Can I sow tomato seeds in May?

Lois_and_CK

I got my free seeds this week from BBC Diggit. I have spare grow bags and really want to use them for the tomato seeds, but the packets say to sow March-April indoors then plant out around May. Am I too late or shall I just go for it? I am feeling rather daring ...

Jake'sGran

Well, you could have a go but if the rest of summer is going to be like it is now I don't think you will see any/many tomatoes. If there is a long "use by" date on the packet you could keep them until next year and just buy a couple of plants that are about 6-8" tall. One of mine is over two feet tall and showing two or three trusses. They like to be very warm with plenty of light and fed at the appropriate time. Good luck.

Lois_and_CK

Thanks Jake's gran. I've had a bit of a browse round the internet and the general consensus seems to be leave them til next year.

I can sow the squash and lettuce now so I'll have a go at them instead for now. One step at a time

Lotus-eater

I would tend to agree with Jakes granny, if you want full sized plants then go and buy some. But what you could do, is grow some from seed and keep them short and restricted to a couple of trusses, they should mature nicely then. Some of those gardeners delight toms have really long trusses, so it would be worth it.

Lois_and_CK

Trusses ... ? (vegetable growing new person alert)

teachergirl

trussess...fancy name for stalky bit with tomatos hanging on them! By resticting the number of them the plant doesn't waste energy trying to grow more and more of them but concentrates it's energy into making the few that it has got grow, develop and ripen. You keep them short by nipping off the top of the plant(pinching out). However what will happen then is the plant will grow side shoots...because it wants to grow big...you need to pinch these out too so that it puts all it's energy into the tomatos(fruit) This sounds really complicated but trust me it's easy. If you have any allotments near you pop down for a visit..they are usually full of people who just love to give you advice and they may even have some spare plants to give away.:)

matt987106

i have sown tom seeds ( and chillie ) at the start of may before, you are only 2 weeks later, give it a whirl, you migh be lucky, nothing ventured and all that

Lois_and_CK

Thanks for the advice, especially the terrific trusses explanation.

:T

Beatlefan

matt987106 wrote: »

i have sown tom seeds ( and chillie ) at the start of may before, you are only 2 weeks later, give it a whirl, you migh be lucky, nothing ventured and all that

I've got some free tubling toms seeds (from the Benecol/Telgraph freebie posted on MSE), which I was planning to pop into a hanging basket. Should I sow the seeds straight into the hanging basket, or inside some pots on a sunny windowsill first?

teachergirl

Definately on a sunny window sill first. Also you should put a plastic bag over the top just until you see the first signs of growth to keep it nice and moist.

foreign_correspondent

I would only sow a few for experimental purposes and save the remainder of the seeds for next year - pop them in the bottom of the fridge!