too early to plant out toms?

[Doris_Pinks]

 :'(  :'(  :'(  :'(   3 nights at 0c for me it says.

[Doris_Pinks]

[tim]

Roy - yes but, before that, you'll see them coming out of the bottom??

For instance, this is nowhere near ready to go out.

[aquilegia]

What size pot is that tim?

A couple of my toms (all in 3in pots) have a few inches of root out the bottom (I didn't notice until last night). Are they ready to go in the final pot or should I pot them on to a middle-sized one first?

[Mrs Ava]

Ron was up on the plot today knocking in posts - I asked what he was up to and he told me he is preparing to get his toms in at the weekend.  Apparently we are waiting for the north wind to drop, then all will be well in our part of Essex.  How do we know that the north wind will have dropped by the weekend....ah well,  tis the Essex way dontchano!  ;D  My toms will be making their grand arrival next week I think.

[tim]

Aqui - 3 1/2" - I normally use bigger, but forgot this year.

Potting on? No - they'll go straight out from the 3" pots - when ready!

[aquilegia]

oh that's good! yippee!

[wardy]

We had groundfrost and an airfrost last night and same expected tonight.  I was on the lotty after 9.00 pm putting protection over my spuds.  In the pouring rain too.  Should have listened to the earlier news methinks  :)

[kitty]

roy-rather than keep taking a tom out the pot to check rootage,look underneath-for potting onwards i feel there should be a goodly amount of roots popping out the bottom... ;D
i dont think anyone should be in a hurry to plant out-its not even mid may yet...everything will whizz along later.. ;)

[piers]

Took the chance in the end - but went down this morning and they were NOT looking happy! Drooping and windblown. (Luckily they're only 7 out of a potential 60). Anyway, I fleeced them up and may have to enact some kind of candlelit vigil tonight in the hope that they'll pull through!

[tim]

kitty - to modify that thought slightly, you can have water searching roots showing at the bottom long before you get a good 'root-ball'??

piers - that's why they burn candles in the orchards in Evesham!

[Mrs Ava]

Apparently frost free here for another week.  Now if that north wind would head south, I could get my toms in!

[kitty]

tim-aha!light dawning on kitty!
i see...i didnt realise the little tinkers were searching for water-i thought they were outgrowing their pot-i shall observe more closely in future!  ::)

ej-a helluva northerly yesterday here-and a real sharp ground frost this morning-brrr!

[clairenpaul]

Hi Kitty,

we are in Scunthorpe - but of all jokes, but we like it!! Are you in Lincs too?

[kitty]

it cant cope with that  middle bit in s********e!!!!!
it cant cope with the animals i paint either unless i call them cats..
anyway-yes-i am-north east of lincoln near saxilby-we used to live in manton near your town!
hello!redclanger and petemason are yellowbwllies too!
kitty ;D

[aquilegia]

oh drat. I spoke to soon. I thought we'd seen the last of the frosts. But wednesday night my thermometer went down to 1C and now the toms are looking a bit frazzeled, despite the bubblewrap duvet. Spuds (uncovered) are fine. Courgettes (under fleece) are fine. We've got a slight chance of frost next week, so I think I might have to bring the toms in overnight....

(come to think of it - I reckon my roots out the bottom of the pot are the plant searching for water. Goodness knows why - they get enough of it.) Grow little planties, grow...

[kitty]

i think i'll bring out a new name of tomato-'The Okey Cokey Tom'!!!!! ;D

[kitty]

but of course in the growing instructions i shall omitt'shake it all about'..... ;D

[redimp]

Hi Kitty,

we are in Sthingyhorpe - but of all jokes, but we like it!! Are you in Lincs too?

Better avoid the subject of football then  ;)

[chrispea27]

isnt the end of May a good guideline  to put toms out?

[kitty]

i think around the end of may chrispea-surely the frosts will be over by then-it was a snorter a couple of mornings ago!
clanger!
you off to the match then i take it!?


and-got yer red carnation?i shall be there bright and early-10 o'clock..