Topic: I don't know about you, but ..............

[tim]

..............I really couldn't leave these in the lean-to until the rule book in flower - they would have been far too leggy??

[sandersj89]

Nice healthy plants there Tim, you are well ahead of me it seems though the warmer days are just starting to gee mine on. Stll a few weeks away from their final resting place though!

Do you rely on fleece for cold night protection in the large greenhouse?

Jerry

[tim]

Yes.

Do you wait for flowers before planting out??

[sandersj89]

The simple answer is....well yes and no.

My first crops normally come in the form of cherry tomatoes. usually Tumber and Sungold. These are normally in flower when they get planted out to their final spot.

The main crop ones are planted out around the same time and they are not normally in flower but there is evidence of flowers on their way. As my time and space is restricted I have to make do when I can.

 ;D

In an ideal world I would have a few large greenhouses and more time on my hands, but wouldn't we all!

Jerry

[MikeB]

Hi Tim,

When did you sow your tomato seeds?

[Curryandchips]

Excuse me while I have a momentary wave of depression, as the bulk of my tomatoes are just sown or at the seedleaf stage ... and I haven't even bought my gardener's delight for outside planting yet ...  :-\

Back to normal now, yes Tim, they look like they would be unhappy in the leanto, struggling for adequate light ...

[sandersj89]

This is the stage mine are at, not half as big as Tim's but I am very happy with my aubergine's at the moment.

The toms have been sown in stages so some are more on than others:








Jerry

[moonbells]

very nice aubs Jerry!

Mine are all rather smaller - only just getting their first real leaves. I think they'll start to motor soon as the conservatory's now getting direct sunlight and so is getting warmer in the day than the heater has been set to. 

That digital thermostat's been a boon.  Growing conditions cooler but more stable and I've not suffered from the leggy, too-warm seedlings of previous years!

moonbells

[tim]

Jerry - yes, mine are Santa - always early. But how the Hell do you get yours to flower in that 'factory' before they get drawn up?? Beats me. Are the toms sown in those pots or t/p into them?? Remind me, do you have staging heat or ambient?

Mike - mid-Feb.

PS - if anyone uses these Sinclair (Arthur Bowers) bags, beware - they split too easily. Am just talking to the firm about it.

[MikeB]

Jerry I noticed you are using a reflective material in your greenhouse, you wouldn't be using it if it was no good, but does it make a significant difference? and is it laid over the bubble wrap?

[sandersj89]

Jerry - yes, mine are Santa - always early. But how the Hell do you get yours to flower in that 'factory' before they get drawn up?? Beats me. Are the toms sown in those pots or t/p into them?? Remind me, do you have staging heat or ambient?

Tim, not the seeds were rasied in root trainers and then potted on when I see roots coming out of the base.

All heat is from a fan heater and I use one of the same lights over them as you do. This comes on a 4am and off at 7am, then back on at 7pm and off at 11pm. The second light sessin is getting shorter all the time now with the days getting longer of course.

It only seems the tumbler flower very early compared to the others.

Jerry

[sandersj89]

Jerry I noticed you are using a reflective material in your greenhouse, you wouldn't be using it if it was no good, but does it make a significant difference? and is it laid over the bubble wrap?

Mike

This is the first year of using it. I have made a 3 sided hardboard box that sits on my staging, I have removed the 3rd side for the pictures. This is lined with the foil.

It is hard to say it has helped as I am also using supplementary light this year for the first time. But I decided to use it as it stops light spilling out of the sides of the bench so should increase the intensity some what.

The bubble warp is simply attached to the frame of the house as normal.

HTH

Jerry

[tim]

Thanks, Jerry - can't see your reflective stuff, but you do what we do - box in the light. It also shields it from neighbours.
We also line the walls, & when the light is not on, we use the box pieces to reflect on individual trays.

Can't say that I see a difference with the wall lining, but the individual bits do help.