TOMATO GROWING THREAD 2020

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by ARMANDII, Jan 18, 2020.

  1. RobB

    RobB Gardener

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2019
    Messages:
    129
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    west Darrzaat
    Ratings:
    +231
    Can NEVER have too many tomatoes:dbgrtmb:
     
    • Agree Agree x 4
    • john558

      john558 Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Feb 14, 2015
      Messages:
      2,359
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Retired
      Location:
      Ramsgate, Kent
      Ratings:
      +8,189
      Tomatoes & Cheese in a sandwich, yummy.
       
      • Agree Agree x 2
      • Like Like x 1
      • Arlandria

        Arlandria Gardener

        Joined:
        May 22, 2020
        Messages:
        135
        Gender:
        Female
        Occupation:
        Parent/Carer
        Location:
        Surrey, zone 8b
        Ratings:
        +284
        @JWK They're cordon - I have one Gardener's Delight and one Sweet Million. I did remove the side shoots, at least the little ones, I'm not sure if that is one or not. I'm about to join my virtual knitting group but will have a check tomorrow and make sure.

        @Aldo That is an amazing amount of information, thank you so much! I'm hoping to buy a small greenhouse as soon as the one I've chosen is back in stock, so hopefully next year I'll have more options. I'm planning to get auto-vents but am undecided about whether I'll heat it or not. It will have electricity though so easy enough to add heat later if necessary.

        We're not huge tomato eaters in this house but I do love a few cherry tomatoes in a side salad. It wouldn't be worth me investing in lamps and so on if I can only use them for tomatoes. I do prefer to grow fruiting veggies though (sweet peppers, courgettes, I want to try lettuce and cucumber next year) so if it's useful for those too then it's definitely an option.

        Thank you so much for all the advice!
         
        • Like Like x 2
        • Aldo

          Aldo Super Gardener

          Joined:
          Nov 25, 2017
          Messages:
          594
          Gender:
          Male
          Ratings:
          +1,318
          @JWK Thanks, I am glad! Also considered that most of what I know about tomatoes I learned here on the forum and quite a lot of it from your posts :)
           
          • Friendly Friendly x 1
          • Aldo

            Aldo Super Gardener

            Joined:
            Nov 25, 2017
            Messages:
            594
            Gender:
            Male
            Ratings:
            +1,318
            @Arlandria If I had the space for a small greenhouse with direct electricity I would certainly consider heating it, because I could germinate most things there rather than flooding the house with pots. But it is a very small house.
            I tried germinating in April in my tiny, unheated GHs and it was very hit and miss.
            Things like corn, courgettes, cucumbers, patti pan, pumpkins, pak choi and radish managed, albeit slowly, without too much trouble and went on growing despite the occasional cold night.
            Peppers did quite badly, with only 50% germination rate.
            Melons curiously did not germinate at all for weeks, but all of sudden came all out when the temperature went up.
            Terragon did not not do great, probably 30% germination. Fennel was a total, complete failure (Florence variety, I love fennel). Surprisingly rocket was a total failure as well. Tomatoes from cuttings did establish despite the lack of heating, but as I said would have done better if the temperature had been higher.

            [​IMG]
            [​IMG]

            I would not trust tomatoes from seed, basil or most definetely chilli peppers to germinate at all in an unheated GH, unless in full summer, window sill in a heated propagator for me, but perhaps others will disagree.
            However, if you were to use heated propagators you might get better results.
            As for grown plants, from my limited experience and what I read here I think peppers, melon and chilli are ideal candidates for the greenhouse.

            Lights are an interesting thing. I know little but I did some reading out of curiosity because of some question here on the forum.
            If we are talking about adult plants flowering and fruiting, even a small greenhouse will require quite a lot of artificial light, because the canopy surface will be large. In Summer, if the greenhouse is well insolated most of the day, probably it would not be worth.
            In very early spring it perhaps would, to get tomatoes really early as some members manage, but it would also require very good heating.

            Actually, I received today some cheap led lights and I am testing them.
            However, for me it is simply a matter of speeding up chilli and peppers which germinated only recently, and to hopefully make seedlings less spindly when growing them on my crowded window sill.
            I can tell that the cucamelons loves them to bits. Within one hour were extending tendrills, planning to choke peppers and chilli and enjoy the good light all for themselves.
            Frankly, they are the closest equivalent to bindweed in the edible category.
            I am curious to see what will happen in a few days, but I think all plants are responding to it already..

            [​IMG]
             
            • Like Like x 2
              Last edited: Jun 19, 2020
            • Arlandria

              Arlandria Gardener

              Joined:
              May 22, 2020
              Messages:
              135
              Gender:
              Female
              Occupation:
              Parent/Carer
              Location:
              Surrey, zone 8b
              Ratings:
              +284
              @Aldo I know what you mean - my house isn't too small but I have a young child and a cat, so finding safe places to put propagators is tricky. I can fit 1 on the kitchen window and 2 in the conservatory, and that's it. Hence the greenhouse plan :)

              I've started planning next year's crops already - just putting down some ideas really - and at the moment I was thinking that tomatoes, peppers, and courgettes should be in there all the time. But that's a different topic for a different thread :biggrin:
               
              • Like Like x 3
              • Arlandria

                Arlandria Gardener

                Joined:
                May 22, 2020
                Messages:
                135
                Gender:
                Female
                Occupation:
                Parent/Carer
                Location:
                Surrey, zone 8b
                Ratings:
                +284
                Each of my tomato plants had one big side shoot that I'd missed, so I removed them with a small sharp kitchen knife.
                 
                • Like Like x 2
                • JWK

                  JWK Gardener Staff Member

                  Joined:
                  Jun 3, 2008
                  Messages:
                  30,679
                  Gender:
                  Male
                  Location:
                  Surrey
                  Ratings:
                  +45,620
                  The first Sungold ripened yesterday on both outdoor and greenhouse plants. We just ate them for lunch, so delicious.

                  20200611_163642.jpg
                   
                  • Like Like x 7
                  • pete

                    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

                    Joined:
                    Jan 9, 2005
                    Messages:
                    47,700
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Occupation:
                    Retired
                    Location:
                    Mid Kent
                    Ratings:
                    +84,320
                    Thats early for outdoors John.
                     
                    • Agree Agree x 3
                    • Like Like x 1
                    • JWK

                      JWK Gardener Staff Member

                      Joined:
                      Jun 3, 2008
                      Messages:
                      30,679
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Location:
                      Surrey
                      Ratings:
                      +45,620
                      Not sure it really counts as proper outdoors , as it's on my south facing Patio against the house, overnight temps are a good few degrees higher than my greenhouse.
                       
                      • Informative Informative x 1
                      • PhilC

                        PhilC Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Apr 3, 2020
                        Messages:
                        100
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Ratings:
                        +38
                        Since it's been dull and rainy over the last week my Tomato plants have been stuck inside my greenhouse and the leaves are all turning a slight shade of yellow. Could this purely be from the lack of sun?
                         
                      • sandymac

                        sandymac Super Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Jan 16, 2017
                        Messages:
                        375
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Occupation:
                        engineer
                        Location:
                        durham
                        Ratings:
                        +910
                        There are many causes of tomato leave turning yellow from drowned roots, magnesium deficiency, root knot nematode aphids etc.
                        Magnesium deficiency for example yellows the leaves between the vanes.
                        there may also be other signs such as brown spots, need to know more to advise, a picture would be helpful.
                        lower leaves on plants yellow naturally as the plant gets older and plant sends nutrients elsewhere.
                        regards sandy
                         
                        • Agree Agree x 2
                        • Informative Informative x 1
                        • spannerwiz

                          spannerwiz Apprentice Gardener

                          Joined:
                          May 14, 2020
                          Messages:
                          5
                          Gender:
                          Male
                          Location:
                          Chelmsford , Essex .
                          Ratings:
                          +9
                        • spannerwiz

                          spannerwiz Apprentice Gardener

                          Joined:
                          May 14, 2020
                          Messages:
                          5
                          Gender:
                          Male
                          Location:
                          Chelmsford , Essex .
                          Ratings:
                          +9
                          Romello bush , three plants in a big pot , pictured today 13/62020 2.jpg 3.jpg 4.jpg 2.jpg 4.jpg 3.jpg
                           
                          • Like Like x 4
                          • spannerwiz

                            spannerwiz Apprentice Gardener

                            Joined:
                            May 14, 2020
                            Messages:
                            5
                            Gender:
                            Male
                            Location:
                            Chelmsford , Essex .
                            Ratings:
                            +9
                            Romello bush type , 3 plants in a large pot , pictures 13/06/2020 .
                             
                          Loading...

                          Share This Page

                          1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                            By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                            Dismiss Notice