[DD.]

Not cheating, but what sort of lighting is it? It needs to be Gro-light type which gives out a spectrum near to daylight. Tungsten and ordinary fluorescent are ineffective.

[mumofstig]

I would just quote the late chairman - bless - of our association:

This competition is so serious that any manners of cheating is allowed, more so, it's called for.

Lovely 

[VegGirl7]

Not cheating, but what sort of lighting is it? It needs to be Gro-light type which gives out a spectrum near to daylight. Tungsten and ordinary fluorescent are ineffective.

good question (my electronic/lighting knowledge is somewhat lacking!) 
the lights were donated to me from a friend who used it to start seedlings off but decided to invest in a ready made setup instead of his homemade one...

I've been informed they're CFL bulbs??

[DD.]

CFL stands for Compact Fluorescent Lighting. Covers a multitude of lamps - including the energy savers you use around the house as "normal" lighting.

However, you can get CFL grow-lights and it sounds as though this may be what you have.

[VegGirl7]

I would just quote the late chairman - bless - of our association:

This competition is so serious that any manners of cheating is allowed, more so, it's called for.

Excellent - this really is my type of forum 

Thanks for the info DD!  I have 3x20W 2700k bulbs (small spiral type) - after doing a bit of research I may need something more in the 5000k 'daylight' range??  Will have a bit of a shop around - in the meantime I'll keep them in their foil house on the windowsill during the day and just give them an extra couple of hours under the lights when the sun goes down.

[kosh42|EFG]

Having mine in their foil enclosure today has meant they've stayed upright, instead of straining over towards the window as they have since they germinated...

Sill no germination from two of the pots, one Ildi cherry and one Beefmaster...

[LilacSandy]

Potted on 10 Cherry toms today, I showed great restraint and threw away the rest, which is something I hate to do.

Two are on our bedroom window sill and the other 8 are on the living room window sill with foil behind.  If I saved enough of my favourite Golden Sunrise I may put a couple of those in tomorrow.  The problem with me is that I say a couple but end up with 20.

[mumofstig]

just remember how big they will get before they can go outside, even if it's into the greenhouse 

[LilacSandy]

I know Mum but toms are my weakness.  By the end of May every available space is taken up in the house with huge pots of tomatoes, and two of my plastic greenhouses will be full of later sewn toms and peppers waiting to go to the lotty.  I also supply my Dad's greenhouse and most of the company with seedlings it seems. 

Funny how popular I get about the March time. 

[Auntiemogs]

Still waiting for my Shirley's Pixie seeds (hopefully today or tomz) but I am determined to catch up... 

[gobs]

Me, dooh....

I just had a good old ferret in one of these 'tomato' pots. Not a single seed in there to be found.

Now, that's when they do not come up. :blink:

I shall sow some today for real...

[joyfull]

yes sowing the seeds does help 

[gobs]

yes sowing the seeds does help  :lol

I shall try that then.

[Rich72]

I have 4 Shirley's and 6 San Marzano just poking their heads out of the soil. Woop

[Dora5]

Hello,
I am new to the forum... I have decided to join after reading 'The great tomato experiment' thread
I have sown two of each: Gardner's Delight, Chipano and Big Red on the 9th January and cannot wait for them to germinate . This year is going to be my first full season as I got my dream allotment at the end of the summer. I hope I can beat my tomato harvest last year of 45.590 kg...  and that was just in my garden...
Good luck to everyone!