Tomato plant problem

Fishy65

I bought some tomato plants nearly a month ago from the local GC, a bush variety called Garden Pearl. They were very small at the time but now are getting way too big for the kitchen window sill. Is there any way to slow them down?

Ladybird4

Hi Fishy. Maybe moving them somewhere cooler would slow them down but they will still require light.

purplerallim

Have they got long and leggy, if so repot them in a slightly bigger pot at least half way up the stem and move them to a brighter window if you can in a cooler room.

Fishy65

Thank you both. I do have our bedroom window sill which is north facing and cooler than the kitchen. I've potted them on twice so far, buried up to their shoulders.

purplerallim

Well they obviously like where they are.🙂 Do you have a greenhouse or plastic mini one, if so they could go out in a couple of weeks, if not then its end of May in England.

Lyn

Best thing would be to make a note of when you bought them and next year either buy them a month later or get a packet of seeds, only about 99p and sow 5 in a pot in mid to end of March, the packet will last you several years.  
 In fact, it’s still not to late to sow some, many people don’t sow until start of April, they germinate much quicker and will be the right size to go out at the start of June. 
Tomato seeds don’t need heat or artificial lights, shady windowsill is fine. 

Pete.8

I always sow my tom seed around 10 March and they're about 3" atm. and looking good.
I sowed on 10/3 last year too and picked my first tomato on 29 June.

To slow them down, keep them cool but not below about 13c, but in a very bright position to stop them going leggy again.
And try and hold back for a while next year

Fairygirl

I've only just sown mine. I've put them out in the little greenhouse, where they'll be anyway. Even if they were going to be outside, it's early enough to sow here. 

It's always a problem when GCs have them so early in the year!
They'll be fine, as long as you have enough room for them somewhere a bit cooler.  Just keep them ticking over for now.
As Lyn says, try some seeds next year, and wait till a bit later for starting them if you don't have a greenhouse or similar. 

Fishy65

Many thanks to you lovely people for your very helpful advice. I'll confess to not being an expert when it comes to growing any kind of veg and bought the plants on impulse though partly due to keeping Dad happy. He thinks I should be growing veg rather than flowers  Anyway they're on the bedroom window sill now, cooler than the kitchen.

So what is it with GCs selling tomato plants so early? Do they assume we all have heated GHs? I bought the plants on 7th March.

BobTheGardener

Yes, Fishy, they know those plants will usually die and will therefore have returning customers in a couple of weeks. 

Dovefromabove

I’m sowing mine this week.