Allotments 4 All

First, is it ok to use rain water on mature toms? I have a vague memory of reading that tap water is better, but I have a bin collecting water right nexty to my greenhouse.

Second, several of my toms have grown shoots from the bottom of the plant which i have only noticed now that they are nearly the height of the main stem.Should i takethese off (some have flowers)or leave them?

Rain water is better...............at least I think so :-\...thats all my toms get anyway.

You can leave the new growth or remove it....up to you.

I cut the long ones out - too much to look after!

Quote from: caroline7758 on July 08, 2009, 16:55:15

Second, several of my toms have grown shoots from the bottom of the plant which i have only noticed now that they are nearly the height of the main stem.Should i takethese off (some have flowers)or leave them?

I've taken some off and planted them, they're doing really well  ;D

Snap  :)

I take off any shoots below the first truss, they just get too congested otherwise! ;D After that I let them go go go........ ;D

yes and yes-those long shoots do creep in but cut them out

Tap water for seedlings....it helps to protect against damping off.  Once the plants are established, rainwater is best.  Don't forget to feed them about once every 4 or 5 days.

Bringthing this thread back up again because I have blight on my tomatoes in my greenhouse.

I previously stated that I thought rainwater was best but I have been told today that blight spores might fall into the water buttand then be transfered.....anyone got any ideas about this?

Shouldn't do unless you are watering onto the foliage... even then unlikely...  :-\

Quote from: Fork on August 15, 2009, 17:42:45
Bringthing this thread back up again because I have blight on my tomatoes in my greenhouse.

I previously stated that I thought rainwater was best but I have been told today that blight spores might fall into the water buttand then be transfered.....anyone got any ideas about this?

Just asked the OH and he's been watering our greenhouse toms with rainwater from the butts outside the greenhouse,he only waters at the roots though occasionally drenches the foliage with fresh water via the hose.Last year in a very overcrowded greenhouse we got blight this year ssh not yet :-X

I never water the foliage: theory being it would help blight spores to adhere - probably pure superstition  :)