OVER WINTERING TOMATOES

[vivie veg]

Sorry this may be a little early, but may give us time to debate the finer points!

I was also reminded of it by another thread concerning pinching out.

For about 5 years I have taken some of the pinched out shoots of my tomatoes and potted these up in about August. They then spent the Autumn and Winter in my utility room and kitchen windows. One faces Southeast and the other Southwest. If they get too leggy I might cut them down in December but I generally get fruit off them by March. Later in the spring they go out into the unheated plastic greenhouse and give a small supply until the main crop come in.

I think the original plant was gardener's Delight....but I lost the label ages ago.

I did not do any last year as the kitchen windowsill has been taken over by a rubber plant and I need the utility window for my propagator, but I regret it as I have to buy toms now and they don't taste the same!

I have just got the plastic on my polytunnel and was wondering if I could do similar in there....currently I have no heat, but a friend has just rescued a propane heater that looks as if it may need a new home.

Any comments?

[oldherbaceous]

Not sure about the toms, but if you get given that propane heater please get it serviced.

Kind regards a concerned Old Herbaceous.

Theres no fool like an old fool.

[Allan]

I tried something like that but in a greenhouse. They got a severe attack of whitefly and were ruined so it was back to the fresh seeds for me. Perhaps they would have done better in a drier atmosphere indoors, a bit of artificial light and a drier atmosphere. The relative humidity in winter gets horrendous, especially in a polytunnel and a propane or oil heater will make it worse as water is generated.
Allan

[vivie veg]

Thanks both for the above input I will bare them in mind and let you know outcome.