[JohnB]

Moved to house in the countryside have a conservatory and want to grow salad stuff all year round. Leaf veg doing ok but toms looking ill. Bottom leaves on all plants (2 types) are going brown and falling off. Leaves go brown from outside in. They shrink inwards eventual there is just a liitle stub where branch was, left on the plant. The conservatory is warm all the time the door from the house into the conservatory is always open and the heating comes on at night. The plants are about 6 weeks old. Pepper plants also doing well. Plants are in buckets or pots with gravel in the bottom. Have given them some miracle grow. Anyone any ideas what (if anything i am doing wrong)

[WG.]

Hi JB and welcome.

Only thing I can see wrong is your expectations.     I wouldn't expect tomatoes to grow in our short winter days.  Plus, I suspect it is too cold despite the efforts you describe.

But ... I've never tried it ... someone else may have a different angle on it.

[WG.]

Also, please consider lengthening your username so that Search works (see Help topics in my signature)
 

[GrannieAnnie]

My tomatoes in the polytunnel are finishing now.  I know your conservatory is warm, but like WG. says, its the daylight hours they need too.  I think the commercial people keep the lights on all day, but then most of our winter tomatoes in the shops come from sunnier climes.

Good luck with it all, whereabouts in Lincs re you JB?  We are just south of Boston!

[gobs]

If your peppers look OK, that makes me wonder about cold, unless their dif position in the room exposes the toms to some draught. Are the stalks near the ground healthy? Any chance of damping off?

Otherwise, I do not grow them in the winter, for lack of appropriate place, but who  does (and that's what I would do) grows on mature plants or cuttings of them, which would flower around now with heat and extra light.

I'm in doubt if young seedlings would produce flowers before the spring.

[milkman]

I think that unfortunately you are simply trying to grow them at the wrong time of year.  

I would compost your plants and try again sowing fresh seed in the spring - you can start them off quite early on - february / march time, so once you get Christmas out the way you won't have long to wait.

[JohnB]

Good luck with it all, whereabouts in Lincs re you JB?  We are just south of Boston![/quote]

Near Louth.

[JohnB]

I think that unfortunately you are simply trying to grow them at the wrong time of year.  

Its a pity as they are growing very well other than losing bottom branches/leaves and they are in the same place as the peppers and all my salad leaves are doing well? Are you sure they won't grow at this time of year or that there isn't something i can do to help them. As i don't drive it is a pain just to cycle 8 miles to just get tomatos

[JohnB]

Are the stalks near the ground healthy?
The branches nearest the ground are the ones that are dieing and falling of.

Any chance of damping off?
Not sure what you mean

[gobs]

I mean the main stem, john, sorry. Just because stem and root rot can also cause browning of leaves.

[milkman]

i think if it was easy to grow and harvest tomatoes at this time of year we'd all be at it !  

[JohnB]

i think if it was easy to grow and harvest tomatoes at this time of year we'd all be at it !

A really helpfull remark Thanks for nothing.

[WG.]

Have you tried this before John?  Milkman is only echoing what all other posts (mine included) have been saying on your thread.

[JohnB]

Have you tried this before John?  Milkman is only echoing what all other posts (mine included) have been saying on your thread.

Milkman could put it better what's the point of making sniggering remarks?
Can i put a photo on for people to look at the plants? Also lighting, If i left ordinary light on at night would that help. If not how about lighting that the drugies use for Marijuana. Sorry cannot think of the name?

[Selkie]

Milkman could put it better what's the point of making sniggering remarks?

hi john B, i think that one of the things that makes this such a nice and friendly site is that people do feel comfortable to make gentle jokes; most people round here are very informal so please try and take it in the spirit it was meant.