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Old 10-01-2006, 07:38 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Neil Tonks
 
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Default Growing Tomatoes

"Draven" wrote in message
. uk...

"Jackie" wrote in message
. uk...
Hi I have recently moved into a new house that has a 8 x 6 greenhouse in
the garden and want to grow my own tomatoes. What is the correct time
for sowing the seed indoors on the windowsill so I can plant the plants
in the greenhouse. I live in central Scotland. Also would I be better
with pots or growbags as the greenhouse is sitting on slabs, no borders.

The previous owner removed everything from inside although he left the
bubble polythene insulation. Should I leave this on all year or remove it
in the spring. I do not envisage doing anything with the greenhouse for a
month or two. I also have an old electric fan heater that I might use if
needed.

I have grown tomatoes before in a polythene lean-to directly in the
ground and used to get the plants from a neighbour but this time I shall
have to grow my own so thought I would try some yellow tomatoes and some
cherry tomatoes any suggestions as to what would grow best in an unheated
greenhouse

Thanks Jackie


Jackie,
If you've got a fan heater at your disposable then the tomato World is
your oyster.

I always start mine off end of Jan, in a heated, propagator on a
windowsill.
So get a one or a heating mat would suffice.

I do the same for chillies and aubergines and I've never had a failure
yet.


I've successfully grown tomatoes like this in the past, too. You do need to
make sure that the windowsill you use to start them off gets as much light
as possible, as tomato seedlings are prone to getting 'leggy' (tall and
spindly) if there's not enough light to go with the heat.

If you want to grow a small tomato, then I find 'Gardeners Delight' is still
a good variety. The fruits aren't the very small 'cherry' ones you often
find these days, being a couple of centimetres in diameter, but they are
well flavoured and I find they set well even if the weather conditions
aren't ideal.

Neil.