Regarding Tomatos

5 Jan '05 4:41 am

Hello everyone.. I have been reading and lurking for sometime now, and I have a question about my tomato plants. They are ready to be thinned and get a place of their own... What is the lift cycle of a tomato plant... i.e. about how many days before I start to see blooms, and fruit.

They were just some seeds that were saved from a BLT and then planted once they were dry.

They are in an indoor garden for now...

Are tomatoes light cycle dependant?

7 Jan '05 1:14 am

23 views in 2 days... and not so much as a peep.

7 Jan '05 9:45 pm

Sorry Pepin, Crying or Very sad

I was hoping someone with a bit more knowledge of growing tomatoes would reply. I do grow and have grown tomatoes every year, but coming from cold Dunedin in the south of New Zealand, the conditions would be vastly different to yours. I grow mine in pots in the greenhouse, although if we have a hot summer (unlike this summer), they will grow in a sheltered spot outside here. It would take a couple of months for the plants to produce fruit and that is only if they are growing in suitable conditions; that is, warmth, light,food and water.I only grow dwarf plants, but yours would probably need staking as most comercially grown tomatoes are tall plants grown in glasshouses.
Hope that helps.

8 Jan '05 2:18 am

Thanks, That is more than I knew already... I will move them each to a 5 gal bucket this weekend.

8 Jan '05 9:25 am

Hi Pepin

As with teecee I was hoping someone with more knowledge would teach us something Wink

With my tomatoes I just put the young seedlings in the ground when the soil has warmed up enough and hope for the best!
I have no idea of the light requirements as mine are grown in full sun over summer and they simply grow untill they decide they have done enough Cool

I do know that they love extra compost and lots of water, not on their leaves if you can help it, while they grow.
Plant them in an airy place to help avoid blight.
Thats about my limit of growing tomatoes.

Make sure you harden them off before putting them outside so they don't get a fright and curl up their toes Wink

edit~ I have just read an article on growing tomatoes and it suggests that they need about 6 hours of sunlight daily and temps above 55 degrees at night to produce well ~ good luck!

21 Jan '05 9:36 pm

Welcome to the forum, Pepin! Sounds like you're geographically well placed for some seriously tasty toms Mr. Green

Thanks for the advice, Tee Cee and Pumpkin. I've had a look around and found some more info for 'new growers' on growing tomatoes - the BBC advice seems the best as it explains even the most basic techniques involved. And has pictures! (Apologies for being such a Brit - I'm a complete BBC junkie. Got to get my money's worth from the license fee Smile

)

Even I feel inspired now to plant up some seeds from my lunch-time tomatoes. I don't know about anyone else, but tomatoes seem to be one of the greatest victims of modern vegetable (well, fruit...) shopping. Tasteless and pale pink. Have I had this rant before? Probably Embarassed

Not sure that growing anything to eat up on a London roof terrace would be Health & Safety approved tho - the Big Smoke, and all that...

Would be great to see how you get on, Pepin.

Regarding Tomatos

Regarding Tomatos

Tomato growing advice