[Ilovesproutsbest]

I`m reading up on tomatoes,since that`s probably going to be my main crop at home this year.The new estate is going to be built up to our allotments and mine will be the pond for the water drainage from the houses . I only found out today and am in mourning already.All that hard work last year FOR NOTHING  I`ll have to bring all the plants back home that I took there in the autumn.I am ready to cry myself to sleep.

I`ve taken note of the tomato favourites list in the forum and have chosen 4 varieties ,2 for greenhouse,2 for outdoors.

This american website I`m reading talks about CUTWORMS.Do we get them here in the UK?

And it suggests laying the plants on their sides to plant out,leaving just the top leaves showing....I`ve never had that suggested to me before,do you all do it?

[gobs]

Con-miserations, I'd be furious.

Do not worry about cut worms, we get some same critters but not necessarily with the same impact.

Planting toms like that is good if you do not pot on, as they grow extra roots along the stem, that's what potting on does, they develop a rather unique root system.

[AlotArds]

So Sorry to hear your lotty is sold on to become more housing that no-one can afford. Good luck with your Tom's and I hope you have your name down for a new allotment.

Good Luck

[TheSpartacat]

So sorry to hear of your plot woes!! Is it a council run lotty? Can they offer you an alternative plot?

This american website I`m reading talks about CUTWORMS.Do we get them here in the UK?

And it suggests laying the plants on their sides to plant out,leaving just the top leaves showing....I`ve never had that suggested to me before,do you all do it?

Yes, there are cutworms in the UK- Theres some good advice here:
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=37679.0

When planting my tomatoes out, I bury them deeper, so a fair amount of the stem is covered (and i remove the bottom leaves so as to avoid the lower leaves getting wet and diseased) - the buried stem produces more roots so the plant can take up more nutrients and water.

[Paul Plots]

Losing your plot must be every plot holders nightmare.  What a shame no one could find a protected species or two to stop the development. I'd have tried natterjack toads, crested newts or just about anything to stop developers moving in.

Tomato roots.... have you ever tried ring-culture where you pot deeply and then top the soil level up gradually to encourage the growth of new additional roots from the stem. It aids the feeding ability of the plants and works in a similar way I guess. 

[Ilovesproutsbest]

Thankyou everyone for your commiserations and tomato advice,especially the reference to the cutworm info! I have seen them,especially in my back garden.

The land was not council land, sadly.Luckily today,the young man who owns the stables where I get my manure sort of said he might be able to find me a spare piece of ground on his land if I can`t get another allotment further down the site away from the drainage pond........people can be so kind if you give them a chance!