Too early for Tomato flowers?

Right-o, started my toms at the beginning of March, indoors under a maxi-bright T5 panel, grew them on to about 8- 12 inches then put them in my greenhouse at home, before planting out to the polytunnel bed last week when they were 12-18 inches.Ive just returned from the allotment (after a flying visit to check the fleece is holding up for the toms), whilst there i noticed two had flower buds at the top, anyone had this, this early?.As said earlier this was only a flying visit so didnt really think to check the labels, but ive got several vars, Costaluto Genovese,Berkely tye dye,Gold medal,Black krim,Marmande,San marzano and Brandy wine.

In a normal (warmer) Spring I would be expecting to plant up my greenhouse right now, and the toms would have flowers on them.

With a bit of luck you may get some early tomatoes, but cold could still check them. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you 

Thanks mumofstig... ive got everything crossed at the mo.This is only my second season at the allotment but when ive grown toms at home they`ve always been started the same way(early under the T5) and they`ve never come on this fast, so the caught me a little off guard cos space is at a premium in my small GH at home.The only difference this year was the 15 quid a bag compo they seemed to love it!

I started off tomatoes from seed in late January in my conservatory at home, and transferred them to my unheated greenhouse at the lottie in the first week of April, snuggled under fleece, as I was going away for 10 days, and anxious about the cold.

Now I'm back I find they've all survived the cold, and lots are in flower under the fleece.

The forecast is for even colder for the next few nights here in Oxford, down to about 28 degrees F.....   so fingers crossed!

With this weather and an unheated greenhouse I'm happy that I started out a bit late with the tomato seedlings - they will just have to catch up.

Yes same for me Urbanite.  My Giant Mamande in the greenhouse are very stout and leafy with the first truss buds quite evident.  Under fleece at the moment.  I think they'll be fine.  Super crop as long as I can open the door and let some insects in sometime.

All my plants are going out to the cold greenhouse during the day and come back into the house in the evening.

I wouldn't want to chance them overnight in this cold.

All my plants are going out to the cold greenhouse during the day and come back into the house in the evening.

I wouldn't want to chance them overnight in this cold.

i used to do this but, at the moment i have too much work on to spend time moving plants around.

i have found in the past that no matter how much you care for plants by bringing them in and out they still don't seem to like it much. last year i sowed and germinated in the tunnel and the plants were much healthier and stronger. i think this year i may be struggling for time to get a long crop.

My greenhouse is a twin walled polycarbonate job.  It's unheated but reasonably sealed with a fair degree of thermal was material in it.  I've been really impressed that it seems to stay well above freezing even when it's frosty outside.  Fleecing the tomatoes in order to keep the heat in a bit more locally seems to work really well.