Trial with tomatoes

[rary]

I have several tomato plants in 4in. square pots, of which I need to nip out side shoots, so as I dont have any secondary heating i.e soil warming cable, the only protection they get is fleece covering them overnight, as I can do the very same with them planted into the growing bed I have decided to plant some out, to see how they do if unsuccessful I still have several more as backup. As we are going to have a scorcher of a summer I think its worth trying, as for the weather with the temperature being away up at 9c today things look promising, I think we should reach a regular 18c in the summer

[Snoop Puss]

9.9 ºC here today, Rary. So we're not that different. Mind you, I've only just sown my toms. Not sensible planning but due only to circumstances.

Where have you got your plants at the moment? Are you still getting frosts overnight?

[smallblueplanet]

Good luck. I think tomatoes, and many other 'warmth-loving', plants will deal okay with some cold temps just not wet/damp and cold. I seem to remember, from when we've planted out toms early into an unheated greenhouse, that their leaves can go a purpley colour when they're too cold?

[rary]

Where have you got your plants at the moment? Are you still getting frosts overnight?

At present my tomatoes are in the greenhouse sitting on a bench full of sand into which I add the water for them, I only feed via the pot, the bench has a poly tent over it which gives it additional protection, fortunately there has been no frost for the past week though the temperature has went down to 3c. a couple of nights come to go think on it that was in the greenhouse so possibly had some frost, which of course was gone by the time I got out my scratcher

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, Rary. Sounds like our night time temperatures are about the same. Daytime temperatures are picking up again here, but the nights are chilly still.

Sounds like your toms are doing very well in your conditions, as SBP suggests. Fingers crossed that continues.

Let us know how they do.

[rary]

Was out at the greenhouse a wee while ago and temperature at 6c. so plant covered with fleece

[rary]

I have now planted six tomato plants and all doing well, though I do have reserves which if I dont need will go to a local charity shop

[Bren In Pots]

My tomato plants are getting heavy to be carrying in and out the house so for the last 2 nights I've left 3 spare tom plants in my GH. They seem to be doing ok I do wrap them in fleece at night and if they die it just saves me finding them a home.

[rary]

Bren it is always worth trying something different, if it,works you score on a further two points, 1/ earlier tomatoes, 2/ saved you having to lift them in and out, as you get old er it eases the strain

[Peanut]

I have discovered quite a few self sown tomato seedlings which have germinated from last years fallen tomatoes, growing away in the buckets from last year. The greenhouse is unheated and has lots of glass missing and we've had really cold to frozen nights but they're still growing!
Fingers crossed for yours rary

[rary]

Thanks peanut, if your seedlings are from non F1 tomatoes you could always grow them on, you never know they might be able to cope better with adverse conditions

[Peanut]

rary I think they will all be from F1's. Will they be any good to grow on?

[Vince G]

They've got 2 chances peanut, see how they do.

[rary]

Unfortunately seed from F1 plants do not grow true to the parent but it doesnt mean that you wouldnt get anything from them, personally if I had the space, I would grow three seedlings just to see what they were like, may be a waste of time but you never know till you try

[Peanut]

I shall pick out the strongest growing plants from different buckets and see what I get. If I don't have enough room in the greenhouse, I will grow them outside, given they have survived the coldest winter in years they should do ok outside for the summer.

Be interesting to see what they produce.