[Kellybee]

Hoping to get some advice please

About three weeks ago i attempted to sow about 30 or so tomato plants (in a little plastic greenhouse thing in my garden) from seeds that were leftover from last year. So far not a single germination (a little dig around in the compost revealed a few brown seeds) Everything else seems to be showing signs of life such as beans and ourgettes.

Im not sure why the toms havent taken off but have i left it too late to start sowing from seed again? I intend to grow them outside in the allotment but dont know if perhaps it will be too late?

Any advice would be grateful?

Thanks

Kelly

[Eatyourgreens]

Sounds like duff seeds, how were they kept over the year? Did they grow OK last year? This is the main problem of keeping seeds, if they don't work you have wasted time.

No it's not too late to start again but getting there, so get some new seeds from a reliable source ASAP but consider buying some young plants or asking around for spares (We all have them, well most times we do).


Bob

[tam]

Tomatoes like it warm so you might get better germination inside

[Kellybee]

I 'found' the seeds in a box in the garden so Im not too surprised they ended up being a duff. I think I will take your advice and try a few plants this year!

Thanks for the reply

Kelly

[Kristen]

Tomato seed needs 18-21C 65-70F to germinate, and minimum night temperature of 10C to grow on, so I think think your grow-house is not warm enough (during the day probably yes, at night too cold though)

[DD.]

Summarising the posts, too wild a variation in temperature.

As suggested, start them inside, the temp is far more even, them stick them in a window using the old aluminium foil trick. They'll be happy there for weeks!

[Briony]

I have many here and can post you some if you pay for post and packing and give me some idea of how to box them up.

[KarooPaul]

I might be bale to bring a couple of plants in to work one day. I work in Angel, Islington, and live in Baldock, Herts. I can't remember off hand what spare varieties I have. Latah might be one of them, which I think is quite an early cropper, which could be good for outside growing.

best,
Paul

[Kristen]

Would some side shoots, wrapped in wet kitchen paper, survive well enough to then be used as cuttings?

Might be easier to package for posting?

(I'm allowing one side shoot, per plant, to get to size suitable for a cutting)