complete novice - what do I do with tomato plants?

annelouise_2

Hello all,

I have planted tomato seeds and regularly water twice a day and no germination yet?

Is this bad?

When they do arrive do they need a shady spot as we are lucky enough to have full sun for 10-12 hours.

Have noted all other top tips its just so complex.

Any help much appreciated.

annelouise:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Lotus-eater

Its not complex, honest, just sounds it.

You shouldn't need to water seeds and certainly not twice a day. You're a bit late really, but you will still get a good crop if we get a good summer. You may want to think about buying some small plants from a nursery. Or ask on freecycle

Get some fresh seeds and put them in some damp compost, cover with a plastic bag, as soon as you see growth whip off the bag.
Full sun is better, but just as important is a spot out of the wind.

edit, you're in Spain! Should get a good crop then

Davesnave

the grow bag contains all the food you need, nature does the rest

Oh, so I've been wasting my time. Gosh! More daytime TV for me then....lol!

Zazen999

http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/how-to/articles/pruning-tomatoes.aspx

The good thing about gardening is there are so many ways of doing things.

I have posted a link above if there is still confusion; but still stand by my a-g steps already posted. Toms are really the most easy to grow; the only real failure is if we get blight later in the year.

elantan

Lotus-eater wrote: »

What! No, don't pinch out the growing tip until its (the plant) the height you want. The growing tip is the top growth on the plant.

The side shoots grow just above the side leaves and look like miniature tomato plants, which indeed they are. When they get about an inch or so big, just pull them to one side and they should come straight off into your hands. Make sure you don't pull off the flower trusses, so anything that looks a bit different leave it for a while before you pull it off
You will soon get the hang of it. It can get a little difficult sometimes as the plant seems to branch not really giving you a good choice of which shoot to pull out, that comes with experience. Tomato plants grow so fast though, they can normally get through the fumblings of complete idiots................ trust me

i think fumblings of a complete idiot describes me very well :rotfl: right i will try this tomorrow i think i might have messed up though ...but will admit tomorrow not tonight :rotfl:

mumzyof2

I have put some seeds into compost and split the seeds up into two pots...they are about 6cm high now and i have about 10 tomato plants in one pot AND 15 in another.
I have bought some of those black tubs from Mr M for 8 for 99p. Do i need one tub per tomato plant?
Do i put them outside now?
When should i transfer them all to a pot of its own?
How far down in the soil do i put the tomato plant?

The pots i have them in now are only very little

Also i want to do a potatoe plant in one of these black tubs... What do i do with it? Il be using a potatoe thats in back of cupboard thats sprouted.
How far down to i put the potatoe and do i put it outside.

Mumzy

consumermonkey

The buckets are not really big enough for pots, but if you wanna have a go, put it in about a 1/4 way up, then top up to 1/2 way with compost. When it sprouts, gradually top up with soil/compost until bucket is full.

The Toms: one per bucket. Make sure you have drainage holes in the bottom and you will probably need to get canes (99p for 10 4ft ones in Wilkinsons) to help keep them upright. Unless you want a REALLY big crop, I'd get rid of the weaker ones and try with 2 - 3 plants this year. Make sure they are always well watered and feed with tomato food regularly (cheap as chips in wilkinsons too)

Gardening-girl_5

Plant Tomato plants to just below the bottom leaves..they will root and become stronger and sturdier! When you have your first set of flowers feed with Tomorite once or twice a week!! Don't forget to pinch out the side shoots, although you don't need to do this with hanging basket tomatoes! If you let the side shoots get just big enough you can pop these in compost like you would cuttings and have mini tomato plants!

mumzyof2

how do you mean pinch out the side shoots?

weezie_2

Tomato plants come in 2 different types. There a bush varieties which can be left to there own devises & are happy in hanging baskets etc. The other, much more common type has one central stem & likes a little more looking after. The central stem isn't going to be strong enough to support the whole plant when it's laden with fruit, so as it grows bigger, you need to tie it to a garden cane or some other support.

On the non-bush varieties, once the plant is a couple of feet high or so, the side shoots will start to become sturdier. At the point where they join the central stem, you'll see another little shoot forming. You can leave these on (the plant naturally grows like that anyway), but it's generally thought best to pinch them out (literally just snap them off with your fingers). That way the plant doesn't waste any energy helping these 'useless' shoots to grow & can put all it's oommmph into making big fat juicy tomatoes instead.