Anyone started their tomatoes yet?

[TracyK]

I've given up on starting from seed - thats 3 years in a row my mum's have beaten mine hands down and she buys plants later in the season.

Anyone got any plants from the garden centres yet??

Me and DD planted some about three weeks ago. We have one shoot which is about 1cm tall. Not really hoping for great things from it. The seeds came from an ELC kit

I started mine off yesterday in the greenhouse. My grandad always gives me a couple of plants in the summer, so I know I'm guaranteed a few tomatoes at least!

I bought some cherry tom plants at the weekend. I do have some seeds that I will be planting.

This is the first year I am attempting to grow anything so I'm not holding my breath! Although my herbs are doing ok so far

I started some free seeds I got from a magazine - I planted them in a tray on a window sill. They are about 8cm tall and I've just moved them into bigger pots. I'm just hoping they survive (I have 12 plants so hoping some make it) but my dad does a couple of plants for us too so we should have fresh tomatoes either way.

We started some from seeds in propigators on the windowsill about 4 weeks ago. They're about 8cm tall now and not all that sure what I'm meant to do with them! The pot they are in is bout 5cm deep. Should we move them to larger pots now or wait? How big do the new pots need to be? And will they need something bigger again when they go out side? I am really v clueless with this growing things lark..

They'll probably be ok where they are for now, DrSocks. When they do go outside, though, they'll need a fairly decent-sized pot so that you can support them properly with bamboo canes. Otherwise they'll fall over.

Hi Dr Socks, I just moved mine because they were in one of those seed trays with tiny modules (or whatever you call them). I'm pretty clueless too, this is my first year trying to grow my own. Hope we all get some tomatoes!

Thanks folks. Tobylerone, how long do you think it will be before they can go outside? Is it just once the risk of frost passes?

I probably wouldn't put them out for another few weeks or so, but it depends on the weather. I'm not an expert though!

OK Tobytomato, why isn't our 1cm shoot growing any more. It came through the compost a couple of weeks ago, grew to that height in one day and has now stopped.
The flower seeds aren't doing anything either, they are all in little brown (probably compacted compost) containers and are well enough watered and in a huge window which doesn't get direct sunlight.
DD is hugely unimpressed with them and told the seeds that unless they bucked up by Saturday, they are out. Well hard 9 YO.

Hahaha @ Tobytomato

I don't know . You sound like you're doing everything right. Sometimes they just don't all make it . I always plant quite a few, just to make sure I get some at least.

You need a proper expert. And your daughter is hilarious

Ha, you may think she's hilarious the reality is a bit less than hilarious.
I don't think we'll bother with more tom seeds, she and I are leaving, she doesn't eat toms at all and DH will have enough to do once we are gone to be worried about tom plants.

Dude, I also have a 9 (almost 10) year-old girl. I know. And I sympathise and commend you for not having killed her thus far .

My ds didn't eat tomatoes till last year - and then he woofed the cherry ones. Now loves them - but only off the plant - so they are lovely and sweet. The shop bought ones are yuk!