[gowing238]

Hi all.

Im new to all this growing malarcy! I have inherited a greenhouse like structure on my new allotment plot. The previous owner obviously grew a lot of tomato plants (i still have the remains!!) And i am planning on doing the same.

Im wondering, when is the latest i can plant tomato, chill and pepper seeds. And do i have to plant them on a windowsill in the house or can i start them in my greenhouse? (un heated)

Thanks for reading my rambles!!!

[Plottered]

ive always started mine off indoors on the window cill then transferred them to the greenhouse when it decides to warm up enough.

[gowing238]

when is the latest i cvan think about planting them?

[Kristen]

"Latest" ... hmmm ... why are you needing to delay?

Delaying sowing will delay the crop.

How about catching up later?  You could get some plants from the garden centre, or ask someone growing Tomatoes near you to let some side-shoots grow to 2" - 3" and take them as cuttings, that will be a lot quicker than from-seed, so you could use that as a basis for starting a bit later perhaps?

That aside, I would think for a cold greenhouse you ought to be sowing Tomatoes and Sweet Peppers about now (a month ago would have been fine too), but Chillies ought to have been started a while ago (depending on what type you want - many of them can be sluggish to get cracking, hence a longer growing season helps) - but not too late yet, just crop may be late / smaller

They cannot go into your greenhouse until the minimum temperature is 10C - so the windowsill will be busy until then.

[gowing238]

Sorry to sound slow!! But what do you recommend on the windowsill till it gets over 10 degrees? The chillies or the tomato? Or both!?

Not really putting off, just awaiting seed delivery, hoping i still have time!!!

Cheers for the reply

[Kristen]

Ah, well if seed delivery is imminent then that sounds fine. I thought you may have had foreign travel getting in the way, or something like that.

You need to sow Tomatoes, Peppers (sweet & chilli), Cucumbers, Melons, Aubergines for cold greenhouse now (or a bit earlier [next year]).

You don't need many plants for a greenhouse - important not to overcrowd them, so perhaps start by working out how many you can fit in the greenhouse and then think about juggling windowsill space.

Some of these plants are going to be quite large (2' tall and needing to be 1' apart, maybe a bit more - the chillies will be smaller) by the time it is warm enough to move them to the greenhouse.