Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Growing in Greenhouses & Polytunnels => Topic started by: A Reyt Tayty on April 29, 2012, 10:25

Title: unheated greenhouses best for propogating toms?
Post by: A Reyt Tayty on April 29, 2012, 10:25
The toms I've propogated in an unheated greenhouse are doing miles better than the pampered ones on a nice warm windowledge in the house. Any ideas? More light possibly? Colder makes them hardier?  :wacko:
Title: Re: unheated greenhouses best for propogating toms?
Post by: Yorkie on April 29, 2012, 13:16
Probably is the better light.
Title: Re: unheated greenhouses best for propogating toms?
Post by: A Reyt Tayty on April 29, 2012, 13:31
I wouldn't mind, but the ones in the house aren't even getting leggy. They've just stopped. I'm beggining to think it's the seed as they were all stored in the same place (kitchen drawer in paper envelopes). Possibly too warm for them?
Title: Re: unheated greenhouses best for propogating toms?
Post by: Yorkie on April 29, 2012, 15:37
As they've all germinated OK, I doubt it's the seed.  It will be to do with the growing conditions as you say.
Title: Re: unheated greenhouses best for propogating toms?
Post by: fluffstermum on April 29, 2012, 16:09
Our seeds sown at home and sat on the windowsill (with tin foil DD-style) have done well, germinated in a couple of weeks and are growing slowly. The shop bought pepper plants are thriving there too.
The same seeds sown in the same compost but left in the polytunnel at the allotment have not germinated in the last 4 weeks. Nothing. So I've brought them home to see if I can get anything from them before they rot.
So pretty much the opposite to what you've experienced Tayty!
Though in comparison the pumpkins that started off at home indoors have grown too fast and are quite leggy, whereas the same seeds sown and left in the polytunnel are lovely and strong, just growing more slowly.
What seems to work for me is sowing at home, germinating on the windowsill, then taking over to the polytunnel before they start growing too fast.
Title: Re: unheated greenhouses best for propogating toms?
Post by: A Reyt Tayty on April 30, 2012, 09:12
As they've all germinated OK, I doubt it's the seed.  It will be to do with the growing conditions as you say.

And if it was lack of light, they'd be getting leggy, but they're not. They are certainly warm enough. Some are in clear half pint plazzy cups, and I can see roots running down the side, in some cases to the very bottom. But, the plant at the top refuses to budge past the first two true leaf stage before surrendering. I've tried various different compost/mixes. Same results. It's nowt burra worry. :( Also wondering if it's ventilation problems.
Title: Re: unheated greenhouses best for propogating toms?
Post by: mumofstig on April 30, 2012, 09:49
All the things you've said would suggest that they're on the cold side, which is strange as you maintain they're warm enough.

I'd move them into the unheated greenhouse - they probably get warmer in there during the day as soon as there is any brightness. Even on a fairly dull day the temp in mine gets up to about 18C.  Bring them in at night till they've adjusted to lower night temperatures in the g/house though
Title: Re: unheated greenhouses best for propogating toms?
Post by: A Reyt Tayty on April 30, 2012, 20:42
All the things you've said would suggest that they're on the cold side, which is strange as you maintain they're warm enough.

I'd move them into the unheated greenhouse - they probably get warmer in there during the day as soon as there is any brightness. Even on a fairly dull day the temp in mine gets up to about 18C.  Bring them in at night till they've adjusted to lower night temperatures in the g/house though

Those in the house have had a constant temp of 20 degrees, night and day. 4 weeks on from sowing and they are only an inch or so high. Not leggy and not spindly. Just not "'avin it". As soon as the true leaves show, the seed leaves drop off. The ones in the greenhouse from the seed being set are now putting on some timber and starting to look like they should.

So, I've moved them all into the greenhouse today seeing as it's been sunny and warm. One of the seedlings didn't like it much and keeled over in the first couple of hours, so I moved them out of direct sun, to where the coolglass on one side of the roof is giving some shade. I'm totally cheesed off with them, so they are going to have to take their chances now with lower night temps. They either pick up or they don't. I'm past caring to be honest. I can always cadge some, or even go mad and BUY some from a garden centre. :unsure: