First Timer

Katja · « **on:** June 19, 2006, 13:18 »

Hello there - am in the first year of proud allotment ownership and it becomes more and more apparent that I was hideously underprepared despite reading some great literature. I did get the allotment rather late - end of April and had to start cultivating pretty quickly so I did not treat the soil but just started after weeding and rotivating. I have loads of questions and am hoping to pick your brains? :oops:
For example - when growing tomatoes indoors do you need to help them with pollinating? If I don't will I not get any tomatoes? So far out of 20 odd plants I have one (!) tomato forming - it's a beauty but it seems little for the effort I have put into this. Also I have not pinched anything out - is it too late now (they are flowering now and some of the flowers are starting to wilt...)
In my allotment I have a mystery attacker who so far has eaten all my small carrots and onions, after digging over and settling in my brassicas and thinking a polytunnel will keep away the nasties I found that all of the seedlings had been attacked and eaten bare. This only seems to happen on one of my 6 plots. I cannot think what it could be - slugs have been eliminated. Any suggestions?

Look forward to your answers!
Cheers K

John · « **Reply #1 on:** June 19, 2006, 13:57 »

Welcome

I've never needed to pollinate tomatoes - so I think you'll be OK there.
As for eliminating slugs... I doubt it. We've had them appear in hanging baskets! I'd suspect them at least.

You do need to protect your brassicas from birds at least until they've grown a fair bit.

Katja · « **Reply #2 on:** June 19, 2006, 14:00 »

Hi John - thank you for your welcoming words. Glad that I have found your site! Can I pick your brain again? When you grow tomatoes do you pinch their shoots out and cap their top? If so, do you do that once the flowers have formed?
I am so looking forward to my first tomato harvest!!!!

John · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2006, 14:19 »

What brains?

For sideshoots take a look at this topic
Generally you 'stop' tomatoes after they have got 5 or 6 trusses so the plant pours all its energy into making tomatoes rather than growing or you are left with loads of tiny green ones at the end of the season.

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