Growing tomatoes

RobM99

OK hello Feb. Might get a few on the go this week, I have a small heater if temp's go all -°C. 

droopsnoot

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

I noticed the Lidl seeds are in - always good value and quality.

But no tomato seeds in mine

Brie

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. 

RobM99

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.

droopsnoot

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

droopsnoot said:

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.

droopsnoot said:

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!)

silverwhistle

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

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.

Nobbie1967

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.