Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: DanielCoffey on February 21, 2019, 20:57

Title: When to sow Tomato seed in Scotland?
Post by: DanielCoffey on February 21, 2019, 20:57
I will be sowing some bush tomato seed this year and wondered when I should do it given that I am in Scotland?

I will be starting them indoors in small plastic pots, covered. Then they will get introduced to the wind outdoors for short spells. Their final home will be a 2' x 4' x 16" raised planter close to a south facing wall, only two plants per planter.

Location is South Ayrshire. We are still getting the odd frost of course. So that you can work out our season compared to yours, plants that are out in our area at the moment are crocuses but only the earliest daffodils that are not yet open. No shrubs have leaves out yet.

Thoughts?
Title: Re: When to sow Tomato seed in Scotland?
Post by: jambop on February 22, 2019, 07:59
Generally speaking you would want to do that about six weeks before the last frost date for your region. I live in south west France and I will not be sowing my seeds until probably mid March as these will be planted out mid May and grown outside but if you were growing them on in a heated greenhouse then it is all about available light to grow them. Tomato plants are not going to thank you for cold growing conditions by that I mean night temperatures less than 12-14 C
Title: Re: When to sow Tomato seed in Scotland?
Post by: DanielCoffey on February 22, 2019, 12:25
Cheers - looking up "last frost date" for my location gives 2nd week of March for tomato seed sowing.
Title: Re: When to sow Tomato seed in Scotland?
Post by: Yorkie on February 23, 2019, 12:06
That seems very early, unless you're close to the west coast and therefore have an early 'last frost' date.

Here in Yorkshire our last frost date is taken as the start of June.
Title: Re: When to sow Tomato seed in Scotland?
Post by: DanielCoffey on February 23, 2019, 12:42
We are pretty coastal, yes. Our last frost is apparently end-April so six weeks before that would be mid-March.
Title: Re: When to sow Tomato seed in Scotland?
Post by: Mr Dog on February 23, 2019, 16:58
Quote from: Yorkie on February 23, 2019, 12:06
That seems very early, unless you're close to the west coast and therefore have an early 'last frost' date.

Here in Yorkshire our last frost date is taken as the start of June.

I was looking at frost dates for various reasons last week and it would appear that my last frost date has moved forward a few weeks from early June to mid May. Not sure I'm going to believe it though.
Title: Re: When to sow Tomato seed in Scotland?
Post by: Yorkie on February 23, 2019, 17:57
Indeed Mr Dog, I'm not risking it  :ohmy: