Allotments 4 All

Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: aide on June 02, 2006, 15:15:35

Title: first year tomato advice
Post by: aide on June 02, 2006, 15:15:35
Hi all,

I've got a couple of tomato plants that I think are growing really well in my little plastic green house, they've started to flower now and I'm just wondering what I should do now.


thanks all!!
Title: Re: first year tomato advice
Post by: deboydoyd on June 02, 2006, 17:34:18
My first time as well, as far as i know when you get your first flowers you plant them into there final positions, either in a greenhouse ie growbags or ring culture
(look in search for info) or outside (after last frost--hopefully now). When the first truss has 'set' (flowers fallen off and tiny tomato visable) you need to start feeding with a tomato feed, follow instructions on bottle but usually once a week. Mine are looking good--3 Alicante have  about 4 trusses set. And obviously keep watering regularly.
Title: Re: first year tomato advice
Post by: Svea on June 02, 2006, 17:45:15
contrary to popular belief, tomatoes do not need watering all that much if they are grown outside in soil.

in fact, they are one of the few vegetables still standing when other things have given up due to heat and lack of water.

sparce watering will encourage their roots to go deep and seek their own - don't spoil your crops too much
Title: Re: first year tomato advice
Post by: Merry Tiller on June 02, 2006, 22:18:03
Aide, superb avatar, what happened to Tiger though ???
Title: Re: first year tomato advice
Post by: Chocolate on June 04, 2006, 20:35:39
Hi everyone
maybe thick but whats a ring culture ???
Faith
Title: Re: first year tomato advice
Post by: plimsoll plot on June 04, 2006, 20:40:35
:)i take of all the side shoots as they flower and give them plenty of support with canes . i grow mine outside as growing melons in my greenhose this year. i give mine plenty of water, and they give me plenty of toms :-*
Title: Re: first year tomato advice
Post by: supersprout on June 04, 2006, 20:46:34
Quote from: Chocolate on June 04, 2006, 20:35:39
whats a ring culture ???

See http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,57/topic,19000.0 for the low-down choccy :)
Title: Re: first year tomato advice
Post by: redcow on June 05, 2006, 11:03:59
I have a stupid tomato question as this is the first year I have grown tomatoes in the greenhouse.....
Just planted some tomato plants in the raised bed in the greenhouse & I have put some wire across the top & was going to grow the tomatoes up string tied to the wire. Now the daft question - do you have to anchor the string down & do I have to tie the main stem to the string???

Any advice welcome as my plants are starting to bend over......

RC
Title: Re: first year tomato advice
Post by: supersprout on June 05, 2006, 12:52:28
I tie the string in a loop onto the stem. Then just twist the stem around the string about once a week as it grows - no further tying in necessary ;D
Title: Re: first year tomato advice
Post by: redcow on June 05, 2006, 13:20:59
Thanks Supersprout. Sometimes you just cant see the obvious......  :)

RC
Title: Re: first year tomato advice
Post by: Chocolate on June 06, 2006, 16:24:40
Thanks Superprout
Yer, I think I am thick I'll stick to planting them in the ground and hoping for the best   ::)
See Ya
Choccy
Title: Re: first year tomato advice
Post by: aide on June 12, 2006, 09:33:51
thanks for all your help.

My first Tom is coming through!!!!! 
My girlfriend said I spent more time with that little tomato this weekend than I did with her

She's probably right   ;D
Title: Re: first year tomato advice
Post by: Tee Gee on June 12, 2006, 22:42:08
I agree with supersprout but do not tie the loop too tight at the base of the plant.

Leave sufficient space for the stem to grow/expand otherwise you might strangle the plant.
Title: Re: first year tomato advice
Post by: supersprout on June 13, 2006, 17:13:33
Quote from: redcow on June 05, 2006, 11:03:59
do you have to anchor the string down & do I have to tie the main stem to the string???

This is what mine looked like today redcow - the rig is more impressive than the toms >:( ;)

(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e220/supersprout/a7233bb3.jpg)
Title: Re: first year tomato advice
Post by: tim on June 13, 2006, 17:50:02
Pretty impressively original, Sprouty!!

With cord, they do say put it around the root ball.