Heater.

[zabado]

It's a bit late on in the season now and most of my tomatoes are either the size of marbles or are still yellow flowers. Would it be beneficial to them if I was to buy a greenhouse heater and if so what's the best to buy ?, paraffin or electric. I live in the north of England and we have had a dismal summer and I'm starting to think it's too late for my toms.

[Cloverjo]

I'm no expert, but have grown toms in the past, and tried to this year. They were dismal. My dad is a bit of an expert, but even his were poor. I don't think its worth spending a lot of money trying rescue yours. It's been a bad year. Better luck next year, I'd say.

[alavahalf]

Real sorry to hear that progress was not as good as you had hoped.
You can't say you didn'y try. I have tried to help over the past season, but in the North it may just have been one of those years. Never having had use for a heater I cant really give you any advice on which one. But I'm afraid it's too late to hope for anything developing from now onwards. Saying that I have just started some beetroot this week along with potatoes and they will be grown in the pollytunnel and should be ready for xmas.
Dont want to rub it in but I need to get rid of my tomatoes before I can plant anything. Have boxed and frooze thousand's of maskotkas. Am now bringing two large seed trays full every day (approx 10lb). The neighbours are fed up with beans, so now I'm going to put them off tomatoes.
This ones for you zabado .. http://i57.tinypic.com/2qbacgp.jpg .. better luck next year.

[zabado]

It looks like now's the time when someone says . . .never mind $h!t happens. I'd just like to say thank you to everyone who has given me advice over the last few months .It WONT get me down and I'll be back asking more dumb question next season. Merry Christmas everyone . zabado.

[alavahalf]

This year may not have been a great year for tomatoes but you have made progress. You have made mistakes and you have learned from them.
You are allowed to take up knitting from now until Xmas day .. that's officially when the knitting season ends !
But on Boxing day I want you standing by the greenhouse with a scrubbing brush in hand ... ready to clean your old pots and making plans for the new season ahead. Armed with all this new knowledge, I'm sure you will have more success.

Remember just two thing's .. Don't overwater (treat them mean) and don't feed until the fruit has formed !

Is it me or does it happen to everyone, but it only seems weeks ago when we started putting in seeds ... All the best mate !

[zabado]

@alavahalf ^. Your reply put a big smile on my face and it's nice to know my failures weren't all my fault, although I did have a big hand in them. There's no way I'll take up knitting as I've not got the patience for it but, I might take up short distance power walking (to the pub). Thanks again mate.