Lots has happened since the last update back in March. At that time I was struggling with the unseasonably cold weather. Seedlings were getting frosted, some were not thriving, and generally growth was slow. I chose to re-sow and keep them inside to avoid too much temperature fluctuation. However, the early sowings were not a total loss. I have 6 plants of a decent size, they have been repotted twice, first to 1L pots then to 3L pots. I will pot them on again soon to their final homes, some bucket-size pots. This should serve two purposes, giving them some room to grow decent roots, but also to prevent drying out quickly, a particular problem with small pots especially in a greenhouse environment. I am unsure how to manage the watering of these plants. Last year I had a cunning plan involving capillary matting and reservoir tanks. This worked quite well, but I’ll have to adapt that to greenhouse dimensions. Or I could just water them as normal, taking the risk of that being subject to me remembering, and also to holiday cover. I think I’ll jerry-rig the reservoir system.
There are three sungolds, a cherry tomato.
The first batch plants are doing pretty well, with some flowers making an appearance, an encouraging sign. They need some more substantial support, they are flopping about on short canes at the moment. These were the earliest sowings of all, sown in the second week of January.
Then there are three others, a Moneymaker, a Shirley, and a Gardener’s Delight. These were sown towards the end of January.
The final indoor sowings have been potted on twice, from seed trays to 7cm pots and now to 1L pots. I’ll upgrade them to 3L pots soon. I just kept four plants, for space reasons – I gave a bunch more to friends. There are two Roma, two Gardener’s Delight.
I ended up with many less plants than I sowed seeds for, but I would have had to reduce numbers to a manageable quantity anyway – I only have so much room in the greenhouse. I don’t want to grow any tomatoes outside this year, I want to try to avoid the dreaded late blight which took down my entire crop last year.
Now that we are in mid-May, I can be reasonably confident that the unhelpfully cold weather is but a memory and conditions should now be good.
How are you getting on with your tomatoes this year?
I’ll be back in a month or so with an update, hopefully some fruit will have set by then.
The Propagator 
You’re all braver than me, sowing in January, but you have inspired me for next year!
I did try grafting this year (on my blog) but only three survived, and they are a long way behind the ungrafted. Still, try again next year!
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I’m not sure it was worth the early effort tbh. Certainly not this year with the cold weather. I was sent some grafted plants to try just this week, I’ll be interested to see how they get on.
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Ours are rather embarrassing because we planted so few. I really do not want to can many this year, because if we get too many, they stay canned for a year or so! Ick! It would be better to use up the canned tomatoes for sauce, and eat more fresh tomatoes. We should deplete the pantry, and recharge it later. Anyway, we have only ONE cherry tomato. It is yellow too, but I do not remember the name. I did not select it. Supposedly, it makes enough for everyone to get a few. All are growing like weeds.
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I enjoy the process of growing tomatoes. Very summery. I don’t enjoy losing them all to blight. I’m hoping my more modest growing this year leaves me with at least some fruit.
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I know the dread of blight. Hopefully, you’ll have tomatoes to make up for your losses last year.
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Hopefully! Right now I’m pleased to have any plants at all after the rubbish early spring weather.
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That is a point!
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I am way behind on my tomatoes this year. They’re still in the seed sowing tray and starting to look cramped. Hoping to get them outside and into large tubs this weekend.
This year I’m growing Sungold, a red cherry whose name escapes me right now, Cherokee Purple, and my favorite: Matt’s Wild Cherry. I do much better with little cherry types. Large tomatoes tend to split in the heat and humidity.
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Yes I seem to have better luck with the cherries too. When I have luck. And not blight. I’ve heard of Matt’s wild cherry before somewhere, must see if I can get hold of it here.
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Just one more night with low temps then much warmer.
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Here, further south, the low temperatures are more tolerable … All my tomatoes are in the ground, inside the greenhouse and the first toms have appeared … I could eat my first cherry tomatoes in 3-4 weeks (I guess)
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Nice! I expect I’m a good month behind you.
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I saw your weather forecast this morning.. brrr.. 0.5°C…. 4° for us with NE wind but no need to cover with fleeces like you
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Eight of the tomato plants I raised from seeds were put in my community garden bed last week. Temps okay now but we have had almost a solid week of rain with some torrential downpours. I checked them yesterday and they looked okay. Four more were planted in sunny spots in the garden at home. My varieties were Amish Paste, Sungold, Beefsteak, Black Vernisage and Shah (a white tomato from a free packet that came with my seed order).
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Great, they all seem to be doing well despite the weather our early spring was very cold, more than usual,so my unheated greenhouse was just too damn cold for them, even on the heated propagator.
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Interesting update, I feel bonded to your plants now! Fingers crossed for some decent hot weather, we need it 🌱🌞🍅
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Survival of the fittest!
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I just attached string to the fence the tomatoes are planted by – I decided to try the string method of support instead of canes. Seems to be doing well so far.I planted in January as well and mine are half a metre tall but thick stems (probably because of cold) planted outside. NO fruit but the largest has a couple of truss flowers. Later plantings have no flowers yet and are smaller.
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Do you wrap the stem around the string? Or just suspend the stem from the string.
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I am just writing a post about it. I attach the stein to the stem and as it grows wrap it around the stem so the whole thing is supported
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I think I’ll be using canes as the toms will be freestanding in the greenhouse. Not sure I’ve got anywhere to hang the string.
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People usually attach it to the green house frame if it is exposed.
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Yes perhaps that would work. Will have a look later.
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