The four tier blowaway was at one point full of green tomatoes. Only now, are the tomatoes going a proper shade of redd. There is something about it; a different shade and warmth about them. All very useful for mama to cook with.
Tag Archives: Tomatos
Waiting in the wings #2
Some of the inhabitants of the classroom windowsills have made the transfer from the sills to the 4TB. The running beans as mama H calls them have come home. These are scarlet emperor and painted lady. I think there were 20 of each sown; and at least that many have come through. Prior to the weekend, these had only just entered the universe; raising their heads they were very alien like. And beyond the warm bank holiday, they have taken off quite a bit.
As well as these, sunflowers for the The big sunflower project have also come home. These too are growing strongly. I’m concerned that perhaps these may get too big and need potting on or planting out soon. I’m hoping that if they harden off nicely in the next couple of weeks, they may make a further transfer to the plot. I’ve never grown sunflowers, never mind giant ones.
Then there are the tomatos. Some rather sadly, sulky looking things that need some love. They weren’t getting very much love and affection in the classroom, or sunlight for that matter. I forget now, exactly when they were sown; but I’ve never seen tomatos so small and need of such a pep talk. I couldn’t tell you what they were either. I didn’t label them!
There is still a lot on the window sills. I made a sowing of kelevdon wonder pea and some petite pois. The ones on the plot haven’t shown up yet. The sweetcorn is an interesting specimen. I have four babies, with another four trying to germinate. The sweetcorn looks likes what the Leeks need to eventually. Fattened up and pencil thick. Will be interesting to see if that comes off.
Squashes and cucumbers are increasingly more more triffid like. Most of which are now onto their first proper leaf. There is a waiting game with these. To harden off and plant out before the end of may with the next bank holiday.
Yours in anticipation,
Horticultural Hobbit
Tomato tantrum
Prior to the Easter Holiday, I had very conscientiously pricked not and moved on the many different baby tomato seeds. This was a very precarious process, and a few didn’t make the transfer. The babies that did, did pick up and make great strides.
Then came the holidays. And I made a huge mistake. I drenched them before I left, left a lot of water in the tray. But didn’t bank on the up and down classroom climate.
Coming back after the fortnight holiday, I returned to carnage. All were keeled over, many were crispy and curled too. Cue panicked dash to water them. Sadly, not many pepped up. The three that you see in the picture were the only survivors. Woefully demoralising, as I don’t seem to have much luck with tomatoes. I will be resowing as soon as I can, thankfully I do have some time still.
I have no idea what varieties the survivors are, there were both bush and cordon varieties. The purple colour the babies turned was rather pretty.
Have had a rummage in the seedbox and will be resowing.
Yours in anticipation,
Horticultural Hobbit
Pottering with pots
It is meant to Spring. Yet, we have the white stuff again.
With the Easter break, I had anticipated transplanting beans and planting potatoes. That will not be happening due to the inclement weather. A third and final sowing of chillis and peppers has been made. But this will a window sill venture, as I am now fed up a little of the heated propogater. There were however ten baby seedlings that have survived from the first sowing. Covered and sat on a sunny warm window sill, it will be interesting to see if anything germinates. There are eleven different varieties. Nigel’s outdoor chilli-seeds were kindly donated by a GYO magazine grape-as well as interestingly named mammoth sweet peppers. One that I am trying again, is sweet mini red peppers. I have never had any success with those at all. There are quite a few rainbow chillies actually. One variety that is a brightly coloured variety, another one is purple rainbow variety
All in all, 57 seeds were sown into small yogurt pots with a hole in the bottom. I have sown three to a pot, which yes is quite a few. My defence is that in the past, I have had nice crops from chillies in cramped conditions. Less so, with sparsely grown ones.
Tomatos don’t half whiff. They really do. It’s an altogether distinctive smell. They are still sat there, occasionally going a bit purple. But mostly growing quite happily. I couldn’t tell you the varieties, I didn’t label them. Having pricked them out of a module tray, I wasn’t sure they’d work. Seem to be okay for the moment.
Leeks are getting further wiry, not yet pencil thick. But looking reasonably well. They do tend to keel over a little though, when dehydrated.
Will remain pottering.
Yours in anticipation,
Horticultural Hobbit
horticultural 'obbit 