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Growing tomatoes

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  • RobM99
    RobM99 Posts: 2,706 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    OK hello Feb. Might get a few on the go this week, I have a small heater if temp's go all -°C. 
    Now a gainfully employed bassist again - WooHoo!
  • droopsnoot
    droopsnoot Posts: 1,868 Forumite
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    My seeds are just starting to show - nothing from the Money Maker yet, but two or possibly three Gardener's Delight in the seed tray this morning.
  • fatbelly
    fatbelly Posts: 22,952 Forumite
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    edited 14 February 2023 at 3:34PM
    I noticed the Lidl seeds are in - always good value and quality.

    But no tomato seeds in mine :(
  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 14,666 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    My mom has a large vegetable patch (1 very small corner of a 100 acre farm mostly rented out) and has had self seeding tomatoes for years.  Not sure if it makes a difference but she's in Canada so winter temperatures are much lower for longer than in the UK generally.  The soil is absolute rubbish - rock hard clay mostly to which she's been dumping in saw dust from a local lumber yard for 30+ years.  It doesn't seem to have made that much difference to the clay but the tomatoes have been divine.  Some are honking big beefsteak types and others are baby plum.  I suspect they don't successfully cross breed as there's not been any in between varieties at all. 

    Must admit I do try to grow tomatoes most years - usually depending on someone else having started too many and then freegling them but I am not my mother and cannot get any decent results at all.  Probably my soil/compost is too good.  This year I think I'll restrict myself to 1 courgette plant as I could eat those almost daily.  And I'll buy tomatoes from Lidl. 
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  • RobM99
    RobM99 Posts: 2,706 Forumite
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    edited 7 February 2023 at 4:34PM
    OK, RobM looks in his seed collection...

    Tigerella
    St. Pierre
    Moneymaker
    Shimmer
    Costoluto Fiorientino  (currently a goalkeeper for Lazio - not really!)
    Beefmaster  (now planted)

    Will try Black Opal again if I can find some.
    Now a gainfully employed bassist again - WooHoo!
  • droopsnoot
    droopsnoot Posts: 1,868 Forumite
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    My seedlings had grown to a size where four were "large enough to handle", so I split them into separate pots yesterday. This morning they're lying down and I suspect they're not long for this world. I believe I'd jumped the gun a bit and sown them too early, so I'll give it a few weeks and plant some more seeds.
  • RobM99
    RobM99 Posts: 2,706 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    My seedlings had grown to a size where four were "large enough to handle", so I split them into separate pots yesterday. This morning they're lying down and I suspect they're not long for this world. I believe I'd jumped the gun a bit and sown them too early, so I'll give it a few weeks and plant some more seeds.
    My seedlings had grown to a size where four were "large enough to handle", so I split them into separate pots yesterday. This morning they're lying down and I suspect they're not long for this world. I believe I'd jumped the gun a bit and sown them too early, so I'll give it a few weeks and plant some more seeds.
    Tomatoes are known to sulk. They'll probably pick up (Drama Queens, Dahhhhlinks!)
    Now a gainfully employed bassist again - WooHoo!
  • RobM99 said:
    OK, RobM looks in his seed collection...

    You nudged me to do likewise:

    Marmande
    Red Cherry from Franchi Sementi
    Moneymaker ( a fresh freebie packet)
    Amish Paste
    Dr Carolyn     -
    Primabella     - last year's from Real Seeds
    Amish Paste  -
    and finally because I was too lazy to save my own when I last grew it:
    House Dwarf Cherry Tomato, again a heritage variety from Real Seeds, and one I had success with a couple of years ago.

    No greenhouse but I do have a south facing south coast wall and use bell cloches to help give them a headstart once planted out.

    Looks like I won't be seeing my windowsills for a little while!
  • alicef
    alicef Posts: 533 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I have the following toms that have germinated, (I keep 2 plants of each variety and donate any spares to our village plant sale).

    Sungold; Honeycomb; Black Russian; Golden Sunrise; Orange Wellington; Marmande; Black Krim; Cuore di Bue; Rosella.

    My Gardeners' Delight seed was obvs. too old as none have germinated.

    To sow - Burlesque and Purple Cherokee.

    Window sills getting quite crowded.
    Fashion on the Ration 2025  37/66   
  • Nobbie1967
    Nobbie1967 Posts: 1,666 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Isn’t it a bit early to be sowing tomatoes unless you have a heated greenhouse? Seem to remember sowing about the start of April last year.
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