Too late for toms?

[return of the mac]

I am arent i? Well when should i sow next year? Howbout nice and early- Christmas day in the ghouse of course? Bit wary of buying the plants now- last year i got an aphid infestation from plants at a fayre- no decent crop (sour toms) and i had to spend time and mula getting rid of the aphid problem- any suggestions on getting rid of them in case it happens again?

[return of the mac]

[tim]

2 very different questions?

When? Where will you be growing them? Don't try to outdo the experts.

Aphid? Any bought-in stuff - dunk it well before it goes into the well sterilised greenhouse. Then - if - use soft soap. Or what you wish!!

[sandersj89]

I am arent i? Well when should i sow next year? Howbout nice and early- Christmas day in the ghouse of course?

I sowed:

Tomato    Alicante         26-Jan-05
Tomato    Brandywine   26-Jan-05
Tomato    Sungold         26-Jan-05
Tomato    San Marzona 26-Jan-05

Alicante are about 3 foot tall now and first truss is well in flower.
Brandywine are nice and strudy at 12".
Sungold about 18" and flowers now on.
San Marzona only 10" but stocky. No flowers as yet.

All sown in a heated greenhouse and will be grown under cover.

Jerry

[return of the mac]

Tim im in aberdeen so i use a greenhouse- its heated but doesnt get as much light as id hope. Any suggestions for a variety to sow now

[tim]

Yes - you're a bit short of light up there?

But if you're heated, like lucky Jerry, you could try a growing light to get the plants through the early spindly stage?

[philcooper]

RotM,

Heat and low light will produce leggy plants so I would sow late (end March/early April) and choose a "reliable" variety - Sungold is good and tasty (but I thought I heard that it was not going to be available next year)
Gardeners Delight reasonably sweet. Alicante (not a special flavour but relaible)

What do the other Aberdonians grow? - Sub-arctic plenty sounds a bit pessimistic and I don't beleiev has much flavour  ;)

Phil

[sandersj89]

RotM,

Heat and low light will produce leggy plants so I would sow late (end March/early April) and choose a "reliable" variety - Sungold is good and tasty (but I thought I heard that it was not going to be available next year)
Gardeners Delight reasonably sweet. Alicante (not a special flavour but relaible)

What do the other Aberdonians grow? - Sub-arctic plenty sounds a bit pessimistic and I don't beleiev has much flavour  ;)

Phil

That is a shame about Sungold if you have heard right. It is a nice tom and gets high marks for taste.

The Alicante is being grown as a sauce tomato this year to make a base for pasta sauce and curry sauce. I am hoping the flavour will be OK for that use.

Jerry

[return of the mac]

Hold on hold on, its not as cold and dark as you might think up here- in fact ive heard about all your frosty woes while ive had none (hehe) 8) So id say im only a week or two behind up here, if that.

Ive decided that as this is my first year of allotmenting that i will hold on till next year and get them sown as early as possible. Christmas day i reckon- ill keep them on a windowsill.

Whats this about sungold then? why wouldnt it be available?

[ajb]

Any suggestions for a variety to sow now

Something quick to fruit! Try "Sub Arctic Plenty" or at a push Siletz or Tigerella.  Still worth a try  :)

[tim]

For next year - anyone - Vida Verde specialise in 'earlies'.

[skypilot]

... im in aberdeen so i use a greenhouse- its heated but doesn't get as much light as id hope. Any suggestions for a variety to sow now

Hi Mac,

I'm in Dundee, not too far away and I  suspect that my greehouse, which is not heated is also somewhat lacking in light than yours (see photos) I have at the present tomatoes in various stages of growth (not shown).

I have recently sown Ailsa Craig from old seed and they are in the cotyldon stage at the moment. They have simply been sown in ASDA  potting compost and are showing every promise of being nice sturdy plants