In article , Phil L
writes
Or Alicante?
That is the question! - I have a few packets of each of these tomato seeds
and wondered if any URGlers had any preferences for either? taste wise.
Whichever I decide to sow will be after the next few weeks, under glass and
indoors until they are big enough to be re-potted and then planted directly
into 'virgin' soil in May (as in nothing's been grown in it for years,
except nettles!)
The GH gets full sun all day and will be heated at first, gro-bags are out
as we can't keep them moist enough, so I'm hoping the actual soil won't be
too cold for them come mid May.

Both Shirley and Alicante are excellent tomato varieties for flavour and
for being suited to non-commercial growing. Why not try some of each,
then you can compare how they turn out in your care. Your soil should
give good results, we often use nettle infusion for tomatoes. Don't give
the plants any extra feed until their first trusses are set. Your plan
sounds a little early, but it could work if you can maintain minimum air
and soil temperature of 60F/18C 24/7 from seeding onwards. Make sure
they have plenty of air when the sun is high, and not too much humidity.
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.