Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Lupin lurcher on March 30, 2013, 09:28

Title: Tomato seeds
Post by: Lupin lurcher on March 30, 2013, 09:28

Hi, I sowed my tomato seeds in a multipurpose with added John Innes 16 days ago, they are indoors on a south facing window seal, so far they have not germinated at all, should I give them more time or shall I start again using a seed compost.

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: mumofstig on March 30, 2013, 09:33

the compost would have made no difference, but the temperature on the windowledge may have delayed germination - it's still very cold at night.

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: Lupin lurcher on March 30, 2013, 09:40

Thanks Mum, I will give them a little longer then.

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: richyrich7 on March 30, 2013, 09:50

Move them off the window sill to some where more stable a temperature. If you have an airing cupboard put them in there. They need warmth not light to make them grow.
As soon as you see the 1st seedling start to appear then they need light, back to the window sill during the day, move them off there at night till the cold weather has past.

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: Lupin lurcher on March 30, 2013, 11:03

Thank you Richy will do that

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: wil4025 on March 31, 2013, 17:08

Invest in a propagator, will speed things up and get better germination rates

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: starry on March 31, 2013, 17:21

mine are all on a south facing window sill and have now all come up been about 8 days but I did  cover mine which seemed to make all the difference (unheated propagator)

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: Pimento on March 31, 2013, 17:40

Yes, a lid certainly helps. I wouldn't worry, though - it's still early days with plenty of time!

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: gremlin on March 31, 2013, 19:40

A nice steady 20 degrees C, or a touch warmer, works for me.
7-10 days germination for ordinary tom seeds, and a couple of days fewer for F1.   

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: DD. on April 01, 2013, 05:56

Quote from: wil4025 on March 31, 2013, 17:08

Invest in a propagator, will speed things up and get better germination rates

You do not need a propagator.

I sowed some on 5th Feb and popped them in a plastic bag in the bedroom, where they were away from direct light, but at a stable temperature. They were up in 6 days.

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: Pimento on April 01, 2013, 08:27

It's still a propagator, DD - just a home-made one!  ;)  I also use plastic trays from the supermarket to make bases and lids - does the same job.  :)

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: DD. on April 01, 2013, 08:37

"Invest" was they key word.

I just nick a plastic bag from Mrs Digger's cupboard! Served me well these last 4 decades.

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: Pimento on April 01, 2013, 08:42

...Ah.   I didn't see 'invest' in your reply, DD. Just 'propagator'...  ;) 

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: DD. on April 01, 2013, 08:45

It wasn't in my reply as such, but it was in the post I quoted.  ;)

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: casper on April 01, 2013, 20:46

Pimento, I love your tray idea from the supermarket, gave me a great idea, the company i work gets in caterers for buffets, they always leave behind those plastic trays that have lids that fit over for sandwiches, time for some recycling me thinks  :) :)

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: Pimento on April 01, 2013, 21:07

Hi Casper, I've been collecting those at work, too - the ones with the black plastic bases and the clear lids that clip on top? I've been using them in the house as propagators. The bases are very shallow, though, so what I've been doing is fitting two lids together (to add strength) and using them upside down as the base, with another lid for the top. Then I use my plastic trays from ready meals etc inside as seed trays.

I  find Sainsbury's tiramisu containers make particularly good seed trays and lids (they're see-through and nice and rigid) - 'cept now I just eat much too much tiramisu!  :D

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: mumofstig on April 01, 2013, 21:28

It's a hard life  :nowink:

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: Pimento on April 01, 2013, 21:40

Yeah, I need the allotment to keep me digging to work off the tiramisu I eat to grow the seeds to make the plants to run the allotment... :lol:

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: casper on April 01, 2013, 21:44

Haha great minds think alike, the amount of those trays i have given away, thats a great idea with the double lids, will defo start eating Tiramasu too, that sounds like a really good plan aswell  :D

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: Pimento on April 01, 2013, 22:06

Yep, might as well get some fats and E-numbers to go with all that healthy veg!!  ::)

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: RookieJim on April 02, 2013, 09:04

My tomatoes are coming along nicely:

(http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag9/Theboldjim/a4912762d8cd92529944f4c9989c419f_zps1dc4ee14.jpg)

I've got 3 of these trays in total and they're all looking good. The small plant on the left is one of the cucumber plants. There are 4 of these, I think.

Jim

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: DD. on April 02, 2013, 09:08

The tomatoes are starting to look a little leggy, Jim, they could do with re-potting a bit deeper, even up to their leaves.

Have you used the aluminium foil trick?

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: RookieJim on April 02, 2013, 09:14

DD,

I've got foil behind them and they're on the kitchen windowsill... :unsure:

I shall repot them today - would it be best to pot them individually now?

Thanks as always.
Jim

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: DD. on April 02, 2013, 09:23

Yes, I'd get them into their own little homes!

Title: Re: Tomato seeds
Post by: Lupin lurcher on April 04, 2013, 10:47

Thank you for all of your replies, they are now all up and looking good.