[GYO Girl]

Haha, me too, mrs mud! Last year I did quite well, had loads of healthy plants in the unheated greenhouse..... And then  all of them went blue in May in the greenhouse. Resowed in May but my tomatoes were generally rubbish compared to the year before.

[missmoneypenny]

I'd be putting them on my windowsill, and of course with this weather it's none too warm. So I think I'll wait a couple of weeks.

[DD.]

Unless you house is really cold ( less than 10C), they should be fine on a window sill, with some aluminium foil. That's where mine are.

The main problem is where are you going to put them when they get large? Unless you have heated greenhouse facilities, it is still rather early.

Did I see that someone bought plants? 

[suesowsseed]

I have a few of different types, plum, gardeners delight, beefsteak and cherry which I germinated indoors, pricked out and are now in a cell tray placed inside a mini plastic greenhouse which is inside my 'frost free' greenhouse.

This worked really well for me last year.  Some remained in large pots in the greenhouse through the summer and some I planted out in the open.  They all did really well.

My chillies have just poked through so will be doing the same with these, but as they are much slower growers, hopefully they will be able to stay indoors for a good while yet until the weather warms up a bit.

I find the aluminium foil really helps to prevent them getting leggy.

[Daamoot]

I sowed a tray of toms and peppers last week and a couple have popped through so far.  They're on the warm south windowsil with foil (thanks for the tip DD) and will be transferred to the conservatory once potted on.  Picked up a couple mini plastic greenhouses so they can go out to them once it warms up a bit (if I don't have a proper greenhouse by then).

Last year I grew far too many tomato plants but unless they all germinate, I could be short this year.  Should I give them another week or two to germinate then sow some more if they don't?

[DD.]

Give them time, they can be a bit slow.

Another tip, if you're short of plants, is to root the side shoots you pinch out. It's as easy as pie!

[Lulu]

sowed my seeds yesterday - but they are in the conservatory.  OH has said he doesn't mind!!  Hope he's Ok when they get bigger!

[AlaninCarlisle]

Sowed a tray of Moneymaker today. They're in a propagator in the greenhouse. I realise it's still a bit early but will sow some more in about two or three weeks so if it's too cold when the first lot are grown, I can just ditch em in favour of the second lot

[DD.]

Please don't take this the wrong way, Alan, but any particular reason why Moneymaker? I (and many others on here), find them one of the blandest tomatoes you can grow.

[Trillium]

I've grown moneymaker as well and found them so tasteless that I vowed never to grow them again. I also find Gardener's Delight a real dud tastewise.

[Trillium]

Got to thinking about tomato varieties and if you're growing them for cooking, try the plum tomatoes which have much less liquid and more pulp so it makes a far superior dish. For fresh slicing, try any of the zebras, purple tomatoes like Paul Robeson or the tangy Jaune Flamme.

True, moneymaker is a heavy producer but I've never understood growing simply for quantity rather than flavour. The season is short enough without waiting for tasteless tomatoes that you can simply buy in the shops.

[Auntiemogs]

My mum has always grown Moneymaker and Gardeners Delight out of habit.  Last year I persuaded to try Sungold and Alicante and she was more than happy with them.  Made a bit of a rod for my own back though as this year she wants to try Orange Paruche (supposed to be better than Sungold). 
San Marzano 2 (plum) were fantastic for saucing last year Trillium, very thin skin and few seeds. 

[DD.]

You see - it's the slippery slope once you wean folk off the bog standard's!

Got a few different ones this year from the HSL, one of which is Brook's Special. No idea what it tastes like - had to have it 'cos it's my surname! 

[Auntiemogs]

Pea God Brooke? Dave Special?

Looking forward to your report DD! 

[Totty]

Another trick to avoid leggy pale weak plants when in home is to put them somewhere that feels cool. As said before, not below 10 degrees. But somewhere around 10-12 seems just right at this time of year IMO. Lack of light with too much heat = leggy.
Sowed some Shirley, sungold, black prince, tomato berry grande, flamingo in mid jan. have four of each that will stay in heated greenhouse until its warm enough for the cold one. Big sowing of tomatoes will be in first couple of weeks in march.
All chillies, peppers and auberge news up now except for Naga jolokia, never grown them before and they are taking their time.

Totty