complete novice - what do I do with tomato plants?

helping_hubby

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)

So is it necessary to feed tomato plants? I saw the wilkinsons own tomato feed...£1 for a litre. Will this be good enough?

Farway

helping_hubby wrote: »

So is it necessary to feed tomato plants? I saw the wilkinsons own tomato feed...£1 for a litre. Will this be good enough?

If you have the plants in pots, then yes you will need to feed them, if you do not then they will struggle & your crop will suffer

In the ground it is not so critical as the roots can find food by spreading out, however even then a feed once a week will certainly help

Wilko tom food, or Asda, Tesco, etc is just the job, apply according to the instructions [normally it is diluted in a watering can]

nozzy6

I've read that you should only feed toms once the first fruit has set, at the risk of sounding a total dunce what do you mean by "set"? Sorry if this is a daft question but I'm new to all this! Also I read somewhere about misting the flowers? What does that mean?

oh and also (sorry, lots of questions!) does anyone know if tamina and sungold are vines or bush types?

Thanks in advance

arkonite_babe

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Farway

nozzy6 wrote: »

I've read that you should only feed toms once the first fruit has set, at the risk of sounding a total dunce what do you mean by "set"? Sorry if this is a daft question but I'm new to all this! Also I read somewhere about misting the flowers? What does that mean?

oh and also (sorry, lots of questions!) does anyone know if tamina and sungold are vines or bush types?

Thanks in advance

By fruit set they mean when a little tomatoes appear, first you get the yellow flowers, then if the bees do the job properly you get small green toms where the flowers were, the fuit has then "set", these swell & gradually ripen

The fertiliser and water helps to swell & ripen, as does the temperature

Tom fertiliser contains a higher proportion of Potassium, which helps produce fruit

http://www.plantadvice.co.uk/help/show_question.php?id=9

Sungold is vine type, at least it was when I grew it, sorry I can't help with tamina

Sian_the_Green

I am trying to grow tomatoes for the first time this year; the ones I grew from seeds are catching up with the little plant I got from the garden centre though the slugs had a good go at it.

Anyone else occasionally have an epiphany about how amazing it is that plants seem to come from nowhere with water and a bit of siun, isn't nature brilliant?

Red_Cat

Regular and even watering is my tip for growing top toms. Water daily in the hotter summer months and feed when the first fruits form.

butterfly72

I've got my plants in pots that are around 10inchs across. In the video posted above they recommend huge containers however, the growing bags you can buy aren't that big. I'm a bit confused now! Do you think my pots are too small at 10inchs across. If it helps i think my toms are 'moneymaker' or something like that!!!:o

Davesnave

Anyone else occasionally have an epiphany about how amazing it is that plants seem to come from nowhere with water and a bit of sun, isn't nature brilliant?

Yes, I still get a buzz every spring.

Farway

butterfly72 wrote: »

I've got my plants in pots that are around 10inchs across. In the video posted above they recommend huge containers however, the growing bags you can buy aren't that big. I'm a bit confused now! Do you think my pots are too small at 10inchs across. If it helps i think my toms are 'moneymaker' or something like that!!!:o

The pot size will be OK, however you will need to watch the water & feeding

Your main problem may be stability, as the plant grows taller, and fruit swell, it will become top heavy, any wind will bowl it over

Grow bags have a large footprint & the centre of gravity is also low