Tomatoes! Help!

[icemaiden]

My Tomatoes that I grew from seed back in Feb/Mar time are about 5" tall now. They are outside in a cold house.

The tomato plants you see in the garden centres are huge! And the ones my friend bought are now about two foot tall.
Will mine eventually grow that tall? Shall I put them in a growbag now? Am I being impatient?

TIA

[Booldawg]

you dont want them too 'leggy'. I have one on the windowsill at work that I tend whilst not on the AB; its 3ft tall - far too tall. You want the plants energy to go into providing quality fruit rather than wasted on foliage. About 3 trusses of tomatoes per plant is ideal.

Depends on the variety - what does it say on the seed packet? They do need to be kept warm. I've never had much success growing them outdoors. Anything above 20C is fine.

[icemaiden]

I grew them indoors, then about a few weeks ago transferred them into a cold frame, which is where the growbags are ready to put them in.

[icemaiden]

I'm glad i'm not the only one Pinkilady-I wondered about the size of pots so at the weekend I transferred four of the better looking ones in 5" Pots. They didn't seem to be outgrowing the 3"pots they were in. But I guess it could be why.

[icemaiden]

I'm a complete virgin when it comes to growing veg. Only started this year and read loads of books, but still things are unclear. Ah well. Last resort, buy some at the garden centre! Good luck with you lone one Pinkilady.

[icemaiden]

When the first truss or 'branch' of flowers has appeared, tomatoes are ready to go into growing bags.

Just read this Pinki

[Chaffinch]

Don't worry ice, mine are still smaller than any in the garden centers, they are every year (garden centres are forced), but each year i get far too many toms and say I'll plant less next year. I never do though!

I grow mine both in and out doors and (unless I get blight, outdoors), they do equally well, but I'm down south!

[icemaiden]

Hi chaffinch.
I think I just felt inadequate when I saw the whopping great big ones at my friends. I also have too many plants, but it's all a learning curve I guess.

[paddywak]

Wouldn't worry too much icemaiden, when i used to grow tomatoes I used to start them off in the house in plastic vending machine cups when the first truss appeared I'd move them to a cold frame to "harden off" for a few days then transfer them to 12in pots the greenhouse, every year I'd try staggering the planting of the seeds to try and prevent all the tomatoes ripening at the same time but after a couple of weeks in the greenhouse the later ones always seemed to catch up