Topic: Growing tomatoes inside for winter..anyone else going for it.

[javahart]

We have a very light family room with french doors and velux's.  I plan to make the tomato plant a feature and will be using a large pot.  Any suggestions for a sizeable plant?  Hight is no issue, as we have about 12' ceilings.

[Jayb]

I might have sounded negative in a previous post but I would love to have toms through the winter. Just that I expended so much time/money so far to little success.

Anyway, do you think its really possible without lights?

I’m wondering if no extra lighting is available, if producing a compact tomato plant with the bottom  trusses just starting to ripen as it needs to be brought in, might be the way to go? I thought Tommy Toe might be worth a try as it is not too tall. Not so much actively getting it to flower and set fruit throughout winter but more getting the plant to ripen fruit for some time?

[Jayb]

Javaheart, what about Sungold? It is a super performer, pretty much the first to start cropping and also the last to be ripening fruit into Autumn.

[markfield rover]

Right here goes nothing,but I do fancy a go .
I want to see how far I could go with natural light(easy said on a bright day like today)I have some lovely 'house plant' type toms 
outside at the mo and will check the label and give them ago ,maybe two sowings.
I will post seed   name later.

[Jeannine]

Height for me is an issue as I have practically no natural ligt facing North so under lights I go.

Therefore I am sticking to real littlies on my top shelf up to about 15 inches tops,then by taking out my second shelf I can go to about 30 inches by planting on the bottom.

                                      


Still trying to decide about which varieties.In the running and some maybees are

Chibikko
Hahm'sGelbe Topftomate ..definate
Top shelf
Red Robin]
Tiny Tim
Yellow Canary
Micro Gemma
Spiridonovoskie  
Extreme Bush
Yellow Pygmy
Mohamed
Demidov
Minibel
Polyaenye
Floragold Basket
Shtambovy Kaetofelnolistny
Budai Torpe
Totem
Lucky Leprechaun
Yaponskiy Karlik
Golden Swarf Champion
Dwarf Champion Improved..red

Usual proble, too many choices , not enough space. the smaller light fitting is useful for a spreading type.

XX Jeannine

[Jayb]

I thought I'd share these pictures of Red Robin, shame I picked the few ripe toms before I thought to take a photo  ::)
Taste is better than I was expecting, not very sweet but a nice bit of tomato tang  :) One for me to try this winter  ;D

[attachment=1]
[attachment=2]

[grannyjanny]

I've just looked that one up & it says 30cms. What height has yours made Jayb please. That's about 13" which would be ideal for me.

[Jayb]

Just under 9'', I put a ruler in the second picture to show but its not as clear as it could have been  :)

[grannyjanny]

Thanks Jayb, even better, count me in ;).

[Jeannine]

Wow, that is great. I am doing that one for sure.Thanks Jayb.

I found another one today called Far North,  has anyone grown this one?

XX Jeannine

[Jayb]

Jeannine I do love your setup it looks super  :)

I'm wondering if anyone can help, if I got a T5 light would I want blue or red bulbs or both?

[markfield rover]

Balconi Red - I may also root some side shoots in September.

[Jeannine]

Still trying to cut down on the choices, anyone else made up there mind.

Not tomatoes but we picked 2 beautiful Tom Thumb lettuces today that were grown completely under lights, they were perfect.

We have 2 small  green tomatoes on a  mini plant that has been under the lights since  birth.

Now  my tomatoes  through the winter  comments will also include my salad veggies grown inside.

XX Jeannine

[GrannieAnnie]

Jeannine, just wondering- did all those on your list of toms come recommended for growing under lights?

[Jeannine]

Well no not exactly, some did come with that suggestion but most don't, There is supposed to be a few that can tolerate low light but I have never found any conclusive data on that, not worth filing as I do anyway. I was going mostly by size, I pulled all my small ones out, some I have since decided are too tall for my light fixture without rigging something else up and I don't want to do that this year.

I have room for just one under my smaller light and I think that will be a low growing but widespreading one, possibly Anmore Dewdrop, not sure yet though.I have used this light before with a Tumbler and it works quite well , the pant doesn't get as big as outside in a hanging basket.

I am gradually eliminating ones that grow over 2 feet but am actually aiming for a bit less,I am trying to put a more comprehensive file together focusing on accurate size, then will feel better able to choose but this year might be a bit hit and miss, but there is not much info out there. However I will carry on for now.

Do you have any ideas yet?

Maybe I should rewrite the list with what heights I have and perhaps others can add to it.

XX Jeannine

[landy]

It soundsvery interesting :D

[Sholls]

I'm wondering if anyone can help, if I got a T5 light would I want blue or red bulbs or both?

I'm planning on getting a 6700K one, that's the colour temperature my compact fluorescents are and they worked just fine for me last winter. Most manufacturers have the emission spectra of their tubes online, if I remember correctly my 6700K cfl's had a good output near the main absorption peak of chlorophyll-b. (Edit: That's towards the blue end of the spectrum).

[Jayb]

Thanks Sholls, I'll have another look, trouble is I've come across LED grow lights now!

[Jayb]

My thoughts so far, other people may have different results/thoughts.

Not more than 6-8’’
Vilma, ok crop, flavour, nothing to write home about.
Red Robin, under 6’’, producing masses of fruit for its size. Lovely shiny round red fruit, taste is ok.

Under 10’’
Minibel, good crop forming, healthy looking plant
Ditmarsher,a trailer and so far my favourite, an abundance of small pink grape cherries, quite sweet, early to produce.

Tiny Tim about 18’’ good set just starting to ripen.

Under 2’
Golden Dwarf, Victorian Dwarf,  Lucky Leprechaun and Yaponskiy Karlik, all have a good crop coming along.

30'' Polish Dwarf, as above

Maskotka is producing well, fruit is tasty and is a tomato I would grow again although I doubt for winter planting as a tad too boisterous for that. Great for summer tubs though.

Hundreds and Thousands, small, sweet and tangy, again too large a plant for me for winter garden.

[chriscross1966]

How about Garden Pearl?.... I've got some of these in pots ATM and they're tiny little things that are disappearing under their flower trusses...

chrisc