Allotments 4 All

Round about the time I was putting this season's toms outdoors into their MBBs, I was preparing the borders in the garden and came across the usual swathe of 'accidental' tom plants self seeded from stray fruits dropped last year. I remember thinking how sturdy they looked and swithering over whether to keep a few to grow on, but in the end I hoiked them out as I had more than enough new plants to be getting on with.

Well, I can't help but wonder now how they would've done. After all, they were in the ground through the winter and they'd have been used to the conditions in the garden - I reckon they'd have been pretty darn good by now.

Anyway, I've decided to try overwintering some seeds outdoors this autumn and growing them on next season to see how they do. Has anyone else tried this and if so, what were the results?

They regularly sow tomatoes in December round here for the glasshouses.
Am fairly sure they are kept heated well above frost levels though, and that they get high levels of lighting for fairly long periods.
Best of luck!

Cheers Jenny!

It just seems such a waste, looking back, as the self seeders really did look robust.

I was going to pull ours up and was advised to let them grow, they're now about 12" high and looking better than my planted outdoor ones  ;D

a lady on our lottie sows hers around november and transfers them into an unheated g/house-with bubble wrap protection-she gets very early toms and i shall try it this year...
kitty
xx

Never thought about sowing tommys over the winter time. I have always sown them early march on my bedroom window sill.

Must try a few over winter :)

The_Snail

Same here, Snail - start early indoors, grow on then transplant outdoors.

But every year I get an invasion of tom seedlings in the garden, no matter how careful I've been in lifting fruits the year before. Up they come in the borders, the veg patch, the lawn, cracks in paving stones and even in the pond. I think they're trying to outdo my passionflower which is a rampant self-seeder (it's even come up from two-year old seeds before) for the 'Most unlikely/ inconvenient location' prize.

Well, I'll give it a go - not that I've much choice anyway - there's probably still a few of last year's seeds lurking in the undergrowth, waiting till my back's turned...

;D