tomato seedlings

[jane E]

I have just pricked out my tomato seedlings into root trainers. I have a greenhouse heated by a paraffin heater, but it's not making 10 degrees quite. Is this too cold for tomato seedlings? They're still on my kitchen window sill. I don't want them to get leggy but I don't want to check them.

[Chantal]

Mine are in a greenhouse which runs between 5 and 10 degrees most nights. Last week the electricity tripped out and they spent the night at about 2 degrees but were fine. They're not leggy and are growing into stocky little plants. Remember that if they are a bit leggy you can plant them deeper to compensate.

[Chris]

Hi

Just finished potting my tomato seedlings from a propogator into 4 inch pots. They were getting leggy and have been planted deeply with just the leaves showing. They will either stay on the windowsill for a few days or go into the greenhouse - I'll be away until sunday so maybe better left inside 'till I get back.

I've got a soil warming cable in part of the greenhouse - so that will be the next destination. And, for the first time ever I managed to throw away all the seedlings I know I won't need - usually I keep them going only to put them on the compost heap around mid May.

Good luck

Chris

[pigletwillie]

Hi Jane,

I keep my greenhouse between 10 and 14 degrees. Below 10 degrees and tomatoes just wont grow, and if they get frosted then kiss them goodbye.

You can put some fleece over them at night if its going to be really cold, just for added protection.

At present I have 500 tomato and chillie plants on the go and the ones sown first at the end of Jan are just about to be potted into 3 inch pots, the idea being that when they go into the tunnel in May they will already have flowers and perhaps a truss of fruit forming.

If you get stuck, PM me and I will put some plants to one side for you.

[Guest]

That's what I thought. I felt sure that they had to have temperatures over 10 degrees to thrive. How do you get yours over 10? Do you use bubble wrap? Do you use electric or paraffin or oil heaters and how many? I have one paraffin heater but it's not a small one.The greenhouse is not a walk in - small lean to, so it should easily warm up.

[jane E]

Sorry guest was me - jane E

[pigletwillie]

Bubble wrap is ok for keeping plants frost free during winter but when you are growing I found that it led to spindly plants as it cuts down the already feeble last winter light levels.

Its just a thermostatically controlled fan heater from Tesco and costs about £6 a week to run, however as we always unplug our rather large pond pump during the winter we dont get any higher bills. I dont use parafin any more as once walked into a black out with soot everywhere and gas causes problems with humidity and its inherant problems.

The green house is a 10x6 by the way.

[Allan]

50F/10C is the minimum temperature for tomatoes, they may survive at lower temperatures but it affects their fruiting capabilities. If you have electricity in your greenhouse you can use a heated propogator to save a lot of the cost of heating the whole greenhouse. Bottom heat is more efficient than top heat. I have a large soil warming cable with thermostat, over it is a simple enclosure made of the large bubble plastic on a 1"x1" frame, access by dropdown curtain at front. It's better to sow late than get crippled plants, the late ones mostly catch up (Moneymaker excepted)
Allan

[Chantal]

Does that mean that although my tomatoes are fine at 5-10 degrees , firstly thy shouldn't be and secondly they'll have less fruit? I'm off to the greenhouse to turn the heating up! I've not noticed a problem in previous years, but maybe I'll have a bumper crop rather than a standard one.

Thanks for the advice.

[oldherbaceous]

Hello pigletwillie noticed you have got 500 toms and chillie plants on the go at the moment.
All i can say is tesco's watch out.

Kind regards Old herbaceous.

When i'm not fishing i'm mending my nets.

[Johnboy]

Oh dear this is going to come as a bit of a shock to some!
I actually agree with Allan's comments!!!
Tomatoes, Chillis and Aubergines should not be made to endure temperatures below 10C. They may survive but that is not the exercise you should be carrying out. The whole exercise should be to produce Tomatoes that are sweet and tasty and perform as they are meant to. Certainly I do not remember anybody saying that they do not endure lower temperatures but if you want the best then please follow Allan's advice,
Oh dear I've come over all unnecessary!!

[pigletwillie]

Old Herb,

Tescos have nothing to worry about, we`re all Catholic Mormons and I have 65 in laws and 8 wives.

[Allan]

I cannot quote from my own experience. The quote of minimum temperature comes from a very authotitative commerciakl source, they have to watch these points as their livelihood depends on it. If anybody is upset because Johnboy and I agree then I'm afraid that they are in for more misery if I have anything to do with it. We agree on far more thanwe disagree about.Your best friend is the friend who is prepared to tell you the truth and this isn't always what you want to hear.
Allan

[pigletwillie]

Wise words Allan, wise words indeed.

[Chris]

Hi Piglet Willie

Just wondering what you are planning to do with 500 seedlings.

Chris