Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: rookie1 on May 28, 2012, 09:55

Title: outdoor tomatoes
Post by: rookie1 on May 28, 2012, 09:55
Hi veg growers
A friend gave me three Gardener's Delight tomato plants, which I've been nurturing indoors, but since the spring finally arrived a couple of weeks ago, have been outside during the day. They're looking a bit spindly, and I wonder if they ought to go outside in the veg plot now, or should I wait longer before planting out. Don't have a greenhouse so that's not an option.
thanks.
Title: Re: outdoor tomatoes
Post by: mattwragg94 on May 28, 2012, 10:02
There Shouldn't be any frosts now - so they will be fine to plant outside - if they are a bit spindly - you could plant the tomato plant deeper, which will give you a stronger plant  ;)
Title: Re: outdoor tomatoes
Post by: rookie1 on May 28, 2012, 18:37
thanks for that - will definitely put them out, although the forecast is for cooler temps this week. Fingers crossed...
Title: Re: outdoor tomatoes
Post by: compostqueen on May 29, 2012, 08:57
I lost a load of veg one year on the weekend of 4th and 5th June in North Derbyshire so I'm not planting out til after that. Once bitten and all that  :)
Title: Re: outdoor tomatoes
Post by: Salmo on May 29, 2012, 09:40
If they are a bit spindly make sure that you have a good strong cane to tie them to. Gardeners delight need any side shoots pinching out so that you train a single stem up the cane.
Title: Re: outdoor tomatoes
Post by: boogaloo on May 29, 2012, 11:32
Oh really? Didn't realise that about GD and side shoots. Hope I haven't harmed mine by pinching out.
Title: Re: outdoor tomatoes
Post by: JayG on May 29, 2012, 11:47
Oh really? Didn't realise that about GD and side shoots. Hope I haven't harmed mine by pinching out.

Not sure you've read that correctly boogaloo - the side shoots on GD should be pinched out to make sure it grows as a cordon!  :)
Title: Re: outdoor tomatoes
Post by: mumofstig on May 29, 2012, 11:49
Gardeners delight need any side shoots pinching out so that you train a single stem up the cane.

Oh really? Didn't realise that about GD and side shoots. Hope I haven't harmed mine by pinching out.

The advise was to pinch out - so you won't have harmed them at all by doing it  ;)


Snap jay  :D
Title: Re: outdoor tomatoes
Post by: AnneB on May 29, 2012, 12:16
Just make sure it is the side shoots you pinch out and not the growing tip. Well not until you have 5 or 6 trusses of fruit anyway.
Title: Re: outdoor tomatoes
Post by: Willow_Warren on May 29, 2012, 14:30
Just make sure it is the side shoots you pinch out and not the growing tip. Well not until you have 5 or 6 trusses of fruit anyway.


I got a bit carried away yesterday pinching out side shoots and before I could stop myself I had pinched out the growing tip as well  :(  It only has 2 trusses  ???  at least it was only 1 of my 10 tomato plants I did this too...  will be taking extra care with the remaining 8  :blush:

Hannah :)
Title: Re: outdoor tomatoes
Post by: savbo on May 29, 2012, 15:21
if you pinch out the growing tip, just let one sideshoot grow and become the new leader. will hardly notice as difference

guess who's been there before?  :)
Title: Re: outdoor tomatoes
Post by: Willow_Warren on May 29, 2012, 15:26
if you pinch out the growing tip, just let one sideshoot grow and become the new leader. will hardly notice as difference

guess who's been there before?  :)

It's in it's final pot, so will see what happens, at least it has flowers so there should be something.

Doesn't look like I can count either... 10 - 1 = 8  :blink:

H :)
Title: Re: outdoor tomatoes
Post by: boogaloo on May 31, 2012, 13:06
Gardeners delight need any side shoots pinching out so that you train a single stem up the cane.

Oh really? Didn't realise that about GD and side shoots. Hope I haven't harmed mine by pinching out.

The advise was to pinch out - so you won't have harmed them at all by doing it  ;)


Snap jay  :D

You're absolutely right! That's what happens when I read the forums at the same time as eating my lunch :)