buying tomato plants in the NE

[kathyd]

Don't forget you can break off the little side shoots too once they get going, stick them in a jar of water for a while and they'll throw out roots. So you get a head start on your plants a bit later in the year when it's lighter . Plus you get extra plants from F1 varieties of course, which often only give you a very few seeds for your money.

Last year I took loads of these cuttings and stuck them into 3" pots in the polytunnel. I didn't really have room for them but hated to waste them . They stayed in their 3" pots all summer, in a bundle between the beds, got watered very randomly including the leaves (a real no-no), never got pinched out, and ultimately produced as many tomatoes as the ones growing in the porch which had been nurtured all season. It's all so confusing...

[tomsk71]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I live in Sunderland so when should I sow and start them off on the windowsill? I normally grow Shirleys.

[Kristen]

I reckon March will be about right

[Alison]

I reckon March will be about right

I'd agree, no real benefit in doing them earlier and you have to house the plants for longer

[Scarlet]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I live in Sunderland so when should I sow and start them off on the windowsill? I normally grow Shirleys.

Can we have a weekly update to see how you go? We can give you tips on the way

[Potstubsdustbins]

I too would go for mid to late March. With toms you always have to bear in mind what you are going to do with them 3/4 weeks on, as they can grow at an alarming rate.