Sorry Tommies again

[Roy Bham UK]

;D Are these Cherry Toms ready to go out?
Is it warm enough? Lowest temp over the last two weeks 4°C (39°F)
Can they go straight in the ground? Well manured?
What's the advantage of a growbag?
How close together do you plant em?
My plot is very open and can be very windy ???

[Roy Bham UK]

[tim]

Roy - are you trying to grow them to match your banana plants, or whatever??

YES - overdue!  But, if they've been in a warm house, I would give them a couple of days outside - well supported - to acclimatise. Keep them well watered, because there's a lot of plant there.

No need for a bag if you've got nice soil. 18" apart? Whether they are bush or cordon, they'll need staking well.

[David R]

Roy,

they look a bit etiolated, have you had them in shade? If so, dont put them straight into full sun, they might get the plant equivalent of sunstroke. Acclimatize them slowly to full sun.

[teresa]

I would plant half the stalk in the ground. Remove the lower leaves this will give you more roots and make the plant stronger. Give them a good drink each evening. As well as hardening them off.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Mine are smaller than that, and are already out. Whereabouts in Brum are you, by the way?

[Roy Bham UK]

;) Thank you all for the advice, that was quick :o ;D I have plenty more growing a lot slower (less than ½ that size) in my plastic greenhouse so maybe I will leave them out to harden off too. ;D

My wife heard that the tops need pinching off at some stage, is this correct, if so when?

Hi Robert I'm on Wychbury Allotments close by the green belt M5 Frankley Services where are you? ;D

[cleo]

They should be out anytime now-but the forecast for tomorrow is not good.

Are they `sweet million`?-they often look like that early on but grow into superb plants.

Stephan

[Mrs Ava]

Don't pinch the tops out Roy, unless you are growing them as bushes.  You grow them straight up as cordons, the only pinching you do is removing all the little side shoots, but not the flowers!

[Robert_Brenchley]

You're well out of my patch then! I know vaguely where you are. I'm in the Guinea Gardens behind the Botanical Gardens.

[Roy Bham UK]

They should be out anytime now-but the forecast for tomorrow is not good.

Are they `sweet million`?-they often look like that early on but grow into superb plants.

Stephan

;) Hi Stephan, Only had two varieties, not sure if they are Sweet Million or Sweet Olive as this particular tray wasn't labelled ::) ;D

[campanula]

if you plant them deep, the stems will put out roots - might be a good idea as they are a bit tall so plant up to the lower leaves if you can. I put a polythene windbreak around my toms - it works wonders, they are enormous, sturdy and vigorous (although i discovered this as a result of our home-made polytunnel structure blowing away before we got a front on - all the curved roof went, leaving us with 4ft high walls....but the tomatoes were terrific. I will certainly be giving them some shelter this year.