Allotments 4 All

Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: baggie bird on June 29, 2006, 08:24:15

Title: Tomato help
Post by: baggie bird on June 29, 2006, 08:24:15
Help!!!

I'm a newbie growing tomatoes for the first time - so please forgive any daft questions. I've put my plants in growbags with canes, after growing them from seed in pots (Gardeners Delight). So far there's no sniff of any flowers appearing, but the plant seems to look healthy enough. What have I done or are doing wrong? Shouldn't they be flowering by now??

Many thanks
Title: Re: Tomato help
Post by: amphibian on June 29, 2006, 08:36:30
Quote from: baggie bird on June 29, 2006, 08:24:15
Help!!!

I'm a newbie growing tomatoes for the first time - so please forgive any daft questions. I've put my plants in growbags with canes, after growing them from seed in pots (Gardeners Delight). So far there's no sniff of any flowers appearing, but the plant seems to look healthy enough. What have I done or are doing wrong? Shouldn't they be flowering by now??

Many thanks

How tall are they?
Title: Re: Tomato help
Post by: sallyann on June 29, 2006, 08:48:53
Hi,

I am doing the same as you baggie bird, growing Gardeners Delight from seed as my first tomato growing attempt. Mine are about 1 1/2 foot high now and there are some tiny buds at the top of some of the plants. I hope yours and mine flower soon!
Title: Re: Tomato help
Post by: tim on June 29, 2006, 08:49:36
And how big when they went out - & when?

Did you give each bag a gallon of water before planting??
Title: Re: Tomato help
Post by: baggie bird on June 29, 2006, 17:36:00
They are now about 1-1/2 ft tall, and I did soak the growbags before planting, and have continued to water without letting the bags dry out. Am I too impatient or should they be flowering by now???
Title: Re: Tomato help
Post by: tim on June 29, 2006, 18:02:35
Here we go again!

Indoors or out?
Were the first pots filled with roots when planted out?
WHEN did they go out.
It is 'said' that there should be flowers on the plants when they are put out. Something I have never achieved.
Title: Re: Tomato help
Post by: baggie bird on June 29, 2006, 20:18:15
Sorry Tim-guilty of speed reading!!

The toms are outdoors, they were raised indoors in pots from seed in March, and were transplanted outdoors into Growbags at the end of May/ early June, and have not been subjected to frosts. They are currently supported by canes, but there is not a hint of a flower. The roots seemed to be about average in the pots - not terribly pot bound but pretty substantial.

I know that there are supposed to be flowers on the plants before planting out, but there didn't seem to be any sign then (nor now a month later), and they seem to be getting a bit tall for the pots (although now with hindsight they probably could have waited).
Title: Re: Tomato help
Post by: Growbe on June 30, 2006, 01:09:05
I would suggest this year with such a hot spell, lack of water is the problem.
It sounds like they are just surviving and depending on aspect they will need a lot of water to survive and produce fruit. You should get some sort of crop but regular feeds will be needed.  Gardeners Delight is a good performer so save some seeds you may just get a bumper crop next year :)
Title: Re: Tomato help
Post by: supersprout on June 30, 2006, 07:12:59
The toms I planted out last month took a good few weeks to establish themselves, looking very sad and thin, but are now growing well. Their roots might be taking time to adjust before they show top growth?

Quote from: baggie bird on June 29, 2006, 20:18:15
I know that there are supposed to be flowers on the plants before planting out

pah :(
like waiting for leeks to get the thickness of a pencil - when they're bustin' out of the pot IMHO they're ready
I have just planted out tiny toms (two true leaves) and will See What Happens - had some space and spare seed ;D
Title: Re: Tomato help
Post by: tim on June 30, 2006, 08:04:09
All I can say is that ours (sown mid-Feb, out early May) were a good 18" before they got flowers. Slower than ever before.

Leeks, Sprouty? Agree on that!