What's going on?

[Tigger]

I thought I'd prick out a number of pots of seeds today from my propogagators, and several more from my tunnel. Herbs, vegetables, flowers, etc. They've all got tomato seedlings in.

Basil, parsley, chervil - with tomatoes.
Radish, onions, beetroot - with tomatoes.
Cutting celery, lettuce, oriental leaves - with tomatoes.
Rocket, coriander, mixed leaves - with tomatoes.
Marigolds, poppies, petunias - with tomatoes.
Tomatoes -with tomatoes.
Etc.
Etc.

I know tomatoes are promiscuous but why have they self seeded themself around 100 or more pots in 3 different areas and how?

[Johnboy]

Hi Tigger,
I suspect that you have been invaded by Mice. They have collected the seeds and have been storing them in your compost is my guess.
JB.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Tigger, i just can't think of any answers, but some of the combinations you mentioned sound quite nice.

[peter]

Where did the compost come from?
If commercial perhaps it included sewage works residue, tomato seeds got through us and the sewage works unaltered.

[ken]

Have you mixed some of your home-made garden compost in with your seed compost? When I plant out my courgettes and winter squash each year I give them a good helping of garden compost, and regularly I get tomato seedlings coming up. I always hope they'll come tosomethng, but inevitably they start too late and don't set any ripe fruit before they're clobbered by blight or frost. Although my compost heap heats up quite well, tomato seeds from the kitchen waste seem to survive.

[Tigger]

I didn't think of it being compost or mice.

Clever peeps!

It's new compost, from TFM, and new seeds 'cos mice ate my lifetime's collection of seeds this winter.

[peter]

I didn't think of it being compost or mice.

Clever peeps!

It's new compost, from TFM, and new seeds 'cos mice ate my lifetime's collection of seeds this winter.

Correction, "cos mice took away and buried in the compost my lifetime's collection of seeds this winter"

[Tigger]

No they didn't. I only bought it last month and they'd already had their midnight feastings.

[Geoff]

I use a potting tray when I am filling pots and modules, if you do the same could you have spilled some seed onto the tray and mixed it in?
Alternatively to see if it is contaminated compost, just fill a tray, water it and pop it somewhere warm to see if anything comes up.
Some of the things you mention have seeds of very different shapes to tomatoes so you could look in the packets if you have some left but I doubt so many things could be mixed.
I regret to say I think it is probably down to you somehow.

[Elaine]

Ello Tigger. I agree with previous posts about tomato seeds in commercial compost. I never put tomato waste in my own compost bin for that very reason...they pop up all over the place! Very annoying! Cheers, Elaine.

[ken]

Just another thought, Tigger, on keeping your seed safe. Of course, I don't know how many seed packets you have, but I keep most of mine in a Tupperware type box. The exceptions are the relly bulky ones like broad beans and peas. When we had the kitchen done up, the old fridge/freezer went into the garage. There's some spare capacity in that one, so I'm allowed (!) to keep the seed bx in there, plus the bulky packets. It keeps them away from the mice, and also the seed seem to remain viable for a very long time. Ideal conditions? All the best, Ken

[Johnboy]

Hi Ken,
A freezer is not the ideal place to save seeds. If at all possible they should be stored at a temperature between 4C and 5C (plus maybe a couple of degrees but not below 4C)
With many seeds the embryo is killed of if they freeze.
JB.

[Tigger]

I'm meticulous about sowing so it's not operator error. It's got to be the mices.

I used to keep my seed in a filing cabinet in the tunnel, but for the first time ever, the mice found a way in, so I've now got them in a metal case that belongs to one of Lyndon's many sanders or routers or something and I'm keeping that in the house.

It's an excuse to buy lots of new stuff but I can't replace some of the ones bought in Italy and France, the saved ones or the seeds given to me by others. It's taught me a lesson.

[ken]

As always (usual?!?), you're absolutely right, Johnboy. My fault for not explaining myself fully. I keep the seeds in the fridge half of the fridge freezer, which is about 5C. Thanks, though.

[macmac]

my friend doris will be so happy to hear about these toms as she gave plants to several people last year as tomatoes which turned out to be sprouting broccoli,she said "but the labels say toms!" as i pointed out she wrote the labels. she is new to all this!