen windowsill quite well but no flowers due to low light. I will be doing the same again this year as I can't find the seeds anywhere. If I ever get a fruit to ripen overwinter I will let you all know

**Sanjed** · 26-07-2009, 05:16 PM

I grew a few from seeds i'd saved last year, only one of them survived and i also have propagated it into a few more plants through taking cuttings. i'm thinking of taking cuttings from the cuttings before the first frost and growing them indoors overwinter again to see how long i can keep the variety going.

I'm not sure how that will work in terms of plant maturity, but i guess i'll just have to try it and see.

** i grew them from seeds started last october. this post doesn't make sense unless i tell you that.

**braders** · 11-08-2009, 10:46 PM

Originally posted by bramble View Post

Braders, If you want to try, go right ahead ,but with our dismal autumn and winter skies and lack of sunlight i have to say you are wasting your time.

Well, I went ahead with the idea...this is my latest pic...will keep you all posted...I have always liked a challenge...

Attached Files

Toms 11.08.09.jpg (0, 97 views)

**BFG** · 12-08-2009, 07:07 AM

With growlights, or not? I think you'd struggle without. Plenty of people do grow indoors with grow lights though.

Check out envirolites.

**gojiberry** · 12-08-2009, 08:18 AM

Good luck Braders I think you will need it. Would be interesting to find out (if you are successful ) how much each tomato has cost you in time and money. I am trying drying my excess tomatoes and putting them in oil for winter use.

Ian

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