Starting Tomato Seeds

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AndyArch

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Starting Tomato Seeds
« on: March 05, 2015, 12:30 »
I have jus bought a heated propagator to start my tomato seeds. I watched a Gardeners world video where they planted 6 seeds in a 3 inch pot to germinate and let them grow to approx. 2 inches before transplanting on.

The roots seemed very robust and they grew on very well, has anybody else used or heard of this method as it will certainly save a lot of space on the windowsill. :unsure:

Thanks

Andy

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DD.

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Re: Starting Tomato Seeds
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2015, 12:33 »
Quite an acceptable way.

I've got 9 pepper seedlings in a pot such as this and they get treated in the same manner.
Did it really tell you to do THAT on the packet?

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sonnycbr

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Re: Starting Tomato Seeds
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2015, 16:17 »
I have always used that method for my tomato plants. They are very quick to germinate in the heated propagator and you'll need to get them out and grown on in cooler conditions to prevent them getting leggy. Good luck.

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Steveharford

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Re: Starting Tomato Seeds
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2015, 18:10 »
Me too. In fact once I prick them out into individual pots they then get placed back in the propogator which is also in a light bay window. Best of both worlds.

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Yorkie

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Re: Starting Tomato Seeds
« Reply #4 on: March 05, 2015, 18:51 »
Do you have a greenhouse to plant them out into?

If not, bear in mind that they will not be able to go out into the garden until early June to be safe(ish).

It's far too early to start them off in heated propagators yet.
I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days all attack me at once...

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oldgrunge

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Re: Starting Tomato Seeds
« Reply #5 on: March 05, 2015, 20:34 »
I usually sow toms about now. Sow them in 3" half pots, and place them in an unheated plastic propagator on the window sill. Like the above, I leave them in the pot until they are about 2" tall.
We come from the earth, we return to the earth, and in between we garden.

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Steveharford

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Re: Starting Tomato Seeds
« Reply #6 on: March 05, 2015, 20:45 »
Once settled into their new pots,  and having put on a bit of growth mine will be moved to a mini plastic greenhouse within the main one. The mini will have an electric tube heater in it. Works well usually.
« Last Edit: March 05, 2015, 20:47 by Steveharford »

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sonnycbr

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Re: Starting Tomato Seeds
« Reply #7 on: March 05, 2015, 21:17 »
Once mine have germinated I move them into an unheated greenhouse, this slows their rate of growth and allows them to form a good root system. I don't pot them on into individual pots until they have their first set of true leaves. I'm not sure of the rights or wrongs, but it works for me. :D

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Kristen

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Re: Starting Tomato Seeds
« Reply #8 on: March 06, 2015, 02:48 »
Once mine have germinated I move them into an unheated greenhouse, this slows their rate of growth and allows them to form a good root system.

If the greenhouse temperature falls below 10C (which I expect it will, this time of year, unless heated) the plants will be stressed (leaves will turn purple because they cannot assimilate Phosphorous (I think??) at that temperature); the plants will stall, and stop growing, as a defence mechanism and will not resume growing until there is a prolonged period of warmth (from the plant's perspective!)

IMHO you would be much better off delaying sowing until the greenhouse is warmer.  Those later seedlings will grow at "normal" rate, so will be the same size as the early sown ones by May, but will have had no stress so will not be as susceptible to disease etc. later in the year.

How about try sowing some-now and some-later and compare them side by side through the season to see how they get on?

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barley

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Re: Starting Tomato Seeds
« Reply #9 on: March 06, 2015, 20:27 »
mine were planted in January  :)

they have been potted on twice and now out in the greenhouse

I have a polystyrene safe box measuring 8ft x 5ft

at night the lid goes on and a heater with frost setting is left on , thermostat never goes below 5 degrees at night , during the day it can have the lid removed and enjoy daylight and daytime  time temps

they are now approx. 12 inches tall and healthy and happy , I expect to pick toms by end of June

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Kristen

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Re: Starting Tomato Seeds
« Reply #10 on: March 07, 2015, 08:50 »
thermostat never goes below 5 degrees at night

By all accounts they will be stressed below 10C?

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DD.

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Re: Starting Tomato Seeds
« Reply #11 on: March 07, 2015, 08:59 »
I expect to pick toms by end of June

So do I, with seed sown later without all the faff!

Diary entry from 24th June last year:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=69457.msg1330456#msg1330456
« Last Edit: March 07, 2015, 09:04 by DD. »



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