The Early Tomato Sowing Thread

[Bigmallly]

Transferred 8 Gardeners Delight from heated prop into rootrainers. GH is warming up lovely (hope I haven't spoken too soon).........

[Sylvan]

Sowed 7 more seeds last night (one each of Black Cherry, Pink Plum, Hillbilly, Tigerella, Cream Sausage, Cherokee Purple and Christel's Plum). I know it's completely the wrong time of month to be sowing them but they've been jumping up and down, shouting and waving, and I just couldn't sit on my hands any longer. :Embarrassment:

Do they still count as "early" sowings?

You may have spoken too soon BM. It's supposed to get colder again over the next few days

[fiskies]

Got my Moneymakers, sweet million and last years unknown cherry variety in already, they're about 3inches tall at the mo. I've got two of each for earlies and I'll do one of each for later, mmmm.

[Newton]

Leggy seedlings

Help!

My seedlings are just starting to show their first true leaves but they appear very leggy.

I moved them from a heated prop as soon as they germinated but they are now on a windowsill

Should I start again? What can I do differently? I don't have a conservatory or proper greenhouse?

Any comments appreciated......

[Sylvan]

Newton, you can repot them with the compost almost up to the seed leaves. Tomatoes don't mind having their stems buried. They just grow more roots from them.

In a few days, when they've recovered from being potted on, you can start putting them outside for a little while, as long as the outside temperature is at least 10C. That way they'll get more light (and less heat) so they won't be as leggy. The breeze will help them to thicken up as well (provided it isn't a howling gale ).

I blow across mine a couple of times a day, if they're not outside, to make them think it's windy, so they'll grow sturdier stems. Some people use a bit of card, or the side of a hand, brushed across them, but I haven't risked that since I decapitated one of my sweet pea seedlings.

EDIT: Also, if they're not on a south facing windowsill when they're inside transferring them to one will help.

[Kristen]

Put something behind them on the windowsill to reflect more light onto them too - a mirror, or some tinfoil (e.g. taped to a cardboard box or similar)

[Two_Sheds]

Today I potted on my Auntie Madges ... half in peat, half in New Horizon peat free, for TeakDesk's challenge

[Sylvan]

In a few days, when they've recovered from being potted on, you can start putting them outside for a little while, as long as the outside temperature is at least 10C.

Apologies Newton - I've just been told, in another thread, that it isn't a good idea to put them outside unless the temperature is at least 13c (55f)

[Newton]

Newton, you can repot them with the compost almost up to the seed leaves. Tomatoes don't mind having their stems buried. They just grow more roots from

thanks sylvan. Potted on now and looking nice and cozy up to their leaves in peaty compost.

10 degrees is too cold for me let alone the toms!,!

[Kristen]

I work on 10C for my Toms. Over the years they have frequently been at that temperature in early Spring, and they grow vigorously. But I'm struggling to give them that temperature in the unheated conservatory at the moment despite the fact that I am brining them in at night (they've only been pricked out a couple of days)

[Sylvan]

Mine are out on the doorstep at the moment. One thermometer said it was 9c and another claimed it was 12.9 . I think I believe the lower one but it felt quite pleasant out there so I took the risk.

Here they are:

[zazen999]

I'd been hardening my toms off for a good 2 weeks now, during the day - and last night was their first night for most of them in the greenhouse. 1 small tray on the side, and a large tray, under a plastic cliche with ikea net curtain folder up over the top.

Did they die? Did they heck!

I'd taken out some good specimens, and some to take to school........so if they died I've hedged my bets.

Yes, it will slow them down; but I ran out of space and the idea was always to look after just a few....

I'm not recommending this to anyway - as my greenhouse is sheltered and doesn't get the wind and stays relatively warm at night...compared to the outside. So - they will be out there now unless we get frosts predicated.

Main sowing of tomatoes - will start at school in their greenhouse today.

[Shadylane]

I have sown too many - again. No doubt I will be advertising them on freegle soon It's far too cold up here to put them out yet. Our placcies won't offer them much warmth so they're going to have to scooch up on the windowsills for a while longer. Ugh - whatever happned to the early springs we used to get.

[Davyburns]

whatever happned to the early springs we used to get.

Global Warming

[King Carrot]

I'd been hardening my toms off for a good 2 weeks now, during the day - and last night was their first night for most of them in the greenhouse. 1 small tray on the side, and a large tray, under a plastic cliche with ikea net curtain folder up over the top.

Have you any idea of the lowest temperature that the toms have had inside the greenhouse or the lowest outside air temperature overnight?