[KT]

Opps another question ...

My Tomatoes have not done so well the germination rate has been terrible, which hasn't been helped by the fact that i started them off late because it's been so cold.

Do you think it's totally too late for sowing more?? or should i give it a go??

Also last year i had all my tom's in the ground this year im thinking of poping some in pots as i have some asda flower buckets sitting around doing nothing but im concerned that simply poping a cane into a bucket won't be strong enough to support them and im worried about them tipping over, is there a better way of doing it? as i have no wall/fence space free as im growing in a garden and the beans/pea's take up all the fence panels

[tam]

You could use the bits you pinch out to grow extras. That will give you a head start over seed. Just stick them in compost they root really easily.

[pairofacres]

Do you think it's totally too late for sowing more?? or should i give it a go??

I'm suffering the same dilemma. Mine got attacked by the frost during the week, so I've had to sow some more today in the hope they'll catch up. A local smallholder is selling plants for 30p a shot and I can't decide whether to swallow my pride and buy some to ensure I get a crop. Just doesn't feel the same as growing your own though!

[noshed]

Sow some seeds intended for pots or baskets now and I'll bet they will be fine.

[simonmoe]

i have planted a few tomato plants in my greenhouse.  should i buy a liquid tomato feed or should i not?

any help appreciated.

[DD.]

Yes, but don't use it until the first fruit has set.

[KT]

Ok i've biten the bullet, a few of my seeds germinated (about 6) and i've gone and bought 6 little plants.

However as normal garden centers are really helpful with their tags the variety is Roma

I did a google search and it seems to think it's a "semi bush?" but how do i deal with it.

how big etc does it get? any good in pots? do i stake it, pluck out the side shoots yadda yadda?? sorry i know im being a pest.

[DD.]

You may need to stake it for support, but being a "determinate" variety you do not pinch out side shoots.

Roma is best suited to making sauces etc. rather than in salads.

[Lardman]

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/seeds1/product/259/1.html

Does that help.

I've grown these a couple of times and find 3 canes in the pot and string between them in a sort of cage arrangement is easiest to control growth.

[KT]

Yeah thats why i bought it, we don't eat that many salad toms, last year i ended up making loads of salad toms into sauces for pasta etc so this year i've gone for some sunrise (nice in salads) and Gardeners Delight.. i think i have 2 of each that germinated so fingers crossed i won't lose any so that should be enough to keep us in salads i may if im feeling naughtie buy another tumbler i had one last year that went great guns and could have kept us in cherry toms on it's own.  

It was the beefsteak that have caused me trouble as only 2 of those germinated as well after sowing 2 trays. I was looking forward to loads of nice spag bol with homemade sauce  so now fingers crossed with 6 roma i should be set though i may sow a couple of extra beefsteak just to be sure, but i won't be too upset if they don't do that well.

 

[hamstergbert]

As already indicated, Roma are best as a cooker - superb for sauces various, and also exceedingly good in Val's green tom chutney at the season end!

They are pretty robust, indoor or outdoor but they do seem to need careful support - canes in the frame if under cover, strings to overhead bar if outdoors.