Tomatoes and broad beans

[ErrolTheDragon]

My Xmas present coldframe came with some free veg seeds. I don't have a veg plot gave most of them away, but kept the tomatoes ('Ship Saint'), broad beans ('The Sutton') and also the sweet pepper.

I started them indoors, rather to my surprise nearly all the toms (but only one of the peppers ) germinated and have grown well so far - about 18 plants. They're in 4" pots now, about half still inside and the rest put out today into the coldframe - propped open as they're too tall for it but a bit of shelter.
The half dozen broad beans I planted in pots have germinated, they're out in the cold frame still quite small.

The question now is what to do with them all. I don't have a greenhouse, not much room in the borders and not much hard standing free though I can make room for some more pots.
I think I can plant at least some of the broad beans in a border, but for the toms, would it be better to go for fewer bigger pots or more smaller ones - what size would you use? Would it make sense to grow one and /or the pepper inside by the patio window?

I would keep the peppers and some of the tomatoes inside. Broad beans are really quite pretty plants and will go beautifully in the flower borders

Tomatoes will need at least 30cm pots unless they are a tiny variety.

I just looked up the variety you have, and they will grow up to 2m so you will need large pots and a sturdy support in each pot to tie them to. They sound delicious from what I read
It would be better to harden them off gradually rather than putting them straight from full time inside to full time outside. You spend a week putting them out in the day and bringing back in at night before putting them out full time in the cold frame, and then eventually further out into the garden. It's a pita, but better for the plants.

Thanks...I'm not sure I've any pots that large so they may have to go into 10" pots next until I can get some. (3 weeks after my second vacc which is next week I'm going to be hitting the nursery big time!)

Having potted them on a size I don't have room for them all indoors but the forecast is that the temperature isn't dropping much overnight for the next week or more so the ones that are out now will have to take their chances. I've got more than I'll be able to grow on anyway.

When I started growing tomatoes and didn't have room to plant them in the garden I used grow bags the first year (two to a bag), then pots the second. I got the pots free from Morrisons (asking for used flower buckets). I don't know if they still give these away or sell them off cheaply. I had to make holes in them but it was a good way of getting a dozen or so for nothing.

I now have raised beds which makes life simpler, though I have learned not to plant the whole packet of tomato seeds this year.

Re. broad beans they are pretty resilient and won't really need a cold frame now. I planted some out last month and after using fleece a few times have left them to fend for themselves. I've also some that were planted in the autumn that have grown really well despite frost and snow.

Yes I would try and pot up the broad beans outside somewhere, give them support and pinch out the tops when they get too high (you can eat the tender leaves - delicious stir fried). I grow broad beans mainly for the lovely flowers that the bees like too.
You won't be able to cater for all of those tomatoes. Do you have a Facebook plant swap in your area or any friends that would like some tomato babies? They're always popular. You only really need 3-4 plants if just growing for a few tomatoes. More than that in a garden to me feels like an industrial operation (Monty don, I'm looking at you!!)
Plus they are greedy for pots, compost, water and plant food so after a point it becomes a false economy.
Just my thoughts...

I'm inclined to agree with your analysis, Tiddle - a back of the envelope calculation for the quantity of compost comes close to 'a small truckload'.

I can probably rehome a few to various neighbours - there's a few with kids who might like them as a novelty.