Way behind on outdoor tomatoes

[sez]

Soo... for once I actually started too late this year (in an effort to not start too early!!) and my tomatoes are tiny yet - about 6/7" high. What do other grapes think? Should I give up and buy some from a garden centre or will they suddenly have a miraculous growing spurt? I'm praying for the latter as I like the varieties and won't be able to buy them as plants

[zazen999]

Most of mine are like that, 3 were put outdoors yesterday and the rest will go out in June.

I have 3 that are bigger....but they were mollycoddled in an attempt for an earlier harvest.

They DO catch up.

[COMPOST CORNER]

Most of the tomato plants in my local garden centres are only that size anyway.

[Duronal]

The italian plot holders down at my allotments have lots of tomatoes looking about that size so don't worry. They grow 250 plants each year so i wouldn't sweat it.

I've still got to sow my green zebras for the year too.

[jackie j]

Mine are still quite small and some of them I sowed ages ago still at least they grew.

[sez]

Thanks for the encouragement I've put half out in the plastic greenhouse (the other half = backup plan!) and they seem to be looking perkier just from a day or two in the extra light and daytime heat! Despite me being a bad mommy and leaving them there overnight Maybe I'll have toms yet!

[HayleyB]

You should see how I've been treating mine...... me....... bad mommy....... Trying to harden off for a couple of weeks now, some have even gone purple and come back again to forgive me................ NONE are 6"..............

[lynda66]

is it now I can act all smug and say i put mine out under a cloche mid march after planting 17th jan ........ and they are nearly all at least a foot tall

[SarzWix]

It's only mid-May, they will have June, July and August to grow and fruit. Should be plenty of time, I hope

[HeyWayne]

Only sowed mine on Monday night. Oops.

[Nicos]

you expecting an Indian summer Wayne???

...well I'm hoping for one too- cos I've got about 20 plants just producing their 2nd leaves!!!
( yup- I've got about 12 9" high too for an earlier crop)

[pdblake]

Diddy little things here too. I'm going to put a few out at the weekend anyway weather permitting and once the chooks have finished off all PSB that's in the way

[Flummery]

Most of mine are about 6" high but tough looking little things. My earlier sowings - a few Brandywine which always seem to take a long time here - and a few of my cross-breeds and un-hybrids - are 12" plus. This is mainly so I can get an early tasting and see if they're any good! The others are fine at that size. They won't go in their final places till June anyway. Panic not!

[FionaH]

is it now I can act all smug and say i put mine out under a cloche mid march after planting 17th jan ........ and they are nearly all at least a foot tall

Yes! Can I ask how many people said you were barking sowing them that early?

[StephenH]

Mine are not yet 6", I don't think - well, maybe the tallest is just. I hope they catch up - we may get a hot summer, according to the Met. Office, so that may help, as long as I keep 'em watered, I spoze.