Tomato Growing 2025

They usually say if you grow on plants that are affected by weedkiller the fruit gets deformed as well, even heard it also tastes funny.

 

Some did and some didn’t @JWK. One side of the soil beds got a load more manure than the other. Out of say approx 30 plants I would say 10 conked out 10 were not really affected and 10 were affected but put up new side shots to replace the distorted ones. Sungold was least affected and Honey Delight ( yellow toms) was pretty well ok. Tigerella and Sweet Aperatif were wiped out. I would not be in too much of a hurry to give up on them. If the main stems are going woody and brown this is not good news! Hope the damage is not too dire and glad you have a few replacements if needed. Until what happened last season I was not aware that tomatoes and potatoes are quite so highly susceptible to weedkillers. My cucumbers, peppers , chillis, lettuce and melons were not affected at all.

 

Hello, I'm new so hoping I'm doing this right! I have had real trouble growing tomatoes in the last couple of years. I have an unheated greenhouse with a small fan; I germinated my Gardeners Delight back in April, indoors, and then moved into the Greenhouse. I've kept an eye on temperature, water and light, moving them out of the Greenhouse when it gets above 40 - but they're still only about an inch tall and looking pretty feeble. Any thoughts on where I might be going wrong?

 

Is that 40c?
Got any pictures?

 

Just wonder if they look slightly purple.

 

Thanks all! Here's where I'm at. The greenhouse does get above 40c but then I've been taking them outside in the recent dry spell (Essex, UK) and the thermometer still reads above 40c when in direct sunlight. I didn't take these outside in the frost so I don't think that's it; compost was seed compost, but just potted on in standard all-purpose. They were in those tiny compostable pots up to the last weekend because I thought they were too small to pot on.

 

Seed saving has commenced.

 

Seems strange, the stems do look very purple but I would have thought they would have started to grow away by now.
Do you have anything else in the same compost.

 

I think a lot of us have had tomatoes stalling on us this year @Tpearce28 . I would say that the ones in your pic have been potted on too soon. They are still seedlings and don't require such large pots yet. It can be a bit tiresome but like most stuff from seed, gradual potting on is better for root development.
A lot of the multi purpose compost available to us now is also rubbish and it can be difficult to get the moisture content right. You may also want to consider providing the GH with some form of shading for when the sun is too fierce and fleece for the cold snaps.
You mentioned that ot's only been the last couple of years that you are finding problems. Are you doing/using anything different which you can put your finger on ?
Hope they pick up soon anyway

 

Yes, I have some courgettes, beans and sweetcorn and they are doing OK

 

I can't think what I've been doing differently - to be honest, I potted on as I thought maybe the seed compost was the problem, so thought a change might do good; it's only been a week but no change yet.

 

Thanks JWK - I think the problem came before I actually pricked them out, but I suspect the watering is a possible; I had thought that tomatoes need plenty of water so have basically been giving them a good soaking as soon as the compost looks dry on top, so maybe inadequate drainage? Should have used compost on top of vermiculite? I just used pots of compost on this occasion.