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Planted tomato seeds too early?

pamrleaderkUCsQt0hpamrleaderkUCsQt0h Posts: 5
in Fruit & veg
New to this forum, so "hello" everyone!

I need some advice on my tomato plants. I'm trying 3 different types this year, Montello, Cuor De Bie and Alicante. I think I planted the seeds late Feb. Well, the Montello's have gone mad and grown huge. The biggest one is about 12" tall:



I suppose my question is, are they OK to stay where they are until May? I was thinking of putting them in their final spot (hanging basket) but then taking them in every night to avoid frost. I just don't know what the best thing is to do as they are getting taller by the day. Any advice gratefully appreciated!
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  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,439
    Alicante and Cour de Bue are not suitable for hanging baskets.  
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • pamrleaderkUCsQt0hpamrleaderkUCsQt0h Posts: 5
    Oh yes I know, hanging baskets are just for the Montello's
  • LynLyn Posts: 22,865
    The only one that may be suitable for a hanging basket would be the Montello, but it will need to be a big basket and fed well.
    The other two are cordon types, they will grow straight up to 6/7’. 
    You could try putting them in bigger pots and dropping then well down,  that will make a stronger stem, and hopefully by May the weather will be warm enough to put them in the greenhouse. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • pamrleaderkUCsQt0hpamrleaderkUCsQt0h Posts: 5
    OK great, thanks Lyn.
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 6,903
    You can but try - pot them on, as Lyn says, keep them watered, don't feed them and they may hold fire long enough. If you have any more seed though, I'd consider starting a few more just in case these get too leggy. If they all do well, you'll have a very long season of tomatoes  :)
    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • FireFire Posts: 17,352
    Where abouts are you?
  • pamrleaderkUCsQt0hpamrleaderkUCsQt0h Posts: 5
    Thanks Raisingirl.

    Fire - I'm East London
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 53,966
    it's one of those things we generally learn as we go along. How early you sow depends on what room you have until they can go outside, or in a greenhouse, and depends on your location/climate. I don't sow until later March or even early April here, as they wouldn't be going into the greenhouse until mid May at least, and that can vary. Any earlier, and they'd just be taking up space. Mine are only a couple of inches high just now  :)

    Hopefully, as @raisingirl says, you'll get plenty if those all do well and you sow some more seed too  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 9,602
    I sowed mine earlier this week so they're not even up yet. No greenhouse, and they can't go outside until mid-May at the very earliest and even then they'll probably need some protection. It's all about getting to know your own conditions.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FireFire Posts: 17,352
    pamrleaderkUCsQt0h said:
     I'm East London
    There's an outside chance London might not get any more frosts this season. The BBC website says night temps of 7-8oC for the next two weeks. Of course forecasts change and cold fronts move in, but you could keep a close eye on the night temps and try your luck. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. We had frosts here for the whole of May last year. :/

     I agree about sowing another batch to cover your bases. 

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