Posted: Tue Mar 11, 25 8:30 pm Post subject: Tomatoes
Last year we had a happy few days staying in Clovelly and I spent a good hour or so talking tomatoes with the head gardener there. We came home with a punnet full of delicious fruit and a large plastic bag of over ripe ones. I spent the morning planting up the saved seeds of seven different varieties. Naturally I had forgotten the names by the time I got home but at least I saved them in separate envelopes. I now have a propogator full of Clovelly Heritage tomato seeds A to F. I do so hope that they all grow and give me a chance to identify them properly.
There's also two small pots of Tumbling Tom and a hanging basket waiting for them. WHY?! I am so going to regret this when I have to keep them watered all summer.
Nicky cigreen
Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Posts: 9908 Location: Devon, uk
Yes, I can understand. A chance to grow really good tomatoes, regardless of the fact you may not succeed and they may not be as good as his, is irresistible. I don't have much luck growing from seed, so if I grow them, and it has to be in the greenhouse as they don't ripen outdoors, then I buy the plants.
Nicky cigreen
Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Posts: 9908 Location: Devon, uk
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 25 10:08 am Post subject:
I grow all my tomatoes in a gh, even the varieties that say they are for outdoors. They need a little warm to germinate - I use a heated propagator, my Dad uses the airing cupboard (top tip - don't forget you put them in there!)
I save my own seed - only buying when I want to try something specific. I just squash some seeds onto kitchen towel and let it dry. Then the following year I plant it, still stuck to the kitchen towel. I find you get very similar tomatoes, although sometimes there is a little inter breeding. If you grow from a hybrid you will get a variety from their offspring, all with qualities of the original tomato - I save the ones I liked, and that way you develop you own varieties. I should think up more interesting names than 'yellow-orange cherry plums' etc...
I am going to set up an automatic watering system in the greenhouse. I've only had it a year and didn't get around to it last year. I've got most of the bits for it now but I didn't plan for a hanging basket in there!
(My garden shed is still full of inherited bits from my mum and my mum-in-law including three hanging baskets. Not something I would normally have myself.)
Clovelly has lovely gardens, we must visit them again with you Jamanda.
Nicky cigreen
Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Posts: 9908 Location: Devon, uk
auto drip at high pressure low volume with or without a timer rig are fairly easy and very affordable or scrapheap challenge
fancy can include full recycled hydroponic, easier than many think for "outdoor stuff" as water and feed are the only two criteria you need to address
iirc i have a ww2 booklet about outdoor hydroponic veg for soil-less situations such as balconies and yards, i cant remember how that was given a flow or monitored for feed and O2 etc
small solar pond pumps have enough lift if the reservoir is well positioned relative to the crop (get two if you need to gain ht)
hanging baskets are pretty and pita, water retaining gel grains can help but any heavy drinkers still need constant attention in drying weather
not always in a good way
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