My tomatoes are attempting to flower...erk

[Bramble_killer]

Came home today to check on tomatoes in 3inch pots and a few are attempting to flower

I'm not sure whether to pot them onto a bigger pot or pinch out the truss? What do I do??

There's about 3 or 4 plants, green sausage and Roma. They have 4 leaves but they are small....

[Tomatoking]

If I were you, I would put them in larger pots. Do not remove the flowers, they might not have set if the temperature has been too low, so will do no harm.
Give them plenty of space and light. They do not look too healthy considering how the weather has been.
Mr TK

[Bramble_killer]

Thanks, I was avoiding moving them into bigger pots as they have to go into the unheated greenhouse then but I suppose it's time for them to go. Have 30+ tomatoes

[Tomatoking]

Well Bramble, it would be a nice to have a heated greenhouse, but we raise plants indoors to compensate, but as you point out space is limited. As long as your plants do not get frost damage, they will just suffer from all the fruit not setting on the first bunch.
The other important thing is light for tomatoes, and they will get that in the greenhouse. Maybe you could cover them with fleece at if it looks as though you could have a frosty night. But beware also of very hot days, as greenhouses heat up quickly in the spring sun, but unfortunatly the variation in temperatures is not the best thing for them.

We are all trying to cheat the perfect conditions that are required, but it does make it more fun.

[Florence Fennel]

I was going to post this same title BK! My toms are about 10" high and healthy, but a few of them are attempting to flower. Time to pot on then. It threw me because I know this didn't happen last year - I had problems with "legginess", but overcame it by potting deeper.

[Snadger]

Are flowers not what we're all striving for? Go with the flow, try and keep them warm and light and you may, just may, have a VERY early crop of toms!

[Bramble_killer]

Flo: I'm sure mine didn't flower for ages last year too, the weather has driven all the veg haywire too.

Snadger: We live in hope!!

Thanks tomatoking. Most helpful. I haven't had frost in a week but overnight temps are still 2-3C. Have a few cloudy days so got to try something. Might go and buy some paraffin for the heater. I'm going to get told off by some people soon for starting so early

[gojiberry]

Seems to be a bit of a trend this year as I have never had flowers this early in the past, but have several with flowers and they are only in 5" pot and about 4" tall. Am trying to get new greenhouse done this weekend to get toms into final growing spot.

Ian

[Shadylane]

I asked this question on the early tomato thread as my Galinas are flowering and while they are between 10 and 18 inches tall they weren't in their final pots and I know some stuff doesn't like to be re-potted when in flower. The answer was that I should just pot them on as they don't mind it. I started really early this year with the Galinas as they're supposed to be an early variety anyway. I wanted to see if it was worth it or if the other later sown ones would catch up. So far looking good

[chris]

My cucumbers have flowered!! I did sow thm in feb mind

[Bigmallly]

I wonder if it is worthwhile to start feeding them.

[Tomatoking]

I wonder if it is worthwhile to start feeding them.

Good idea BM, nice to see you about again BTW.

To start feeding small plants at this time of the year, it is better to have high nitrogen feed, as opposed to the normal high potash tomato feed.
High potash is for fruit production and high nitrogen (flower feed will do) is for foliage. As your plants have quite small leaves, it would help to make the plant stronger and hold back the fruit a little.

On small plants you could start with half strength.

Mr TK.

[Bramble_killer]

I had the thought yesterday evening so threw some seaweed feed (half strength) at them. I'm still not sure they are happy in the greenhouse, (I'm cold!!) but there is no space in he house and the weather is not improving fast :/

[Florence Fennel]

I'm in the process of potting on from today, so thanks TK, I'll give them a feed as I move them. They are going into a blowaway greenhouse, so it's a case of treat em mean to keep em keen I'm afraid!

[Shadylane]

I had the thought yesterday evening so threw some seaweed feed (half strength) at them. I'm still not sure they are happy in the greenhouse, (I'm cold!!) but there is no space in he house and the weather is not improving fast :/

Can't you spare a bit of floor space? Ours are on the dining room table and the bigger ones are on the floor. There is always soil everywhere and I'm constantly hoovering but allegedly it's all worth it Last year I treated em tough and was leaving them out around this time unless there was a chance of frost. Can't remember if it annoyed the tomatoes but the chillies definitely sulked for ages. I'm being a bit kinder this year in the hope of an early crop but if they don't put out then next year it's the tough treatment again.