Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Product tests

Here's where users test and review products and give their feedback. If you'd like to run a product test please email [email protected].

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

Dolmio Tomato Growing Seeds - progress reporting thread

471 replies

AnnMumsnet · 06/05/2011 09:26

This thread is for the MNers who are growing tomato plants from seed courtsey of Dolmio (well at least they are hoping to Grin). The project is designed to highlight the fact that 100% of Dolmio tomatoes are grown outdoors in the sun (not in greenhouses). For more info on Dolmio please click here

If you are a tomato grower and part of this project please add your updates below - we'd love to know about the plants at each stage - from humble seedlings to the fully grown fruit! Do let us know how, if at all, your children are getting involved as well. If you are not so succesful don't worry please also let us know here. If you need any advice please ask and if you can offer advice please do so!

Details for sending in photos is on the email sent.

Everyone who takes part in this project and who adds their feedback and sends in at least one photo will be entered into a prize draw to win one of two £200 John Lewis vouchers and a Dolmio hamper (to be mailed out in September).

Thanks and best of luck
MNHQ

OP posts:
MNHQ
AnnMumsnet · 29/05/2011 23:10

do send any photos in to us - to the email address we mailed you from - if you need it again PM me!
We're hoping to get some up on the Dolmio MN pages next week...we've selected some which show progress so far....

OP posts:
Bicnod · 30/05/2011 09:12

Back from 2 weeks in Cornwall and the seedlings have survived. We took them with us in their little tray and they are HUGE now so going to transfer them to big trough thing today.

They survived being turned completely upside down in the car (ooops) and most of their stalks being broken in the process so they are clearly pretty hardy little plants.

We've got 13 and I gave 3 to a friend so pretty good so far.

TheMonster · 30/05/2011 15:02

I gave a load of seedlings out at my SLimming World group this morning.

LIZS · 30/05/2011 16:29

Just emailled a picture of our dwarf seedlings. We have about 10 in total and may need to feed them up !

chrisonabike · 30/05/2011 19:13

I have purchased some jiffy pots, I think the little beauties are nearly ready to fly the propagator nest

moonbells · 30/05/2011 21:53

I now have six up! The first ones to germinate are doing nicely now. But they are going to stay in the shed till after June 7th, which is the latest date I have recorded a frost here.

welliesandpyjamas · 31/05/2011 14:10

First update, now that we are in half term and I can catch a minute... We have 10 seedlings getting tall on the windowsill in the kitchen. They started life in one of those mini incubators with little biodegradable pots inside. Did the kids plant them? Did they heck! That was the plan but I just did it quickly while making the tea one night as it was never going to get done in time otherwise! They are, however, very impressed with the growth and even my 2 year old calls them tomatoes, despite not looking a bit like what he knows as a tomato! Grin Next step, find some bigger pots and more soil this week and repot them.

I have to confess some major EnvyEnvy at my childless single neighbour who planted her seeds on time and now has 1 metre high tomato plants in her window [in her tidy house]. Sigh.

DramaInPyjamas · 31/05/2011 15:03

ProfYaffle.. Was vandals ):

minipen · 31/05/2011 15:05

Just remembered to take a photo, we have the seedlings appearing, more than I expected!

Huge sigh of relief there are signs of life

ProfYaffle · 31/05/2011 17:52

Oh that's awful Drama. I know someone whose shed was set on fire by vandals, the allotment association clubbed together to buy her a new one. Hope your friend gets some similar help from his.

GentleOtter · 31/05/2011 17:59

Drama Shock

I am growing the bonsai version given that we have had ooh ten minutes of sun here in May. And frost.

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 31/05/2011 19:57

just repotted all three of my living seedlings into big pots which will now live outside.
they look a bit weedy, and i am slightly concerned for their long term survival
will email pictures of dd1 repotting them

TheMonster · 01/06/2011 10:33

I am repotting mine this week. I have 12 that I have kept.

supergreenuk · 01/06/2011 15:30

Transplanted to pots today and put them in our little green house tent thing. I feel like a mummy again.

MadameBoo · 01/06/2011 17:22

I am so late to the party - but I had nothing to plant the seeds in. However we used our own compost from the composter and planted them in a bargain pound shop propogater thingy last Friday. Nothing to see so far...

lisad123 · 01/06/2011 20:59

have huge ones now, had to put them outside in a big pot, hoping to get them growing up soon. We used the compost from our composter for the first time, clearly our plants like it Grin

MadameBoo · 01/06/2011 21:18

I had a closer look after posting earlier - and I do have some seedlings coming after all. About 5 so far.

GentleOtter · 01/06/2011 21:50

I was waiting for the new moon to germinate the rest of the seeds.

MadameBoo · 01/06/2011 22:02

Tell me more of plant woo Otter?

2gorgeousboys · 01/06/2011 22:07

Our seeds arrived today - hurray! Will be planting them with DS1 and 2 tomrrow (at least I'm assuming that the random packet of tomato seeds that arrived in an envelope addressed to me are due to this and not some ransom seed donating stalker..)

GentleOtter · 01/06/2011 22:57

link to lunar planting times and days
One of the theories is that the plant grows with the lunar effect on tides and holds more water so does well.
You can go very woo technical with the soil too. woo with bells on

MadameBoo · 01/06/2011 23:02

Oh bugger Otter - first link is fine but as soon as I see the word Steiner I scarper...

GentleOtter · 01/06/2011 23:07

Yes, that was not the best link and i should have put warning. Grin

The soil remedies are a bit complex and faff for me - some of them take years to be ready ( and BabyBio is instant) but the theories behind it are fascinating.

Remedies aside, we have planted crops by the moon times and found a greater yield than with the non lunar crops.

My mega straight dh thinks it is woo but was chuffed with the bigger yield.

MadameBoo · 01/06/2011 23:11

I have only got into gardening this year Blush, but I am enjoying it enormously - will try planting by moonlight anyway as I think it will be fun :o/

GentleOtter · 01/06/2011 23:52

Good luck with your tomatoes and I hope you have more sun than we are having.
I feel really pleased when they germinate but think at this rate they might be ready around November.