tomato seedlings

[Tigger]

Looking at the lack of movement in my propogators tonight - I'm hoping that some of Piglets seedlings are coming my way. Now - what was that I said about pork chops? Swaps anyone?

[Phil S]

Unfortunatly I do not have the luxury of eithe propergator or greenhouse, but will be growing tomatos out side, is it the wrong time to be sowing some inside for growing on in a coldframe/small plastic foldup green house and if so when would be best

[oldherbaceous]

Phil s now is a good a time as any to start of your toms.
And piglet are you sure they are tomato plants and not some sort of herbal plant, looking at your pig photo.

Kind regards Old herbaceous.

There's no fool like an old fool.

[pigletwillie]

Old Herb, no nothing herbal growing that I know of other than rosemary cuttings.

Tigger, if you want some tomatoes I can bring some to Malvern if you require, Marmande, Roma, San Marzano, Incas, Gardeners delight, sungold etc, plus plenty of peppers and chillies, spares to be confirmed but some certainly. Also gherkins and probably some courgettes.

[Tigger]

Thankyou Piglet. I'd be very grateful. I'm going to re-sow everything this weekend and/or move the propagators. I've never had failed tomatoes before. If they work out this time - I'll bring some for swaps as I should have some different ones.

[pigletwillie]

no probs, I have plenty, any left over from Malvern will find good homes on the allotment site.

Swapping and bartering is the best form of trade.

[Chantal]

I'll be bringing stuff to Malvern too Tigger so if you're still in trouble by then you can have first dibs (not swaps).

[Tigger]

This is good!

[Phil S]

Will they all be on the Kitchen Garden plant swap!

[pigletwillie]

Any plants that are spare will be brought to Malvern and after our feast, any KG members who turn up can help themselves.

I went a bit overboard sowing seed with having a new tunnel and all the potting on is getting a bit tedious now, 75 Roma today, 87 San Marzano yesterday plus pricking out the cherry types.Thankfully the chillies and peppers and growing nice and slowly and dont require potting on for a week or two yet.

[Tigger]

Oi! No slacking. I grew 122 tomato plants in my tunnels and another 50 outside last year. Just 'cos I'm having a crisis this year doesn't mean you can slow down Piglet. I'm relying on you.

[pigletwillie]

Ok Sherriff, but dont worry there are another 350 to go. I feel that there will be a boot full going to Malvern.

[Tigger]

OK - I won't bring the Barbeque or any apple sauce.

[Allan]

All I can advise about tomato seedlings sown too early, when you get these poor leggy specimens strip off as many bottom leaves as necessary and plant them really deep or else layer them into a mini trench. Tomato plants excel in sending out roots from buried stem and it will give the plant more vigour to have a big rooting system. The commercial ideal is to grow the plants on in pots to the point of having the first truss already there(and set?)when planted, I have never got anywhere near that, to much else to attend to at that time of year.
Allan

[for Allan]

Allan - when do you sow your tomato seeds? My plants are just at first 2 leaves stage so are not more then a cm high or so. Ususally I would be putting them in the greenhouse and letting them grow on slowly now, but I can't get the greenhouse to warm up in this weather. I'm half way through putting bubblewrap up and I'm going to put in another heater and see if that takes it above 10. Jane E