tiny tomatoes - panic

[aquilegia]

Help!

My tomato seedlings are still tiny. THey are only just now forming their first true leaves. I sowed them about a month ago. I've never sown them this late before.

Will they ever get big enough to fruit?

[aquilegia]

[wardy]

Mine are tiny too but I have every confidence that they will make good plants.  They've got time to make growth before going outside at the end of May (oop north).  I always leave mine til later as I do grow toms outdoors and I usually pick them til end of Sept and October last year.  I thought they wouldn't ripen but they did

[Moggle]

Aqui, must take some photos of my roma seedlings (the seeds you swapped with me  :) ) which sound quite similair to yours  :)

I am assuming I've gone from one extreme last year to the other! Last year grew them very early in a very warm and light spare room and they were giant leggy monsters! This year, after germinating in the airing cupboard got them in to the mini-greenhouse soon after (which hasn't been that warm lately with all the overcast days) and then had them outside by the house wall for a few weeks.

Wasn't happy with their progress in the cold, although they were probably tough little blighters by then, so have put them back in to the mini-greenhouse for a few weeks.

I am sure they will be okay once it gets warm and they get in to growbags and the ground  :)

[tim]

Are they smaller than these, Aqui?? Must not worry!!

(yes, I know I've shown it before)

[sandersj89]

aquilegia

If you look in the gallery under my Greenhouse and cold frame post you will see a selection of my toms. I have some 6 inches tall that need side shoots pinching out and others that do not have their real first leaves yet.

Seeing as it is only Mid April I am not worried. They will be mainly grown under cover which does help but I will also be putting some outside, Ferline and Tumbler for 2.

HTH

Jerry

[aquilegia]

Tim - probably about the same size as yours.

And with Jerry's, I'm feeling reassured. Panic over... (for now!)

[tim]

89 - I'm amazed that you have 6" plants which will survive. I know that you're in a more favoured area, but ours won't be 6" till mid-end May, when they go into a cold house. Some folk are just dead lucky??

[Moggle]

Aqui, just don't go in to a garden centre. They're perfect 5-6" non-leggy, about to flower specimens will either make you feel sick ( :-X with envy) or want to cry  (:'()

[sandersj89]

89 - I'm amazed that you have 6" plants which will survive. I know that you're in a more favoured area, but ours won't be 6" till mid-end May, when they go into a cold house. Some folk are just dead lucky??

Tim

I am lucky in that I have a heated greenhouse, this stays above 12 degrees centigrade day and night. Believe it or not I live in a bit of a frost pocket and we had temps down to minus 3 at the weekend.

The toms also get moved on bright sunny days out to a cold frame in near full sun. This gets nice and warm and they get maximum light.

I suppose the cost to heat does not make it a financially sound decision but as you know, you cannot beat the flavour!

Jerry

[Derekthefox]

due to losses, I am having to resow, bought some roma seed today in fact. I am hoping that come the warmer weather (!), then they will essentially catch up.

[legless]

the word is you can sow direct outside in  may and still get a crop. mine look like Tim's, they aren't going outside til end of may/ beginning june so they have plenty of time.

[philcooper]

Aqui,

Where and how are you raising your seedlings?

I have noticed a big diffence between the majority of my tom seedlings which are in modules (24 per tray) and the one of each variety that I have in a 7cm square plastic "pot", same compost, same location (frost  free greenhouse)

Phil

[aquilegia]

Phil - they are either on my living room window sill or kitchen window sill. The ones in the living room are slightly bigger as it's warmer. They are all in 3in pots, with a half pop bottle cloche over the top. Same compost, same sowing and potting on date.

I think the panic has subsided. I just need to learn to be patient!

[cleo]

loads of time for toms to grow up yet. Mind you I am glad to have sold a few already as space ran out last week.

Stephan

[tim]

I know what you mean, Jerry.

Even after ours go into the cold house, the temperature is often below 5C!

[philcooper]

Aqui,

They look even smaller when you prick them straight out into a 3" pot and I find that most plants seem to prefer being in a smaller container first. I use the 24 modules per tray or 7cm squares.

This does mean twice the potting effort, but does reduce the need for space early on

Phil

[aquilegia]

Phil - that is interesting. Must remember that for next year (save me a bit of room too!)

They do seem to have shot up since I started this thread, so I'm feeling much happier now!

[westsussexlottie]

With me it seems to be the variety that is dictating the size of the plants. Santa F1 are a bit leggy but not tall.
Totem are nice squat little plants with about 6 leaves on, but gardeners delight - not a delight - still their seedling leaves and no sign of progress. I think it is the cold nights - but it is really interesting how different types react differently!

[tim]

wsl - you probably know that Santa's habit, to maturity, is long & spaced out?

But one of the most useful small toms - solid flesh, holds together in casseroles  & freezes well.

The last bag!!

[westsussexlottie]

Yes I know they are tall and spread out - I am just hoping that the Santa F1 succeed and are not too leggy to be any good. We had to (shock horror) BUY tomatoes last Summer as the family is addicted to "baby plums"...

I am hoping that Totem will give a good crop - anyone else tried growing those?