Hi all,

I'm new to this group and very interested in gardening although I'm crap at it and have never succeeded. I generally prefer my fruit and veg organic and since these are expensive to purchase I decided to grow these myself (if possible). A few days back I purchased Miracle Gro organic compost and Miracle Gro organic veg plant food. I plan to initially grow strawberries and cherry tomatoes. However, I'm not sure if I need to have organic seeds as well to make it organic or any seeds would do.

Secondly, I plan to grow these indoors in my conservatory since everything in my vegetable patch outside is eaten by slugs. I've tried the beer method but that didn't help very much. Is it possible to grow these indoors?

Sorry if the questions sound dumb

In article ,
fmervin wrote:

Hi all,

I'm new to this group and very interested in gardening although I'm
crap at it and have never succeeded. I generally prefer my fruit and
veg organic and since these are expensive to purchase I decided to grow
these myself (if possible). A few days back I purchased Miracle Gro
organic compost and Miracle Gro organic veg plant food. I plan to
initially grow strawberries and cherry tomatoes. However, I'm not sure
if I need to have organic seeds as well to make it organic or any seeds
would do.

Secondly, I plan to grow these indoors in my conservatory since
everything in my vegetable patch outside is eaten by slugs. I've tried
the beer method but that didn't help very much.

Drink more.

Is it possible to grow these indoors?

Anything is possible, if you are willing to spend the $$$ or £ £ £ as
the case may be. Strawberries and tomatoes require full sun and tomatoes
require heat as well. Grow lights are a must if you don't have a
southern facing window and very helpful even if you do.

Probably best to grow dwarf/container tomatoes as they ripen quicker.

Tiny Tim (45 days to harvest; 1 inch; very dwarf, red cherry fruit;
determinate)

Cherry Gold (45 days; 1 inch; golden version of Tiny Tim;
determinate)

Red Robin (55 days; 1 inch; super-dwarf plant, 6 inches tall; mild
taste; determinate)

Yellow Canary (55 days; 1 inch; similar to Red Robin, but yellow
fruit; determinate)

Pixie Hybrid II (52 days; 2 ounces; compact dwarf plants;
determinate)

Patio Hybrid (65 days; 3 ounces; strong dwarf plants, relatively
large fruit, ideal container plant; determinate)

Small Fry (72 days; 1 inch; red, good in hanging baskets;
determinate)

Husky Red Hybrid (68 days; 6 ounces; dwarf plant, large fruit;
extended harvest; indeterminate; resistant to VF)

Husky Gold Hybrid (70 days; 6 ounces; AAS winner; same plant types
as Red and Pink; gold fruit; indeterminate; resistant to VF)

Husky Pink Hybrid (72 days; 6 ounces; smooth pink fruit on same
husky-type plant; indeterminate; resistant to VF)
-----------


USE IRON PHOSPHATE BAIT for slugs and snails.
1. Choose a bait product carefully.
Baits containing methiocarb kill earthworms and beneficial insects.

2. Baits containing iron phosphate (such as Sluggo¨, Escar-Go¨, or
Worry Free¨) are safer for children and pets than baits containing
metaldehyde. Nevertheless, always keep this and all other pesticides
out of the reach of children and pets.
(This seems overly cautious to me. In moderation, phosphates are good
for the soil, and iron a dietary necessity for humans.)

3. After eating iron phosphate, snails and slugs stop feeding and die
within 3 to 6 days. They often crawl into secluded places, so you
may not see dead bodies.

4. Reapply iron phosphate baits every 2 weeks.

Sorry if the questions sound dumb
---------

We all start with dumb questions. Just try and learn. Remember, Google
is your friend.

The following sites may be helpful.

http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4DM...t/tomatind.htm

http://www.jasons-indoor-guide-to-or...ardening.com/h
ow-to-grow-tomatoes.html

Have fun.
--

Billy

Impeach Pelosi, Bush & Cheney to the Hague
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/
http://rachelcorriefoundation.org/

Thanks Billy, really useful

What does "determinate" mean? If I do plant a tiny tim plant, do I have to re-plant it every year?

Currently, I have put a few tomato seeds in a seeding tray (couple of days now). Do you know how often I need to water the tray? Also once I have seedlings, how do I transfer them, is there any distance I have to maintain when replanting the seedlings? I plan to grow them in pots since I don't have enough space

Thanks for all your help so far, really good

Also, since I ran out of miracle-gro organic compost, I purchased organic compost from homebase since it was cheaper. However, I've read from various books that the seeds in the seeding trays should be covered with 6mm of soil. I can never get this right since the soil never passes through the seive. So I manually break the soil in my hands and try coat the seeds. Not sure if this will do. Any ideas?

Also when do I introduce the miracle-gro organic fruit and vegetable plant food? Do I add this once the seedlings appear? I've also added a few mint seeds, do I need to add this plant food for herbs as well?

In article ,
fmervin wrote:

Thanks Billy, really useful

What does "determinate" mean? If I do plant a tiny tim plant, do I have
to re-plant it every year?
"Determinante" means that the plant will grow like a . . . ah . . ,
shrub. It shouldn't need support. Typically "determinante" tomatoes will
set their fruit all at once (a point contested by at least one poster to
rec.gardens.edible) and then vegetate, until killed by the lower
temperatures of fall and winter. "Indeterminante" tomatoes grow like
vines, need support, and have a long harvest season. In temperate
climates, tomatoes are annuals, although they may be perennials in more
tropical climes.

Currently, I have put a few tomato seeds in a seeding tray (couple of
days now). Do you know how often I need to water the tray?
Water as the surface soil "starts" to look dry. Hope fully your seed
tray drains so the the plants aren't in contact with standing water (an
invitation to mold).
Also once I
have seedlings, how do I transfer them, is there any distance I have to
maintain when replanting the seedlings? I plan to grow them in pots
since I don't have enough space
Figure that the root system will be as big as the fruit bearing part of
the plant, Tiny Tim tomato plants are about 12" tall (so I'm told) and
look to be about 8" wide = .35 gal. pot. This would be your minimum size
pot. The larger the pot, the potentially larger the plant. I'd look in
the two to three gallon range and maybe even try a five gallon pot.

http://hubpages.com/hub/How_To_Grow_Tomatoes_in_a_Container

Thanks for all your help so far, really good

Don't forget Google.

Good luck.
--

Billy

Impeach Pelosi, Bush & Cheney to the Hague
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/
http://rachelcorriefoundation.org/

On Mar 31, 8:58 pm, Billy wrote:
In article ,

fmervin wrote:
Thanks Billy, really useful

What does "determinate" mean? If I do plant a tiny tim plant, do I have
to re-plant it every year?

"Determinante" means that the plant will grow like a . . . ah . . ,
shrub. It shouldn't need support. Typically "determinante" tomatoes will
set their fruit all at once (a point contested by at least one poster to
rec.gardens.edible) and then vegetate, until killed by the lower
temperatures of fall and winter. "Indeterminante" tomatoes grow like
vines, need support, and have a long harvest season. In temperate
climates, tomatoes are annuals, although they may be perennials in more
tropical climes.

Currently, I have put a few tomatoseedsin a seeding tray (couple of
days now). Do you know how often I need to water the tray?

Water as the surface soil "starts" to look dry. Hope fully your seed
tray drains so the the plants aren't in contact with standing water (an
invitation to mold). Also once I
have seedlings, how do I transfer them, is there any distance I have to
maintain when replanting the seedlings? I plan to grow them in pots
since I don't have enough space

Figure that the root system will be as big as the fruit bearing part of
the plant, Tiny Tim tomato plants are about 12" tall (so I'm told) and
look to be about 8" wide = .35 gal. pot. This would be your minimum size
pot. The larger the pot, the potentially larger the plant. I'd look in
the two to three gallon range and maybe even try a five gallon pot.

http://hubpages.com/hub/How_To_Grow_Tomatoes_in_a_Container

Thanks for all your help so far, really good

Don't forget Google.

Good luck.
--

Billy

Impeach Pelosi, Bush & Cheney to the Haguehttp://angryarab.blogspot.com/http://rachelcorriefoundation.org/

very good source of organic seeds is Genesis Seeds - www.genesisseeds.com

keperman