Just started tomatoes

[manicscousers]

I had to do something so have started, in my new little heated propagator
Marmande, golden sunrise, tigerella, some of Eric's beefsteak from South Africa and also some prizetaker leeks, how long do they usually take to germinate, any ideas?

[manicscousers]

[Tee Gee]

At a temperature of 21°C (70°F) germination should take about four or five days.

[manicscousers]

thank you, TeeGee, by then, I should be up and around enough to sort them out  ;D

[BarriedaleNick]

manics and all other early starters - Can I ask a question.
How do you stop them getting leggy (etiolating?) - Do you have a particular regime or a good place to pot them on into?

[manicscousers]

the back windows in our house get all the light during the day, plus the radiator is underneath, it's just a bit of fun for me, I usually start toms off now, if we get a warmish spring, they go into the poly in early march under a glass cloche  :)

[davyw1]

manics and all other early starters - Can I ask a question.
How do you stop them getting leggy (etiolating?) - Do you have a particular regime or a good place to pot them on into?

Give them as much light as possible after germination and potted on as soon as the seed leaf is big unough to handle

[plainleaf2]

i use two sets of shop lights hung from a frame on timer and a fan on timer for air circulation.
also the light should not be more then (3 inches/7cm) above the plants.

[shirlton]

I put foil covered cardboard around mine on a windowsill above a radiator.Am not planting so early this year.

[manicscousers]

just put some sweet peas in the last free box  :)

[bison1947]

Yes i think we are all chomping at the bit
especially with the winter we are having
Roll on spring....

[plainleaf2]

bison1947 who is waiting for spring my second batch of tomatoes plants are 4 inches already.

[manicscousers]

well, the beefsteak and golden sunrise are just showing, yahooo, I've got tomato babies  ;D

[terrier]

I've got some Cosuluto(4 days to germinate) and Marmande seedlings. The Marmande were a about 3 days slower at germinating. Today , I've put some trays of compost in the house to warm up ready for sowing more toms, chilis and sweet pepper tomorrow. The sweet peas in the cold G/H suddenly put a spurt on this week, summer must be 'round the corner. My pots of Delphiniums have suddenly started into growth and the Rhubarb is well and truly poking it's head up out of the ground. Things is starting to happen, I love this time of year :)

[Mortality]

oh great, ill start some tomorrow  ;D Tigerella.