Yes, John, I see your point about checking the soil temperature, and will look into getting an appropriate thermometer.
Thanks for your advice.
Columbine

Thanks to Ian and to PlumPudding for your advice. My mat does not have a thermostat and that is why the instructions say to use a timer. So, taking your advice, I will leave it on all night and turn it off during the day. Fingers crossed!

I have just bought a heated propagator mat with the intention of using it on a windowsill to assist in germinating tomatoes, aubergines, etc. I already have several trays with lids which can be used with the mat. I see that the heat is a constant 20C and that I should use a timer with it. My questio...

Nature's Babe - Thank you very much for these useful tips. I realised over the summer that ventilating the polytunnel was not that easy, even with a door each end. I shall have to give it more thought next year. I will have a look at Ferline and Legend and see if I have better luck with these variet...

Thanks, Johnboy. I should have known that, of course. Memo: do more homework!
Columbine

This is only my second year with a polytunnel (10mx20m). Last year I grew toms without too many problems but this year, probably because of the abyssmal weather here in mid-Wales (wet, wet, wet) all 5 varieties of toms, as well as the aubergines, developed blight and probably other diseases as well....

Hi JB
That's a really useful tip about watering in the evenings. I shall do this from now on.
Many thanks.
Columbine

This kind of advice is completely new to me. I wonder if it applies to toms in polytunnels as it does get really hot in there at times (up to 40C in June when we had that spell of good weather here in Wales) and the amount of water recommended seems very low. Anyway, it is too late for this year, bu...

Heat? What heat? I live in mid Wales and whilst most of the UK has been having heat-wave temperatures we have been lucky if the thermometer has reached 20C most days! Still wearing long-sleeves and pullovers ....... I get what you mean about the flowering, though, and will just have to see what happ...

To all of you looking for rain, may I suggest you move to mid-Wales? July has been a wash-out so far (and cool with it), and we are really tired of listening to radio commentators and forecasters discussing the high temperatures all others but us (so it seems) are enjoying! If it is lush, green gras...

Oh, I haven't actually cut off the flowers, I was just wondering if I should. But, obviously not. The variety is Quarantina, but unfortunately I cannot find the note I made of when I sowed them I will just keep an eye on them and hope to harvest some spears in due course.
Thanks.

Thanks to Tony & Monika for your useful input. I guess I will carry on as I have been doing and try to keep the happy medium between too much and too little!

I decided to try growing some Cima di Rapa this year for the first time, and have successfully raised some from seed which I now have growing outside in the veg garden. They are about 30cm high now but have begun to flower. Isn't this too early? I presume I should remove the flowers so that they don...

In the polytunnel I am growing some tomatoes in raised beds and some in Growbags. They seem to be doing well and fruit is setting on all of them. I have been watering them every morning, but is this too much? There does not seem to be clear advice anywhere about how much water to give each plant, an...

Thanks for that tip about the fly-killer, John. I will give it a try.
Columbine