where can i put my tomato plants?

madlyn

i have just planted some tomatoe seed.
once they are big and strong enough and the last frost has gone, will they be ok in a grow bag on a patio that gets the sun for about 12hrs a day, or do they need to be in a greenhouse?

aliasojo

I grew some in a big pot outside and some in one of those plastic greenhouses you get. The outside ones grew lovely and cropped well whilst the ones in the greenhouse were sparse with little fruits. No idea why mind but at least it shows you don't need a greenhouse.

mrbadexample

madlyn wrote: »

i have just planted some tomatoe seed.
once they are big and strong enough and the last frost has gone, will they be ok in a grow bag on a patio that gets the sun for about 12hrs a day, or do they need to be in a greenhouse?

Some varieties are suitable for growing outdoors, and some need a greenhouse. Having said that, you might get away with greenhouse ones outdoors if the weather's good.

I think they need a sunny, sheltered spot. You will also need some way of supporting the plant as it grows.

splodger_seedswapper

i grow all of mine outdoors (although i do have a greenhouse)
i don't use growbags though as i think they are such poor quality nowadays - so i use large plastic tubs that can hold two or three plants in each - i stick well rotted muck in the bottom - then compost - mix - then more compost.

and with deep buckets or tubs - it is easier to stake the toms

i also plant them on my allotment - but my area is prone to blight (so i don't bother growing loads - is 20 or 30 plants loads )

jenie_2

I got 16 flower buckets for 99p from morrisons, when my plants are stronger I'm using 1 pot per plant. I've got Tumbling Tom red and yellow and I'm also going to try some in hanging baskets.

They'll all be outside on my yard which is a bit of a suntrap.

CommitedToChange

can I ask how you got the buckets from morrisions, do you ask at customer services or are the placed somewhere? Sorry for the odd question its just I've never seen them in mine.

Sally_A

They are always close the entrance in ours, hidden by the incoming gates, quite near the flowers/plants bit. But 99p for 8 around these parts.

Now should be a good time - just after Mother's Day. Easter will be the next best time.

CommitedToChange

thanks - I'll pop in tomorrow.

I clearly underestimated my growing abilities as all my tomato seeds grew and I now have 70 plants! I'm sure I've killed some off tonight when I pricked them out into separate pots though

Sally_A

Don't panic, tomatoes always keel over when you transplant them and look like they are going to die - they are proper drama queens; should perk up in a day or two.

The key with toms is to transplant frequently, and only into slightly bigger pots until the grand planting out day which is the first bank holiday in may in these parts for greenhouse plants.

jenie_2

CommitedToChange wrote: »

can I ask how you got the buckets from morrisions, do you ask at customer services or are the placed somewhere? Sorry for the odd question its just I've never seen them in mine.

Sorry for late reply, as SallyA says, they were near the entrance under one of the plant stands. I was quite surprised at the quantity, but happy , there were only 2 lots of them, I wish I'd got them both now.

CtoC, if you can't see any I would ask one of the staff on the produce dept.

aliasojo

Sally_A wrote: »

The key with toms is to transplant frequently, and only into slightly bigger pots until the grand planting out day which is the first bank holiday in may in these parts for greenhouse plants.

At the risk of asking a really daft question why pot up into slightly bigger pots rather than the big end pot they will be living in?