The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

-taff

No. Good compost and regular feeding when the fruit sets is fine. When you scale up in pots, or pot on as it's cannily known, press the seedling firmly in, but not hard. You can bury the tomato stalk as far up as you like if it's leggy, this'll make you extra roots. The little fine hairs you see on the stalks will all become roots if they get in contact with soil because tomatoes are a vining plant.

Serendipitious

-taff said:

No. Good compost and regular feeding when the fruit sets is fine.

That's a relief, thank you very much. x

-taff

Vermiculite and perlits just aerate the compost more and make it less nutritious for seedlings which don't need extra feeding. Its useful for plants that like well drained compost or if you don't trust yourself not to overwater. Best way to water most things is from the bottom so stand your seedlings in a tray of whatever sort in water, take them out after fiftenn mintues or so, they'll have taken what they need to wet the compost by then. You'll soon learn what needs watering or not by the weight of the pot [obviously for little pots that you can pick up,not gert big heavy ones] because they will feel heavy. Conversely, chillies fruit more if you treat them mean, so don't overwater and keep them on the dry side in a smaller pot.

Serendipitious

Thank you -taff. Much clearer than many gardening websites!

boultdj

Another tip for chillies is use light coloured pot's, they can get the root's dying back if it's to hot.

-taff

Serendipitious said:

Thank you -taff. Much clearer than many gardening websites!

You're very welcome. I like growing tomatoes.... can you tell?

Serendipitious

-taff said:

Serendipitious said:

Thank you -taff. Much clearer than many gardening websites!

You're very welcome. I like growing tomatoes.... can you tell?

I can indeed!

I'm starting a tomato notebook!

login4ites123

your information is very helpful.
thank you

elaine241

Hello All

Been AWOL for what seems like years but is in reality only a few weeks.

Things here on the farm v hectic with lambing plus I have a new  part time job which although is 16 hours minimum I seem to be doing considerably more than that , but its my choice. 

Had a disaster the other weekend when our sheep dog , Jess, was run over and killed by off road motorcyclists roaring up the lane like a bunch of idiots. They were popping wheelies and one swerved and ran her over in the gateway . The whole family is devastated and the blooming biker just rode off and did not stop. It has been reported to the police and plastered all over Facebook, to both shame them into coming forward and raise awareness of the problem of , often illegal, off road motorcycles riding on the lanes and then going up onto the mountain where again they are not allowed. My posts were shared by over 10k people, with many further reposting. I had detailed CCTV pictures of the bikers and video of them roaring passed the house. The FB campaign has finally worked and a man has come forward to report the incident. I was thinking he would be a youngster but no he is a 43 year old. I doubt very much the police will do anything about it, let him off with a caution no doubt. I have had reporters from Wales online and South Wales Argus covering the story so hopefully a police crackdown will eventually come out of this sad situation.

As for prepping, not actually done a lot as too busy. Preps have been invaluable whilst lambing, we would all have lived on takeaways otherwise!!
I have managed to start off some vegetables in pots and a few rows of carrots, beetroot, spring onions and peas. Most are still in the polytunnel as its too cold! Thank god for rain today! The fields are like bowling greens there is so little grass, we are desperate for grass to feed the sheep and the young cattle when they are finally let out. 

Hope everyone is well and I will try not to go awol for a bit. I haven't read the 70 odd pages that I missed, anything I should know?

MingVase

Ah that's horrible re wee Jess - so sad