Grow your own permalink
Tom plants slow
This discussion has been closed.
-
Message 1.Â
Posted by Gem (U13964749) on Monday, 17th May 2010
I have 12 harbinger plants which are in grow bags in the GH and are looking very good, but 10 shirley criag planted 2 weeks after are looking healthy but very small, they would look lost in a grow bag. Is this right - are they smaller plants ?. I also have 8 100/1000 plants which I thought would trail - but they are standing tall and proud at the moment am I wrong and these are bush ?.
I am thinking I should have stuck to gardeners delight and tumbling toms like I did last year, and the year before, and before ......
Gem -
Message 2
Posted by martingodliman (U13761957) on Monday, 17th May 2010
My 100s and 1000s too are looking 'erect' Gem without that squat bush I would expect to see, I hope it's mere paranoia and they will shape up soon, probably too early to worry.
I grew them last year from seed and they were good so I would be grieved to have the wrong thing now. -
Message 3
Posted by Mithranstar (U14439116) on Monday, 17th May 2010
I have 100's and 1000's too, and mine have also been standing proud until this week, when they have started hanging over the edge of their pots. They are still fairly small (about 3 - 4" high). I'm desperate to get them outside, but it's just not been warm enough.
I'm also growing "Garden Pearl" variety and they are standing upright and vary hugely in size, I have some that are 6" and some that are less than 3", growing side by side in their own pots.
Both my varieties of tomato were sown on 17/03. -
Message 4
Posted by martingodliman (U13761957) on Monday, 17th May 2010
hmmm some of mine are 6 inches tall now, still I simply can't believe they are anything else, I've still got the seed packet, and the seed is/was noticeably much smaller than the other tomatoes I've sown.
-
Message 5
Posted by Mithranstar (U14439116) on Monday, 17th May 2010
Mine are all hanging over one way, so it's possible they did it to get to the light, rather than out of any natural inclination. I was pleased with tese seeds though - I only got 10 seeds in the packet but all germinated!
-
Message 6
Posted by 4smilingcat6 (U14338727) on Monday, 17th May 2010
but 10 shirley criag planted 2 weeks after are looking healthy but very small, they would look lost in a grow bag. Is this right - are they smaller plants.
I don`t know that sort but neither Shirley nor Ailsa Craig are small plants. I suspect they are still developing their root systems and will grow on quickly soon. -
Message 7
Posted by bigolob (U14267071) on Monday, 17th May 2010
It sounds as though you are all growing Tomatoes in an unheated greenhouse. With the weather we have had for the past 4 weeks (constant NE and NW winds)it is not surprising they are very small.
I have never heard of Shirley Craig and I have grown Toms for 40 years. They will be either Shirley or Alsa Craig as another person said. Both, inspite of their reputation I think are tastless. However, they will grow to 6 foot or more if sideshoots (suckers) are removed and they are grown as a single stemmed plant.
I grow Moneymaker and Gourmet in a heated greenhouse. Seed germinated in January and the plants grown in 18 inch tubs are now 4 foot tall with 3 trusses of green fruit and flowers.
While the cost of useing heat (55-60 degrees)is a bit costly, the difference in growth is enormous. -
Message 8
Posted by 4smilingcat6 (U14338727) on Monday, 17th May 2010
Both, inspite of their reputation I think are tastless.
And I agree-but I wonder why do you still grow MoneyMaker?-it`s tasteless and Shirley is just a more expensive version.
To know me is to know I deplore MM
-
Message 9
Posted by martingodliman (U13761957) on Monday, 17th May 2010
Besides My 100s and 1000s I've got Brandywine Ferline and Aviro(ripens orange).I also bought from the G/C another bush/trailer a couple of plants called Sungold....just because it's yellow.
Far too many -
Message 10
Posted by bigolob (U14267071) on Monday, 17th May 2010
I agree that when I grew Moneymaker years ago I too thought it of poor flavour hence my search for better varieties. I tried Shirley, Ailsa Craig, Tigarella and others without any great excitement.I found Gourmet which last year inspite of it`s slightly thickened skin, the flavour was wonderful.
Moneymaker was grown last year by my neighbour who gave me a few to try. To my surprise the flavour was excellent!
I wonder if it the way we grow them? The compost used, feed used and how often and the general conditions of growth. -
Message 11
Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Monday, 17th May 2010
I've 5 different varities growing for the first time this year, cherry fox, gardener delight, mini belle, Ailsa Craig and principe borghese.
I was going to plant some in pots in the garden and some in the GH only problem is the cat knocked them all off the window sill several weeks ago and apart from one principe borghese plant whose label stayed in the pot and mini belle which were sown after, I haven't a clue which is which, they aren't particularly big but all standing straight.
They've been potted up and placed in trays according to size figuring these must be the same variety, hardly a scientific approach but don't really know what else to do. -
Message 12
Posted by 4smilingcat6 (U14338727) on Tuesday, 18th May 2010
I wonder if it the way we grow them? The compost used, feed used and how often and the general conditions of growth.
I`m sure it plays a part. Do try `Black Russian` next year it`s become a firm favourite with a number of my customers over the years. -
Message 13
Posted by 4smilingcat6 (U14338727) on Tuesday, 18th May 2010
Sungold....just because it's yellow.
And a very nice tomato it is,one of the few F1 hybrids I grow regularly.
If you have not grown Brandywine before a bit of advice-be prepared to support the trusses as the fruit can become huge and may tear off of the stem -
Message 14
Posted by martingodliman (U13761957) on Tuesday, 18th May 2010
I did grow one Brandywine last year I bought from the G/C and grew more plants this year from seed this year for their flavour, I will provide extra support
The sungold I got this time as a bush and doesn't claim to be a F1 hybrid on the label I hope is a different flavour from the one I grew a couple of years ago. Not a bush but the other upright kind and I rejected believe it or not for being just too sweet ! I like a bit of acid for taste balance
-
Message 15
Posted by Gem (U13964749) on Tuesday, 18th May 2010
Sorry must be a brain storm, they are Ailsa Craig, I have always grown gardeners delight and I wanted to try something different. I have also got some Roma and Costoluto Fiorentino, perhaps these will be better.
Gem -
Message 16
Posted by 4smilingcat6 (U14338727) on Tuesday, 18th May 2010
and I rejected believe it or not for being just too sweet ! I like a bit of acid for taste balance
And I know exactly what you mean. Some years I sell it as it`s never going to sit outside my house. It`s good but I sometimes like a bit more complexity of flavour.
But then sometimes I want a fresh taste to go in a cheese sarnie so the milder varieties fit.
Call me a snob but to me tomatoes are just as varied as wine-the difference being I can afford to have tomatoes -
Message 17
Posted by martingodliman (U13761957) on Tuesday, 18th May 2010
We'll see smilingcat I'm looking forward to the taste of Aviro ....I'm not sure now why I grew Ferline again probably because it claims to be blight resistant, it's flavour is only just about OK and thick skinned.
The 100s and 1000s were a good flavour the only downside is the tedious job of picking enough of those tiny fruit, tricky to contain in a sandwich
Who are your customers cat? do you have a G/C ? -
Message 18
Posted by 4smilingcat6 (U14338727) on Tuesday, 18th May 2010
Who are your customers cat? do you have a G/C ?
My customers are those who pass my house and put a few shillings in my honesty box. Some go back years to when I let folk into my garden and ring the doorbell.
Do I own a GC? my profit seldom gets above £200 a year.
I sell to convert those poor souls who pay silly prices for rubbish and to make enough to cover my addiction. -
Message 19
Posted by thevodkarose (U13048111) on Tuesday, 18th May 2010
All of my toms are about 6 inches tall, but very healthy looking. As usual, sowed more than I needed for insurance, and have ended up with dozens of spare Black Russian plants for the charity shop. Moneymaker - I just pricked out two and threw the rest in the compost as I couldn't be bothered with the effort. Gardener's Delight germinated poorly from last years Dig In seeds, so only have 4 of those anyway.
I've planted two of each of the three varieties into my greenhouse with a tagetes each.
I did say I didn't bother pricking out all but two of the Moneymakers that I was to plant, but a couple of plants are useful as an easy to grow, productive tomato for cooking purposes.
Although small, each one had just filled the pots I'd been growing them on in before I put them in the ground. So, the healthy roots and healthy, if small top growth show promise. I think the cold season and low light levels initially just knocked a lot back in unheated conditions but by the look of it they'll soon catch up.
About this Board
Welcome to the new Gardening Board. If this is your first time, then make sure you check out the
or  to take part in a discussion.
The message board is currently closed for posting.
Weekdays 09:00-00:00
Weekends 10:00-00:00
This messageboard is .
Find out more about this board's
Search this Board
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú iD
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú navigation
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú links
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú © 2014 The Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.