Tomato Growing 2026

I have now 5 of 20 germinated

 

All mine have germinated from their Sunday sowing and moved on to bask under the grow lights.

I shall not sow any more.
I shall not sow any more!

 

Most of mine have also germinated. I'll prick them out this weekend. Not bothering with grow lights this year for them, they can live in the sun room for a month or so

 

I'm cutting down old compost bags to make poly pots in the size I like for tomatoes. I'm quite pleased with the results. Putting in the drainage holes is fiddly. I've been using a desk hole-punch but it only works on the heavier gauge plastic (different brands, different packaging). I think I'll use the soldering iron to make holes in the thinner stuff.

 

I have two 6x8 greenhouses, a few too many sown as always, but better too many than too few

 

It may help puncing through 2 cardboard sheets with a plastic inbetween.

 

Good plan! Thanks. Meanwhile I should add a note to say that if using a soldering iron, be sure to pull open the bag immediately after making the holes or the layers may fuse together.

 

The seed I sowed just over a week ago is starting to show. These brighter days really help even when using a propagator.

 

My Toms have germinated so now the challenge starts to protect them from going to sleep and to keep them from getting leggy.

But... in a moment of nostalgia, I bought some Shirley F1 and Gardener's Delight seeds which Dad and I used to grow some 30 odd years ago. We used to have friendly rivalry competitions to see who had the first flowers, the first ripe tomato, and how long we could keep the season growing. Memories eh...

 

Started my first batch two weeks ago

Sunchocola
Rose de Berne
Grushovka
Starfighter Rebel Prime
Bolivian Orange Cherry
Stupice
Red Alert
Blondkopfchen
Honeymoon
Piel del Melocoton
Cosmonaut Volkov
Nello's Plum

All rose their heads quickly apart from the Honeymoon and one of the Grushovkas and Cosmonaut Volkovs.
The Nello's Plum and Piel Melocoton are steaming ahead and looking very good. Some are straggling.


Will do the final batch at the weekend