How big should my tomato and pepper plants be right now? I mean, they're no
where near the size of the garden centre ones. Is that normal? Should I
scrap them and buy some already grown to 6"?

Charlie.

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How big should my tomato and pepper plants be right now? I mean, they're
no
where near the size of the garden centre ones.

Don't worry about it. My tomato plants are also nowhere near the size of the
garden centre ones. Mine are much bigger and are flowering ;-)

Seriously, I would keep with your home-grown ones if they are healthy. They
will soon 'catch-up'.

Best,

- h

Well they look pretty healthy. They only have two sets of leaves, but they
are a much deeper/nicer green than the faded ones at the garden centre. I
might put them in my new super-turbo-charged mini greenhouse! My Chiles are
loving it in there!

Charlie.

"H" wrote in message
...
How big should my tomato and pepper plants be right now? I mean,
they're
no
where near the size of the garden centre ones.

Don't worry about it. My tomato plants are also nowhere near the size of
the
garden centre ones. Mine are much bigger and are flowering ;-)

Seriously, I would keep with your home-grown ones if they are healthy.
They
will soon 'catch-up'.

Best,

- h




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If they're a nice dark green, then I'd stick with the ones you've got,
they'll soon catch up. I repotted mine this weekend, and some of them
were getting seriously rooty! I'm new to all this, but I hope the
repotting will give them another growth spurt. My Gardener's Delight are
at the moment between 6 and 12 inches, my Balconi Red (a bush variety)
are all about 5-6 inches, whilst my chillies (can't remember the
variety) are all about 6 inches.

Is your mini greenhouse one of the upright four tier jobbies? I put my
tomato plants in there last week when the weather got seriously warm and
nearly killed them all. They all wilted and fell over, and not knowing
what the hell to do, I put them in the shade and watered thoroughly.
They have all survived, albeit with a few dodgy leaves, but just thought
I would warn you!

Let me know how you get on, as this is the first time I have done this
(previously only given advice to my parents with no experience
whatsoever!), and it's good to get some info on hgow other people are
doing. At least then I know I'm not going disasterously wrong.

Charlie wrote:
Well they look pretty healthy. They only have two sets of leaves, but they
are a much deeper/nicer green than the faded ones at the garden centre. I
might put them in my new super-turbo-charged mini greenhouse! My Chiles are
loving it in there!

Charlie.

It's like the four tier ones, except it's two tier! I'd had it half undone
all day to keep it slightly cooler than it was. I've just added Miracle Gro
to my tomatoes coming through as per friends instructions so I might see
some improvement! Hopefully...

Charlie.

"bigboard" wrote in message
...
If they're a nice dark green, then I'd stick with the ones you've got,
they'll soon catch up. I repotted mine this weekend, and some of them
were getting seriously rooty! I'm new to all this, but I hope the
repotting will give them another growth spurt. My Gardener's Delight are
at the moment between 6 and 12 inches, my Balconi Red (a bush variety)
are all about 5-6 inches, whilst my chillies (can't remember the
variety) are all about 6 inches.

Is your mini greenhouse one of the upright four tier jobbies? I put my
tomato plants in there last week when the weather got seriously warm and
nearly killed them all. They all wilted and fell over, and not knowing
what the hell to do, I put them in the shade and watered thoroughly.
They have all survived, albeit with a few dodgy leaves, but just thought
I would warn you!

Let me know how you get on, as this is the first time I have done this
(previously only given advice to my parents with no experience
whatsoever!), and it's good to get some info on hgow other people are
doing. At least then I know I'm not going disasterously wrong.

Charlie wrote:
Well they look pretty healthy. They only have two sets of leaves, but
they
are a much deeper/nicer green than the faded ones at the garden centre.
I
might put them in my new super-turbo-charged mini greenhouse! My Chiles
are
loving it in there!

Charlie.




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"Charlie" wrote in message
...
How big should my tomato and pepper plants be right now? I mean, they're
no
where near the size of the garden centre ones. Is that normal? Should I
scrap them and buy some already grown to 6"?

Charlie.


I started mine about 6 weeks ago in pots, now they're planted straight into
the soil in the greenhouse and they're about 8" tall and looking very
healthy. The peppers which I sowed at the same time, however, have only just
started coming up! I'm in the South-East.

Si

What am I doing wrong! I sowed my tomatoes about a month ago and they're
tiny Maybe I shouldn't have taken up veggie gardening after all!

Charlie.

"Mungo "two sheds" Toadfoot" wrote in
message ...

"Charlie" wrote in message
...
How big should my tomato and pepper plants be right now? I mean,
they're
no
where near the size of the garden centre ones. Is that normal? Should
I
scrap them and buy some already grown to 6"?

Charlie.


I started mine about 6 weeks ago in pots, now they're planted straight
into
the soil in the greenhouse and they're about 8" tall and looking very
healthy. The peppers which I sowed at the same time, however, have only
just
started coming up! I'm in the South-East.

Si




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Charlie mine have not even arrived from the nursery yet

O


"Charlie" wrote in message
...
What am I doing wrong! I sowed my tomatoes about a month ago and they're
tiny Maybe I shouldn't have taken up veggie gardening after all!

Charlie.

"Mungo "two sheds" Toadfoot" wrote in
message ...

"Charlie" wrote in message
...
How big should my tomato and pepper plants be right now? I mean,
they're
no
where near the size of the garden centre ones. Is that normal?
Should
I
scrap them and buy some already grown to 6"?

Charlie.


I started mine about 6 weeks ago in pots, now they're planted straight
into
the soil in the greenhouse and they're about 8" tall and looking very
healthy. The peppers which I sowed at the same time, however, have only
just
started coming up! I'm in the South-East.

Si




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"Charlie" wrote in message
...
What am I doing wrong! I sowed my tomatoes about a month ago and they're
tiny Maybe I shouldn't have taken up veggie gardening after all!

Charlie.

What kind of seeds are they [1]? And what kind of compost [2]? Where have
you planted them?

I'm far from expert but I start mine on a South-facing windowsill in a seed
tray, then carefully transplant them into 8" pots, in B&Q multi-purpose
compost, and leave them in the greenhouse, watering regularly. This year, as
I said, I've planted them directly into the soil in the greenhouse because
I'm hoping they'll be less likely to suffer if I'm a bit forgetful with the
hosepipe.

Si

[1] Seeds I bought from Lidl last year did very badly, and the seeds I saved
from a Tesco beef tomato grew extremely well but wouldn't bear fruit. I've
always found www.dobies.co.uk to be very reliable.

[2] I found Asda compost to be completely useless - it looked like bark
chippings and didn't seem to encourage much growth at all.

One was variety "Big Boy" from one of the big seed manufacturers and the
other was "Moneymaker" from Lidl (39p a pack - even if only one plant bears
fruit its worth it!).

Peppers were mixed Hybrids from same big seed manufacturer (can't be
bothered to go and check - it's chilly now).

Compost was a big bag that was in the medium expense range from B&Q. Grew
them in shallow trays on a sunny windowsill before transplanting to the
greenhouse in 3" pots where it's unfortunately not so sunny. Should I move
them back onto the windowsill?

Charlie.

"Mungo "two sheds" Toadfoot" wrote in
message ...

"Charlie" wrote in message
...
What am I doing wrong! I sowed my tomatoes about a month ago and
they're
tiny Maybe I shouldn't have taken up veggie gardening after all!

Charlie.

What kind of seeds are they [1]? And what kind of compost [2]? Where have
you planted them?

I'm far from expert but I start mine on a South-facing windowsill in a
seed
tray, then carefully transplant them into 8" pots, in B&Q multi-purpose
compost, and leave them in the greenhouse, watering regularly. This year,
as
I said, I've planted them directly into the soil in the greenhouse because
I'm hoping they'll be less likely to suffer if I'm a bit forgetful with
the
hosepipe.

Si

[1] Seeds I bought from Lidl last year did very badly, and the seeds I
saved
from a Tesco beef tomato grew extremely well but wouldn't bear fruit. I've
always found www.dobies.co.uk to be very reliable.

[2] I found Asda compost to be completely useless - it looked like bark
chippings and didn't seem to encourage much growth at all.




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Charlie
You are panicking over nothing!
There's lots of time for them to catch up!
Remember garden centre plants are usually 'forced' into growing in time for
the buying public!

Stick with the ones you've got as it's so much more fun growing from seed!

Badger


"Charlie" wrote in message
...
One was variety "Big Boy" from one of the big seed manufacturers and the
other was "Moneymaker" from Lidl (39p a pack - even if only one plant
bears
fruit its worth it!).

Peppers were mixed Hybrids from same big seed manufacturer (can't be
bothered to go and check - it's chilly now).

Compost was a big bag that was in the medium expense range from B&Q. Grew
them in shallow trays on a sunny windowsill before transplanting to the
greenhouse in 3" pots where it's unfortunately not so sunny. Should I
move
them back onto the windowsill?

Charlie.

"Mungo "two sheds" Toadfoot" wrote in
message ...

"Charlie" wrote in message
...
What am I doing wrong! I sowed my tomatoes about a month ago and
they're
tiny Maybe I shouldn't have taken up veggie gardening after all!

Charlie.

What kind of seeds are they [1]? And what kind of compost [2]? Where
have
you planted them?

I'm far from expert but I start mine on a South-facing windowsill in a
seed
tray, then carefully transplant them into 8" pots, in B&Q multi-purpose
compost, and leave them in the greenhouse, watering regularly. This
year,
as
I said, I've planted them directly into the soil in the greenhouse
because
I'm hoping they'll be less likely to suffer if I'm a bit forgetful with
the
hosepipe.

Si

[1] Seeds I bought from Lidl last year did very badly, and the seeds I
saved
from a Tesco beef tomato grew extremely well but wouldn't bear fruit.
I've
always found www.dobies.co.uk to be very reliable.

[2] I found Asda compost to be completely useless - it looked like bark
chippings and didn't seem to encourage much growth at all.




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On Tue, 22 Apr 2003 12:15:30 +0100, Charlie wrote:

How big should my tomato and pepper plants be right now? I mean, they're no
where near the size of the garden centre ones. Is that normal? Should I
scrap them and buy some already grown to 6"?

Don't panic. My tomatoes are currently 1" high, and the peppers & chillies
about 1/2" high - these are all seeds from Marshalls, in B&Q organic
(bark) compost, planted in the conservatory at the end March / early
April.

They'll grow on faster than you think. Make sure that you are watering
them reguarly, but they are not too wet. Make sure the pot is big enough
for the plant - i.e. it has enough root space and grub so it can grow,
make sure they are warm enough. Give them a bit of warmthm time & TLC,
and you'll suprise yourself.

I grew tomatoes, peppers & chillies for the first time last year, and
managed reasonable crops of tomatoes & chillies, but not peppers (I don't
think they were warm enough in the garden outside (chillies were grown in
the conservatory)) from seeds planted at the end of March, I was chuffed
to bits!

I'm hoping to do even better this year - we shall see!

Sarah

Ah good. I might bring them indoors for a bit and see how they do on a
sunny windowsill.

Charlie.

"Little Badger" wrote in message
...
Charlie
You are panicking over nothing!
There's lots of time for them to catch up!
Remember garden centre plants are usually 'forced' into growing in time
for
the buying public!

Stick with the ones you've got as it's so much more fun growing from seed!

Badger


"Charlie" wrote in message
...
One was variety "Big Boy" from one of the big seed manufacturers and the
other was "Moneymaker" from Lidl (39p a pack - even if only one plant
bears
fruit its worth it!).

Peppers were mixed Hybrids from same big seed manufacturer (can't be
bothered to go and check - it's chilly now).

Compost was a big bag that was in the medium expense range from B&Q.
Grew
them in shallow trays on a sunny windowsill before transplanting to the
greenhouse in 3" pots where it's unfortunately not so sunny. Should I
move
them back onto the windowsill?

Charlie.

"Mungo "two sheds" Toadfoot" wrote
in
message ...

"Charlie" wrote in message
...
What am I doing wrong! I sowed my tomatoes about a month ago and
they're
tiny Maybe I shouldn't have taken up veggie gardening after all!

Charlie.

What kind of seeds are they [1]? And what kind of compost [2]? Where
have
you planted them?

I'm far from expert but I start mine on a South-facing windowsill in a
seed
tray, then carefully transplant them into 8" pots, in B&Q
multi-purpose
compost, and leave them in the greenhouse, watering regularly. This
year,
as
I said, I've planted them directly into the soil in the greenhouse
because
I'm hoping they'll be less likely to suffer if I'm a bit forgetful
with
the
hosepipe.

Si

[1] Seeds I bought from Lidl last year did very badly, and the seeds I
saved
from a Tesco beef tomato grew extremely well but wouldn't bear fruit.
I've
always found www.dobies.co.uk to be very reliable.

[2] I found Asda compost to be completely useless - it looked like
bark
chippings and didn't seem to encourage much growth at all.




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x-no-archive: yes,On Wed, 23 Apr 2003 06:14:18 +0100, "Charlie"
wrote:

Ah good. I might bring them indoors for a bit and see how they do on a
sunny windowsill.

Charlie.

Charlie, I,ve got moneymaker 2-2.5 inches and Ailsa craig 4-5 inch.
Both sown about a month ago and they are in the house on a sunny
windowsill. Chillies are 2 inch and all look fine. A word of warning
though. I recently acquired a second greenhouse from a pal and decided
to plant out my wifes very healthy chilli plants that were about 12
inch high (god knows when she sowed them). Cue several nights of frost
and bye bye lots of plants. I am determined not to make the same
mistake again, so my tomatoes, chillies anf sweetcorn are not leaving
the house for another month. Meanwhile the greenhouses are producing
lots of radishes, rocket, lettuce, spinach and cabbage, beetroot,
coriander, aubergines and leeks for planting out.
Good luck,
Jonny (SE Scotland)

We're quite lucky in an odd sort of way. The trees that let hardly any sun
into the greenhouse also stop the plants inside being affected by frost! At
the moment the temp in the greenhouse is sticking at around 10C a night
quite happily, not any lower than 9C. I had peppers out there through the
last frost or two that look wonderfully healthy. I guess the thing I hate
is actually doing some good!

Charlie.

"Jon" wrote in message
...
x-no-archive: yes,On Wed, 23 Apr 2003 06:14:18 +0100, "Charlie"
wrote:

Ah good. I might bring them indoors for a bit and see how they do on a
sunny windowsill.

Charlie.

Charlie, I,ve got moneymaker 2-2.5 inches and Ailsa craig 4-5 inch.
Both sown about a month ago and they are in the house on a sunny
windowsill. Chillies are 2 inch and all look fine. A word of warning
though. I recently acquired a second greenhouse from a pal and decided
to plant out my wifes very healthy chilli plants that were about 12
inch high (god knows when she sowed them). Cue several nights of frost
and bye bye lots of plants. I am determined not to make the same
mistake again, so my tomatoes, chillies anf sweetcorn are not leaving
the house for another month. Meanwhile the greenhouses are producing
lots of radishes, rocket, lettuce, spinach and cabbage, beetroot,
coriander, aubergines and leeks for planting out.
Good luck,
Jonny (SE Scotland)


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