The Poultry Keeper

debcat · Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 6:54 pm Post subject: help with tomatos

someone's given me 3 tomato plants, I've bought a growbag to put them in
but
can they go straight outside?
ones a tumbling one - what's the best thing to put that in?
when do I pinch out the tops?

NannyP · Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 7:04 pm Post subject:

Firstly, outside depends on where they've been growing and whether they've been hardened off.
Yes, they can go into grow bags, either a grow bag on it's side or double grow bags to give you depth for staking. Tumbling one may need to be somewhere high, so it can tumble.
Don't pinch out tops until you have flowers set at 2 levels(I think).
That's all I know
Confused

debcat · Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 7:18 pm Post subject:

thanks,
will get a planter for the tumbler and stand it on some blocks
Was going to put the bag on it's side.

I'l find out if they have been hardened off, if not how do I do that?

Aussie Chick · Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 7:26 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't put them out till the middle/end of May. Frost will set them back. You can put them out in the day and bring them back into a greenhouse at night.

Don't pinch out the tops until they have plenty of flowers. Nanny P is right.

I'm sure lots of others with have better advice. Nigel and Lisa are good gardeners.

I love Tomatoes! Good luck.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

you could put the tumbler in a hanging basket, out of the way or marauding chickens

nigel · Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 8:53 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't plant out tomatoes till early June (for us in the midlands) If you're growing them outside it's unlikely you'll get more than 4 good trusses so I'd pinch the tips out, two leaves above the last truss, at this stage so the plants produce good fruit.

Tumbler is a good variety for outdoors. It's a small bush tomato, that has long trusses of cherry sized tomatoes. It can be grown in a hanging basket quite easily, just remember to keep it well watered and fed with a tomato liquid feed. I like to use seaweed extract too.

debcat · Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 9:28 pm Post subject:

they are on the window sill at the moment, I'll plant them on tomorrow and put them in the porch for a few weeks before going outside.
Thanks for all the help

nigel · Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 9:30 pm Post subject:

If they start to get leggy remember you can just plant them deep when you pot them on.

Bendix01 · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:38 am Post subject:

Dont forget that now is the time to chop down your vines and hang with the green toms still on so they ripen on vine.

Aussie Chick · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:28 pm Post subject:

You need to leave the roots on if you this and hang them in the shed.

Otherwise you could pick them all and put them in a dark draw with a ripe banana!! yes it really works.

For a third suggestion, make green tomato chutney! Really delicious and i have made my second batch already!! Recipe in 'recipe section' funnily enough! Wink

Bendix01 · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:40 pm Post subject:

I just cut mine (AKA Jamies) at the base and hang in the shed.