Vegetable seeds.net - Chris Collins

Online vegetable / horticultural advice , forums and blogs , information at your finger tips.

Seeds to be found and bought through vegetableseeds.net include

Artichoke , Asparagus , Asparagus Pea , Aubergine ,

Baby Leaf , Beet Leaf , Beetroot , Borecole , Bean (Broad) , Bean (Climbing French) , Bean (Dwarf French) , Bean (Runner) , Broccoli ,Brussels Sprouts

Cabbage , Calabrese ' Carrot , Cauliflower , Celeriac , Chicory , Courgette , Cress ,
Cucumber

Endive , Florence Fennel , Hot Peppers , Kohl Rabi

Leeks , Lettuce

Marrow , Melon

Onion , Oriental

Parsnip , Pea , Pumpkin ,

Radicchio , Radish , Rhubarb , Rocket

Spinach , Sprouting Seeds , Squash , Swede , Sweet Pepper , Sweet Corn

Tomato , Turnip

GROWING INSTRUCTIONS AND TIPS

TOMATOES

SOWING TIMES & CONDITIONS

Starting Tomatoes off early in the season and in a controlled environment will bode well for the season. Sown in a seed tray and placed in a propagator or , if your luck enough , a glasshouse. A good reputable seed compost should be your medium and make sure there is plenty of light this helps prevent etilation of the seedlings and leggy seedlings. Beware bright direct scorching sunshine.

Sow your Tomato seed late January / February in a gentle heat of 16 degrees or there about. Toms can also be kicked off in Polytunnels .

PRICKING OUT & POTTING ON

When your seedlings have emerged and are at the Cotyledon stage ( the first two leaves ) it’s time to give them some more room. Handle the seedling by the leaves only and using a dibber gently transfer your seedling into a 9cm pot containing a good potting compost (loam based John Innes is a good example). The seedling can be planted right up to its neck as its young stem will produce extra root. Water and place your newly potted seedling in a protected environment – propagator / glasshouse or kitchen window (beware scorching from direct sunlight!) .

HARDENING OFF & PLANTING OUT

Once the frosty night begin to subside and the spring gets going it’s time to ‘Harden off’ your Toms. This means slowly acclimatising your plants ready for outside life. A cold frame would be ideal , which can be opened during the day and closed for protection against late frost during the night.

Toms growing in greenhouses or Polytunnels should be well ventilated . Once all danger of frost has passed plant out your Tomatoes. Could be in a border , pot even hanging basket. If your growing your Toms under a protected structure pot them on into larger pots once the smaller plants have become pot bound.

When planting out your pick a nice sunny spot away from strong winds.

WATERING & FEEDING

Tomatoes are Mediterranean plants so be careful not to over water , the soil should be kept slightly damp and notsoaking wet. Watering can be increased when fruiting is becoming profuse. Your Toms will love a liquid feed and anything containing Seaweed extract is welcome . This contains all the trace elements that these plants require , particularly important is Iron and Magnesium , nutrients that sometimes Tomatoes suffer from a lack of (yellowing of leaves). Liquid feed should be applied early or late in the date , preferably when the weather is still and clear. This means the Stomata ( breathing pores on the leaves) will be open and receptive to liquid. Dilute and apply the liquid fertiliser in a fine water sprayer .If there are concerns about nutrient in the soil supplement it with slow release fertiliser granules . Or for those of you who are strictly organic a top dress on the soil surface of an organic fertiliser.

TIPS FOR TOMATOES

Being from the Med one way to cause problems with your plants without releasing it , is to water straight from the tap . Tepid water , water that has been allowed to stand for a few days is much more comfortable for Toms providing no sudden cold shock to the roots. Also do not forget to support your Tomatoes . They are not woody plants so Bamboo canes and some twine will go a long way to protecting your plants from collapse , especially under the weight of a heavy fruit crop. If you are growing you Toms on a truss method support from above will help.

Pinching your Toms for will also produce better plants. Pinch pout the tips of the main stem and laterals as the plants grows , this is should be done when the plants are young , this will aid heavy fruiting later . Also pinch out leaves that are over lapping your fruit as we need the sunshine to get those Toms turning red.

To make sure your plants are well fed and able to provide you with lots of produce try mulching the top of your soil with cut Cumphery leaves.

LOOKING OUT FOR PROBLEMS

Blight is the disease that can have devastating effects , turning shoots and stems black. It thrives on humid still conditions , so be careful with your watering and ventilation. Aphids may fancy a meal at the expense of your Tomato plants , a touch of soapy water in a water sprayer will check them .

Whitefly in a glasshouse situation is a common problem , use sticky glue cards or a biological control like the parasitic wasp Encarsia formosa . There are other moulds and fungus that can take a fancy to the Tomato , both its foliage and fruit. Attention to watering will play its part in containment but if things are really bad a copper based fungicide may be the only answer , it should be applied as a preventative spray . It is understood that chemicals are not for everybody . If plants are infected , removed diseased material and burn .

HARVESTING

Pick the fruits when they are ripened . Cut the fruit stalk leaving the calyx attached to the fruit. Pull up plants by the roots at the end of the season and hang them in a dry area , like a garage , this will help any remaining fruits on the plant to ripen.