Allotments 4 All

So...........who is already thinking about sowing their first tom seeds of the year?

I've only got as far as deciding what to grow! Been having a nice time trawling catalogues this last week :)

(San Marzano and Cream sausage at the lottie for sauces and freezing,  and Tumbler at the house for eating!)

moonbells

Thinking yes, but I will not actually sow any until perhaps the end of the month ...

to late em

i already have 6 of each variety (super sweet one hundred - fanatasio - Ferline - Green suassage - Beef (ones from lasts yrs crop and last but not least Yellow pear from last yr also) all in there own little hot pot in the garage although after some results with the Beef stake been planted outside in the garden this yrs gamble will be about 10 per cent in the green house and the rest outside !!! looking to grow about 50 plant all in all (bit of experimentation involved so not holdings ones breath for large crops but just out of interest really !)
the polytunnel is going to be reserved for Aubergines - some pepper some chilli - and a newwww cool house for melons is been built nearly as we speak ok thats a fib as im working nights but itll be continued tomorrow lol

are you planting your toms em ?

carl
Happy new yr to you x

I'm sowing a month later this year for several reasons. Firstly, if we ARE having the bad winter that's forecast then it might run quite late and I can't be bothered heating the greenhouse for months this year.
Secondly, all my late sowings of tomatoes ( and the 3ft tall plant that got cut off at about a foot ) caught up with the early plants anyway. A week of good weather in May seems to equate to around a month of heating, fanning, watering and worrying in Feb.
If I can be patient my first tomatoes will be sown at the end of Feb in the dining room ( patio windows ) and not moved to the lottie till they can manage with the cool nights.

So, with that great lead, Carloso, when do you pick your first?

I've decided what I'm growing, now waiting until beginning of Feb before getting them started. :)

Usually sow them end march or early april.

I want to sow some, am desperate to sow some, but won't they be very leggy and weak cos of the low light levels?

I have built myself a light box at work, to counteract this problem, I germinated lots of seeds this way last year, without any problems ...

Bit too early yet up here- plus I haven't got my seeds yet! Love your picture,btw, Em!

in the truth of it tim i dont know !!

this is my second yr and so the trials go on but this yr is more about what and how good they grow outside, been up North and on the coast its probably not the best idea but worth a try last yrs crop was short lived but plenty full off about 12 plant of various types but my plant in the garden here was my hero excellent big fruit good tasting healthy looking plant all round and it still had fruit up to oct !!! although about 50% coloured to red and the other made about half i was really impressed

So in short my answer to you is as soon as there ready im in no rush but just trying to extend my growing season with a look at yeild later but most of all TASTE please !!!

Carl

Ow just in case im lucky enough to succeed im also organising to look at chutneys and tomato sauces to freeze etc etc lol

fingers crossed

Definitely not outdoor ones until end of Feb this year - they get too big too fast otherwise...

Indoor ones as soon as sun is high enough to get into the greenhouse - about 2 weeks hence...along with aubergines and peppers - hooray! :)

Probably end of January if I find them in time. I stick them in my utility room beside the chummy avocado plant. North-facing but plenty of light and good temperatures since it houses the boiler, the fridge and the freezer.

im still going to plant them !!!!

lol