[ness]

Hello
Could someone confirm something for me.  I read some where, or saw on a film or I might have dreamt it  :roll: that you can plant tomato seeds as early as boxing day?  Is this true?
Any help gratefully received.
Ness x

[gobs]

You  can sow any seed on any day at your peril, it's just the question of what you are going to achieve. I personally never ever have sown tomato seed on boxing day.

But then there is going to be a dozen or more guys who have different strong views on this, watch this space. :!:

[richyrich7]

I think the only people who would benefit from starting that early would be the show growers, you would need to be able to provide heat and light, I start mine in Feb which is IMHO probably too early. I tend to get leggy plants and not sure if they crop that early.

[DD.]

I go for mid Feb. To stop them going leggy I put aluminium foil behind & to the sides of the seed tray. (Easy enough to fold one piece). Boxing day is way too early IMHO, if you did this you would need a well heated greenhouse in mid winter. - Costly!

[ness]

I usually leave mine til march/ april time but may try a tad earlier and go for feb.  The boxing day thing seemed to good to be true - plus I've got enough to do on Boxing day without thinking I should be planting seeds!
Thanks for replies
Nessx

[ditchdigger]

I think the only people who would benefit from starting that early would be the show growers, you would need to be able to provide heat and light, I start mine in Feb which is IMHO probably too early. I tend to get leggy plants and not sure if they crop that early.

    leggy plants can be a good thing. plant them a lot deeper and they'll produce a bigger root system.

[Trillium]

I agree with the others even if you are in Devon.

Over here, in Canada, I start my tom seeds late March and they're ready for May planting out. Without proper light spectrums (from sunlight) they just don't do well until actual planting time.

[richyrich7]

I think the only people who would benefit from starting that early would be the show growers, you would need to be able to provide heat and light, I start mine in Feb which is IMHO probably too early. I tend to get leggy plants and not sure if they crop that early.

    leggy plants can be a good thing. plant them a lot deeper and they'll produce a bigger root system.

Not entirely sure I would agree with you on that one Ditchdigger, leggy plants can be prone to weakness of the stem , personally I'd rather have a nice thick stubby stem for them to start on, but like you say plant them deep and they will soon root up.  

[DD.]

I think the only people who would benefit from starting that early would be the show growers, you would need to be able to provide heat and light, I start mine in Feb which is IMHO probably too early. I tend to get leggy plants and not sure if they crop that early.

    leggy plants can be a good thing. plant them a lot deeper and they'll produce a bigger root system.

Not entirely sure I would agree with you on that one Ditchdigger, leggy plants can be prone to weakness of the stem , personally I'd rather have a nice thick stubby stem for them to start on, but like you say plant them deep and they will soon root up.  

Whilst it grieves me to say so, I'd go with Richie on this. It's not just the roots that provide nutrients for the plant. To prevent leggyness (made up word) - don't forget the aluminium foil trick.

[Rob the rake]

I thought legginess was a real word, DD. I also subscribe to the 'if they're leggy plant them deep' school of thinking, and find that they still make strong plants. However, the tin foil trick makes sense, and I'll be using it this year, thanks.

[DD.]

I thought legginess was a real word, DD. I also subscribe to the 'if they're leggy plant them deep' school of thinking, and find that they still make strong plants. However, the tin foil trick makes sense, and I'll be using it this year, thanks.

I grow 'em sturdy & plant 'em deep. Best of both worlds.