Re: The Toms are in

. . they're charging £1.99 a metre in the GC . . .

That is very expensive-if you can store it somewhere or share? another time buy a roll.

Re: The Toms are in

I thought so too OG . . . but it's heavy duty and will last for years . . . it's stapled to the inside support timbers . . . the whole interior is like a cocoon . . . it's amazing the heat it retains even on the coldest nights . . . . at the bottom of the GH I've stapled cardboard fillets to the timber shaped to the contours of the corrugated acrylic, a draft was blowing up and under . . . . I have two varieties of hangers BTW . . . tumbling tom and Balconi . . . will let you know how they crop and taste like come harvest time.

Seen another variety last week . . . cristal . . . what are they like ?

Re: The Toms are in

`Cristal`--I`ve seen it advertised but I do not pay those prices for F1 hybrids.

Have a look at this for some ideas.

http://www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk...es_TOMATO.html

There are other companies but that`s an example and they are reliable suppliers-and of course,with non F1 you can save the seed-

Re: The Toms are in

Great link OG . . . I have a few . . . Black Cherry, Ferline F1, and Marmande . . . so you save your own seeds! . . . at £3 a packet that's a good idea.

Re: The Toms are in

I do save seeds and I get sent a few because I cannot grow every type I like even in three or more years. Always more to try. But you will never see Money Maker,Alicante or Ailsa Craig amongst my selection

Re: The Toms are in

I was disappointed in Ailsa Craig also. OG, how about some tips on saving your own tomato seed ... I'd like to try that with Marmande.

Re: The Toms are in

The 3 very sorry looking tom plants I rescued from B&Q's have really picked up and growing away. I've planted the cucumber seeds and some sweetcorn, just love it. Waiting for them to appear.

Re: The Toms are in

After much thought . . . and sneezing at the stink of paraffin . . . I've lead a power cable into the GH . . . I got an electric heater during the week especially for GH's and it's so much cleaner . . . the cost's about the same as paraffin . . . later on I may fit a radiator from the CH but I costed it and all in it'll be £100 . . that includes everything . . . the outside temps still dropping to nearly zero in the early hours here ATM.

Re: The Toms are in

Get yourself a Myson CH fan heater instead of a rad, can also be used in summer as a cooling circulator.

Re: The Toms are in

OG, how about some tips on saving your own tomato seed ... I'd like to try that with Marmande.

Take a couple of ripe fruit and squish out the pulp into a little dish,add a few drops of water. Leave until you get a layer of mould(said to prevent disease-I`m not sure but I do it anyway)then rinse the seeds, dry on kitchen paper and store. And don`t forget to label them.

Works every time-no problem with Marmande but remember F1* hybrids may not come true.


* The cherry type Sweet Million does because it`s classed as an F1 but for odd reasons