Early Tomato Thread

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

4 Roma VF and 2 Grushovka popped their wee heads up this morning (the other 2 Grushovka are almost through). So germination has taken 6 days.

[BarleySugar]

I grew some French Blacks from Pigletwillie last year, but the seeds were very slow to come through this year, in fact only one plant. I had one fruit left, wrinkled on the windowsill, so I opened it up and scooped out the seeds. To be honest it was probably beginning to rot from inside, it was soo yeuk. I popped 3 in a pot and they all came up, in about 3 days!

[BarleySugar]

I thought I'd post a picture of how some of my plants are doing, the main ones that you can see in the picture Golden Sunrise, Green Tiger and Costolou (sp?)were sown on 4th January, (the lettuce in the picture were sown on 9th). I'm pressing ahead with more now I can see the lights are working well. (see early chilli thread)
They are looking much healthier than the ones I sowed for the early tomato experiment last year. I can't help it, I'm so proud of them. I've never had early tomato plants looking this good

[glasgowdan]

Any idea why mine are still pathetic and tiny despite being sown on 26th dec and being kept on the windowsill? It's really bugging me!

[BarleySugar]

Mine do have the artificial light, and the cupboard stays between 20 and 25c most of the time. the lowest temp recorded has been 16c when it was particularly windy. It is an eaves cupboard in my bedroom, lined with reflective radiator backing material .
I wonder if yours are getting too cold at night, and maybe not enough light during the day? Even south facing windowsills face a challenge on some of the dull days we've been getting. I'm only using cheap desklamps from argos at 3.99 each, and daylight energy saving bulbs (25W though) 5.49 off the web. A bit cheaper than the growlights advertised for indoor growing. Found a wealth on information on the net about the quality of light needed to grow plants undercover, as it were

[northepaul]

I know its not early,(ie date) but planted tomato seeds this morning - I have never grown them before. We planted Sungold, roma, black russian, ailsa craig, cherry sweet million (for daughter's blanket sale) and tigerella (ditto) -plus 4 sorts of chillis (for blanket sale) went a bit mad but we all love toms, and have plenty of space in the (formally) conservatory.
Only thing I didnt do was use a heated propagator as I have a special shelf by radiator in south facing window. The area is always really warm.

(Gulp) any thoughts from you experts....be gentle

[maypril]

How many bulbs have you got and what's your surface area? When did you sow your peppers?

[Flummery]

I know its not early,(ie date) but planted tomato seeds this morning - I have never grown them before. We planted Sungold, roma, black russian, ailsa craig, cherry sweet million (for daughter's blanket sale) and tigerella (ditto) -plus 4 sorts of chillis (for blanket sale) went a bit mad but we all love toms, and have plenty of space in the (formally) conservatory.
Only thing I didnt do was use a heated propagator as I have a special shelf by radiator in south facing window. The area is always really warm.

(Gulp) any thoughts from you experts....be gentle

Just sown one each of Green Zebra, Brandywine, Black Sea Man, Darby and a couple of Cherokee Purple. In a six-hole module thingie - each separately labelled of course! - covered on a poly bag. Windowsill, no propagator. Never used one, never needed one. I think they are a big fat con! (Ducking!)

[northepaul]

Just sown one each of Green Zebra, Brandywine, Black Sea Man, Darby and a couple of Cherokee Purple. In a six-hole module thingie - each separately labelled of course! - covered on a poly bag. Windowsill, no propagator. Never used one, never needed one. I think they are a big fat con! (Ducking!)

Thanks Flummery,
just nice to know I am on the right tracks, so to speak

[Snadger]

Sown about 20 San Marzano today. Popped them into propagator. I didn't think that they were F1's but on the pack it says they are? Usually you don't get many seeds in an F1 packet but I reckon there must be 50 in this packet so hopefully they won't be F1!

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Sown today Sub Arctic Plenty and Black Krim (4 of each).

[Pies]

My toms were started of in a propergator two weeks ago,once they germinated i moved them to my mini greenhouse which is heated to an average of 8 degrees.They have done nothing,they look healthy but arn't growing at all but at least there not dying

[weekendwellies]

ok, I know we are not meant to ask advice on this thread but I feel it is better to seek forgiveness than to ask permission so...

1st proper set of leaves are now showing.
Are they big enough to put into their individual pots?
Are 2" pots big enough for now?
Should they go in 1 seedling per pot?
Should they be left in the same position as they are now ie on the kitchen window sill.

Sorry!

[Flummery]

My toms were started of in a propergator two weeks ago,once they germinated i moved them to my mini greenhouse which is heated to an average of 8 degrees.They have done nothing,they look healthy but arn't growing at all but at least there not dying

They need a minimum of 10 degrees to make much growth. This means at night too!

[kiwirach]

thought i'd share a pic of my 3 seedlings taken this morning. they are going ok....they could have a better window, but i'm not able to do that as i'm not in my own space. nevertheless, i'm pleased with their progress as i had thought i'd ruined seedling 1 by breaking alot of the root when i was transferring it!.
they are all Amish Paste.