Are we behind?

[~Wingnut~]

After speaking to other veg growers and seeing their tomato plants, my husband is convinced we are behind everyone else! We got our first greenhouse this year and we are growing; 1 Pumpkin plant, courgettes, aubergine, peppers, chilli plant, tomatos and a squash plant. It all seems to be a little stunted.

- The pumpkin has just 1 flower with another bud which is going to flower any day (I have removed the other buds as the label says to restrict 2 pumpkins to each plant)

- The squash is just starting to bush up and I think some buds are forming.

- The tomatoes are about 5 branches high and the first truss is starting to flower.

- Courgette is still budding and no flowers as of yet, should it be flowering now? They were planted in growbags about 5-6 weeks ago.

- Aubergine was grown from seed and has still only 4 leaves? Are they slow growers?

- The peppers seem small (about 5 inch high) but have buds and probably going to start flowering soon.

- The chilli is budding (taller than the peppers) and has one flower that has just opened today.

Does that all above sound about right for this time of year? All were planted about 5 weeks ago in growbags, apart from the pumpkin and squash which were planted straight away about 2 months ago. Are we a bit behind? Hubby is desperatly trying to get me to allow him to feed them all but I told him we need to wait until the flowers have dropped and the fruit is starting to swell otherwise we will have very leafy plants. Am I right to assume this?

Just need a bit of reassurance :o)

... Also any tips would be greatfully received, thank you.

[TopVeg]

Hi Wingnut
It all depends where you are, different areas of the country and different aspects of greenhouses make a huge difference.
Your plants seem to be well forward, considering the cold time we have had recently. Looks as though you will have a good harvest!
TopVeg
www.topveg.com

[~Wingnut~]

Hi Topveg :o)

Thank you for your reply! We are in Yorkshire. Glad to hear that we will probably have a good harvest!
Funnily enough the last few days everything seems to have suddenly shot up and one tomato flower has dropped off and the fruit is starting to swell! I think we got to the inpatient bit where nothing seemed to be happening lol

Bookmarked your website, it's very good! :o)

[JamesQ]

I am growing squash (Buttercup), marrows and peppers (California Wonder and Jalapeno) this year.

The peppers are under glass, and the Jalapenos are just opening flowers. The California Wonders have the first flower buds showing.

The squash and marrows are outdoors - the squash is a trailing variety, which has just reached two feet in length (I pinched out the growing tip this evening.) The marrow is a bush variety, and is a little behind the squash in size (both have flower buds on the verge of opening.

I am growing in the North West (approx. 54 degrees North.)