Talkback: Sowing tomato seed

happymarion

I have three gems of tomatoes to sow as a participant in Mr. fothergills Trials in the nation of Gardeners project, called "Black Opal". "Pink Charmer F1", and Orange Slice"F1. As well as those I will be growing my usual "Gardeners delight", "Sunrise " and "Sungold" the first and last of which I eat like sweets. After new potatoes and the onion family and runner and dwarf beans, tomatoes are a priority in my cuisine. I am still using last year's crop via pasta sauce I froze. Good luck with the weather this year, Kate.

Zoomer44

I've still got some deeeelish tomato chutney left from last year.

I've quite a few different tomato varieties this year, some are unsown seeds from previous years with new one's added. I just don't have enough room in the GH to house them all though so it will be one plant each of the best sown from seed. New one's are Ildi and Prune noire, the latter were seeds purchased in France. Tigerlla, Cerise, Golden Sunrise for the GH, the list could go on...and Tumbling Tom for hanging baskets.   

Good luck with your trials Marion. 

NIKIN

The tomatoes grown last year were so delicious I bought a small greenhouse for this years. Why are they always too small when you start planting the seeds ?

BobTheGardener

Yeah, they're like the reverse of Dr. Who's Tardis - they look bigger on the outside than they are when you get inside!

Jimbolena

My wife makes beautiful green tomato chutney so green is okay with me, I've some seeds sown in the greenhouse, lots of varieties, it's my first go from seed, I've always gone to garden centres for plants but the varieties here in Dumfries are poor and I want some different things.

No seedlings have appeared yet but we've no heat as yet so patience I think.



Any wrinkles on growing tomatoes successfully from seed?

lisa massey

I'm growing purple smudge, striped green sausage, ildi, yellow pear and black prince, also some normal red ones(my mother insisted). The green sausage are lovely on toast.

Jimbolena

I got some honey bee, san marzano, black cherry and gardeners delight.

Your toms sounds very interesting Lisa..

lisa massey

I like to try a couple of new (to me) varieties every year. This year I've been in charge of seed purchase. The internerd is a wicked, wicked thing, no self control. And when all I have to do is press a button....well. There's no end to my tomato purchasing power, and I've found a localish nursery that do mainly tomato's and some very unusual cucumbers. New seed arrived today. The freeby's I got last order are all up, 100% germination. Very pleased.

Steve 309

Tried Black Cherry last year.  Did very well, especially outside,  VERY yummy!

gardenjeannie

I swore I would not buy new seeds this yr, just finish last yrs. I know how you feel, Lisa! But have never tried Sungold, so I thought, ok, just them, but was cheaper to buy them with Suncherry, so, ok. Ha. Had to get more San Marzano, as they made wonderful ketchup, so for good measure got another italian one for sauces (can't remember the name). That's besides my usual standbys. Also really want to try ildi, green sausage, etc etc. Spend far more time cutting down my list than making it!

And you're right, the 'Internerd' is wicked I'll be calling it that forever now, instead of 't'internet'!

Garden Maniac

Its Gardener's delight every time for me - and tumbling tom in the hanging baskets. Last year was a brilliant year! Like Happymarion, I still have last year's tomato and basil soup in the freezer - just waiting for the occasion to fetch it out!

This year, having found some old seeds of italian beefsteak tomatoes, I planted them all (early in January) expecting failure... I have no less than 48 potted on plants - I'm giving them away like wildfire at the moment!If I don't get a good crop, it's probably due to overcrowding!