[Dantheman]

Hi Guys,

I.m off on holiday soon, it couldn't come at a worse time for the allotment.  Out of my first lot of toms seeds only three survived I planted six pots of each variety (3 in a pot, 4 variety in total).  I have resowed some more and yet again only a few have germinated.
I won't be back till next Saturday so won't get to the plot till Sunday.  Would it be to late to try and get some more to start out?

Sorry if I don't answer before i'm back but it would be great to get all your views on the matter in the mean time, as so when i arrive i will be able to log on and get the answer from you great people.

Thanks

Dan

[gremlin]

Not too late, but sow indoors at room temp 20 degrees day and night, and keep them warm on the windowsill until they are 6" high.  They might get a bit leggy but they will catch up.

Or its the dark glasses, false beard, trilby and trenchcoat, and down to the garden centre like me.

[DD.]

You forgot the aluminium foil, gremlin - they won't get too leggy if you use that!

Dantheman, if you're using viable seed, there's appears to be something amiss with how you're raising them a you're getting consistently bad results across the varieties. How are you doing it?

[Middlesexbloke]

You forgot the aluminium foil, gremlin - they won't get too leggy if you use that!

Dantheman, if you're using viable seed, there's appears to be something amiss with how you're raising them a you're getting consistently bad results across the varieties. How are you doing it?

Could you explain the aluminium foil trick please? This is the first year I've grown my own toms from seed and I've about 20 healthy but leggy plants on windowsills! They are propping each other up but when I take one on its own it doesn't stand upright. I've cut some of the plants back to encourage a stronger stem and I'll be potting them up in the polytunnel next week.

[al78]

You forgot the aluminium foil, gremlin - they won't get too leggy if you use that!

Dantheman, if you're using viable seed, there's appears to be something amiss with how you're raising them a you're getting consistently bad results across the varieties. How are you doing it?

Could you explain the aluminium foil trick please? This is the first year I've grown my own toms from seed and I've about 20 healthy but leggy plants on windowsills! They are propping each other up but when I take one on its own it doesn't stand upright. I've cut some of the plants back to encourage a stronger stem and I'll be potting them up in the polytunnel next week.

You put a sheet of foil around the back and sides of the seed tray and tuck the bottom underneath the tray, so the tray will be surrounded by a tall foil fence. This reflects the light back onto the seedlings which almost doubles the light levels and helps prevent legginess.

[al78]

Not too late, but sow indoors at room temp 20 degrees day and night, and keep them warm on the windowsill until they are 6" high.  They might get a bit leggy but they will catch up.

Or its the dark glasses, false beard, trilby and trenchcoat, and down to the garden centre like me.

I sowed some last weekend but unfortunately due to the south east perma-clag this week temperatures in my house are around 15C, am I wasting my time hoping for germination?

[Mr Rotavator]

You forgot the aluminium foil, gremlin - they won't get too leggy if you use that!

Dantheman, if you're using viable seed, there's appears to be something amiss with how you're raising them a you're getting consistently bad results across the varieties. How are you doing it?

Could you explain the aluminium foil trick please? This is the first year I've grown my own toms from seed and I've about 20 healthy but leggy plants on windowsills! They are propping each other up but when I take one on its own it doesn't stand upright. I've cut some of the plants back to encourage a stronger stem and I'll be potting them up in the polytunnel next week.

You put a sheet of foil around the back and sides of the seed tray and tuck the bottom underneath the tray, so the tray will be surrounded by a tall foil fence. This reflects the light back onto the seedlings which almost doubles the light levels and helps prevent legginess.

I stick the foil using a Pritt Stick type glue to a thin piece of card so it can be moved about. Also it gives rigidity for watering and opening blinds etc and stands high. I hold it in place with clothes pegs. Has worked for years and you don't have to replace the foil.

[DD.]

Cant be bothered faffing about with glue, cardboard & pegs! I just stick mine under the tray/pot and fold it upwards as previously suggested. Easily adaptable for any size of container and folded away when not in use. (Or re-use on your Sunday roast!).

[Mr Rotavator]

Cant be bothered faffing about with glue, cardboard & pegs! I just stick mine under the tray/pot and fold it upwards as previously suggested. Easily adaptable for any size of container and folded away when not in use. (Or re-use on your Sunday roast!).

Nothing wrong with a bit of faff once in a while. Also it has to look half decent what with it being in the front room window that is straight on to the pavement. Finally if you need to give the foil treatment to a number of pots it cuts down on the 'faffing' as I covered two trays that were filled with pots of chillies and tom's this season - only takes 5 minutes to construct and you're done. 

[A Reyt Tayty]

I staple my foil to sheets of A4 card to give it rigidity. Then get a piece of wood and put a saw cut in it so that you can slide the card into it. Glue 2 lolly sticks under the wood and you have a moveable tinfoil "cricket screen". Only takes minutes to do and is useable year in year out. Foil is easily replace should the need arise.

And after all that, my first efforts this year have been pants. The latest sowings look decent though.

[DD.]

I suppose all this constructions helps those dark winter nights simply fly by! 

[Mr Rotavator]

I suppose all this constructions helps those dark winter nights simply fly by! 

That's the spirit.

[Dantheman]

Hi Guys & Gals,

Thanks for the reply's.  It's a bit of a shock coming back to the UK to this weather brrr cold.
I start my seeds off at home and have them on the window seal until my wife tells me to move them, then they have to go up to the allotment in a unheated greenhouse.  I was thinking about making a propagator in the greenhouse next year to start them off.

I've been to the plot today and came back to a nice sight of all the other toms i planted have come up.

Dan