tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13239814155755584712024-02-07T09:53:52.644+00:00Tomato DailyA blog about growing tomatoes on the patio, in the greenhouse and other related garden topics ...Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-3932040327985395742020-02-03T09:00:00.001+00:002020-02-03T09:00:57.792+00:00When To Sow Tomato Seeds - UKSowing tomato seeds at the right time of the season will give your seedlings the best growing conditions and the plants, enough time to produce ripe tomatoes.<br />
<br />
<h3>
It's so tempting to sow tomato seeds too early!</h3>
Most of us have done it and been surrounded by seedlings for most of the Spring - until plants can go outside 24/7.<br />
<br />
The things is, sow too early and seedlings become leggy because the days are too short and there is not enough light.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Three-Blight-Resistant-Tomatoes-300x185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sowing tomato seeds at the right time!" border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="300" src="https://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Three-Blight-Resistant-Tomatoes-300x185.jpg" title="Three Packets of Seeds" /></a></div>
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<br />
Sow too late and plants won't have time to produce full size, then ripe tomatoes.<br />
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<h3>
So when do we sow tomato seeds for best results?</h3>
Around two months before your last frost date, which in the UK is the middle to the end of March. The last frost date being from mid May to the end of May.<br />
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You can find out more about <a href="https://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/html/when_to_sow_tomato_seed.html" target="_blank">when to sow tomato seeds in the UK</a> here.Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-16113705742592580382018-04-03T08:33:00.003+01:002018-04-03T08:33:42.252+01:00Oasesbox Self Watering Planter for Tomatoes<b>One of the best self watering planters on the market is the Oasesbox.</b><br />
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Here is a graphic that explains what it does:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img alt="Oasesbox for growing tomatoes" border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMHH7JWCuucmpQAO-Ug_LZwvTfTUFf73dl7ieCQcgZRAUiHtQ3rZLrn0i9_rudPruu8N5l5uZb4IbpKbTqxG4Iz7xIfAEKrzA3_fNn1Y7wbF9xdI2RWZwPcJo78DXkAeNJBoY-KmdJnHM/s320/Oasesbox+SWP.jpg" title="" width="320" /></div>
<br />
<b>The benefits of a self watering planter</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Its reservoir waters and feeds plants 24/7</li>
<li> Avoids many of the problems associated with soil drying out</li>
<li>Great for holiday watering</li>
</ul>
<b><br /></b>
<b>The benefits of the Oasesbox</b><br />
<ul>
<li>It has a large reservoir</li>
<li>Its wide surface area helps roots absorb oxygen</li>
<li>No capillary matting needed - as with other systems</li>
</ul>
<br />
There is no doubt that tomato plants grown in a self watering planter, especially the Oasesbox, provide a very good crop.<br />
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<a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/the-oasesbox-for-growing-tomatoes" target="_blank">More details about the Oasesbox here.</a><br />
<br />Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-37590499093203338972018-02-14T17:19:00.002+00:002018-04-03T08:16:55.724+01:00Self Watering PlantersThere are two self watering planters that are really worth considering:<br />
<ol>
<li>The Oasesbox</li>
<li>The Quadgrow Planter</li>
</ol>
Each has its pros and cons but both are excellent for growing tomatoes and other fruit and vegetables that need the best care and attention.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Tomatoes-in-Oasesbox-300x199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="300" src="https://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Tomatoes-in-Oasesbox-300x199.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oasesbox Self Watering Planter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
The benefit of a self watering planter is obvious - it doesn't need watering and feeding every day. Furthermore, because plants have access to water and nutrients 24/7, they are able to take in moisture and feed when they need it.<br />
<br />
This keeps them from becoming stressed, especially in hot weather when soil runs dry and avoid nutrient deficiency problems such as Blossom End Rot.<br />
<br />
Another great benefit of a self watering planter is that we can go on holiday knowing that our plants are taken care of. Considering all the effort that goes in to our plants, it is a price worth paying!<br />
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For more information about <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/best-self-watering-planter-for-tomatoes" target="_blank">self watering planters</a>, especially those suitable for growing tomatoes, please visit the link.<br />
<br />Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-20678955289693534372018-01-31T12:04:00.004+00:002018-01-31T12:04:51.000+00:00Containers for Tomatoes - Surface AreaIn the UK we usually grow our tomatoes in containers.<br />
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There are many different shapes and sizes of container for tomato growing, each having its own pros and cons. For example, grow bags are great for tall varieties and have a large surface area for oxygen absorption by surface roots.<br />
The disadvantage with such a large surface area and shallow depth of soil is that soil or compost dries out quickly.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nJSFN4DepuXtj12ibNWAL-UadySpdaJxDOXf2dH0-JLKXIjTEZmNI8R6oKrK78yYmF8dBsgSZYZ1MO_SXI4nYM_SdOoATKhaF1OZVA-rhn8ioYXlESoDO30EVaP4yx08SgnQRLYENTyZ/s1600/Surface+Area.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="617" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nJSFN4DepuXtj12ibNWAL-UadySpdaJxDOXf2dH0-JLKXIjTEZmNI8R6oKrK78yYmF8dBsgSZYZ1MO_SXI4nYM_SdOoATKhaF1OZVA-rhn8ioYXlESoDO30EVaP4yx08SgnQRLYENTyZ/s320/Surface+Area.png" width="320" /></a></div>
A high sided pot is great for trailing tomatoes to tumble over the sides, keeping the tomatoes off the ground. However, it has a much smaller surface area than a grow bag so to optimize a tall pot, adding perlite or vermiculite can be useful in getting air down into the root area.<br />
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For more information <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/html/growing-tomatoes-in-containers.html" target="_blank">about growing tomatoes in containers</a>.<br />
<br />Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-80650811547841091652018-01-15T17:59:00.000+00:002018-01-15T17:59:06.458+00:00Tomato Sowing Quick Start GuideIf you are new to growing tomatoes, it's a good idea to know the best time to sow in your part of the world to get the best results.<br />
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There are a lot of different tomato varieties which need the right container or position.<br />
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For example, tall tomato plants do well in grow bags, tumbler type tomatoes are great for hanging baskets and tall sided pots/containers. Dwarf bush varieties do very well on the kitchen windowsill.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHeSjA8H5_y6LaTan6mvmWfryDeInmoBDnFvL225o3vThlGKcHnxp5Gp4sj7z2LeMNOMvN0Ai6ouHwdgaDSf_XJ6AXUBgVXPLZrgI2mlap1vIvtOXjWoCGV7yC1XTxpTu6os_C3wzVgsw/s1600/Tomato+Starter+Kit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="500" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHeSjA8H5_y6LaTan6mvmWfryDeInmoBDnFvL225o3vThlGKcHnxp5Gp4sj7z2LeMNOMvN0Ai6ouHwdgaDSf_XJ6AXUBgVXPLZrgI2mlap1vIvtOXjWoCGV7yC1XTxpTu6os_C3wzVgsw/s320/Tomato+Starter+Kit.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seed starter kits are a good way to begin!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>When to sow</li>
<li>Choosing the right variety for the location</li>
<li>How to sow</li>
</ul>
For more information about <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/html/tomato-sowing-quick-start.html" target="_blank">getting started sowing and growing tomatoes</a>, go here.<br />
<br />
<br />Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-33260408070137731922018-01-11T11:07:00.003+00:002018-01-11T11:08:59.753+00:00Various Media For Sowing Tomato SeedsUsually, tomato seeds are sown in seed compost but there are a number of other ways to sow tomato seeds that may be more convenient and a lot less messy than using compost.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIAGsdp57Vzt07bfWxFQQjYRzZPmb3-C3VJ7z39XJZdII3XdYgLbh245hoANyC9FbX0QezAITcWATCshWQPz2-gcxzRZvI0MpH5ipmJYf1rTexecOetDs-MhlaPVfhTrv9uHDMmZ1xu2K/s1600/Three+Mixed+Media.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="600" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIAGsdp57Vzt07bfWxFQQjYRzZPmb3-C3VJ7z39XJZdII3XdYgLbh245hoANyC9FbX0QezAITcWATCshWQPz2-gcxzRZvI0MpH5ipmJYf1rTexecOetDs-MhlaPVfhTrv9uHDMmZ1xu2K/s320/Three+Mixed+Media.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rockwool, sponges and Jiffy Pellets are great for sowing tomato seeds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are a number of advantages by using each of these media.<br />
<ul>
<li>Less messy</li>
<li>No pricking out</li>
<li>Better moisture and air holding capacity than most seed compost</li>
<li>Potted on without disturbing roots</li>
</ul>
Seedlings are potted on with the cube, sponge or pellet so there is no root disturbance and they can be potted into potting compost, rockwool or any suitable media for growing tomatoes.<br />
<br />
More information about these <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/html/media-for-sowing-tomato-seeds.html" target="_blank">sowing media here</a>.<br />
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<br />Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-41521747635161492292018-01-09T08:54:00.002+00:002018-01-09T08:54:19.955+00:00Technical Tomato ArticlesAt this time of the season, it's good to get back into the groove and learn a few new facts about growing tomatoes or remind ourselves of the stuff we have forgotten!<br />
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The truth is, tomato growing can be as easy or as complicated as we want to make it but there is always an advantage in knowledge - even if we decide to disregard it from time to time.<br />
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Here are a few technical articles that I have found useful in getting the best from my crop - perhaps it may do the same for you. <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/technical-tomato-articles" target="_blank">Technical Tomato Articles</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Side-Shoot2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="591" height="308" src="https://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Side-Shoot2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guttation - drops of water on leaf edges.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-13981416785571996392018-01-06T09:10:00.002+00:002018-01-06T09:10:32.549+00:00When To Sow Tomato SeedsThe short answer is eight to ten weeks before your last frost - but why do we sow at this time? <br />
<br />
Sowing tomato seeds at the right time can help avoid a number of problems that are caused by low light levels.<br />
<br />
<b>Leggy tomato plants </b><br />
Sowing too early means that plants struggle through shorter days, and in their search for more light, become leggy.<br />
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Leggy tomato plants with thin stems will produce fewer tomatoes, so it's important to grow healthy stocky seedlings and young plants if you want a good crop.<br />
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<b>Fewer flower buds </b><br />
The other issue with low light levels is the amount of flower buds that are encouraged by light. Less light means fewer flowers and eventually tomatoes.<br />
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<b>In conclusion</b><br />
It is true that a plant sown a little later in the spring can catch up and do better than a plant sown earlier that has had to struggle through short days and cooler temperatures.<br />
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Of course, with grow lights and correct temperatures, tomatoes can be sown and grown any time of the year!<br />
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More information on <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/html/when_to_sow_tomato_seed.html" target="_blank">when to sow</a> and <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/html/growing-tomatoes-from-seed.html" target="_blank">how to sow</a> tomato seeds.Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-3374306938806626532017-10-10T08:42:00.002+01:002017-10-15T10:34:57.904+01:00Choosing Tomato Seeds 2018It's an exciting time when choosing tomato seeds for the coming season.<br />
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Should I stick with the regular varieties that I grow every summer, or try one or two new ones?<br />
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<h3>
Wet Summers Ahead</h3>
It seems that we are in a phase of wet summers in the UK which means that tomato blight is an issue. The good news is that there are blight resistant varieties available that can cope with a wet summer.<br />
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These include:<br />
<ul>
<li>Crimson Crush F1</li>
<li>Lizzano F1</li>
<li>Mountain Magic F1</li>
</ul>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbO8KkprN509gSy-UsseTub63B0CNdql85Ygih1vtzXczxZUiDFi5NkS_3LPGzTfjZpUQzA6Frc4tWpyzSThqjSD_oZTMLClwE6Y4IlS77BAB7OuNU6E4jAwKpV_PnX6t6LbvFJBg5hiHq/s1600/Three-Tomato-Blight-Busters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blight resistant tomato varieties" border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="747" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbO8KkprN509gSy-UsseTub63B0CNdql85Ygih1vtzXczxZUiDFi5NkS_3LPGzTfjZpUQzA6Frc4tWpyzSThqjSD_oZTMLClwE6Y4IlS77BAB7OuNU6E4jAwKpV_PnX6t6LbvFJBg5hiHq/s400/Three-Tomato-Blight-Busters.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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The F1 means that they are a first generation cross between two varieties that have been used for their special qualities. In this particular case, they have been bred to resist tomato blight.<br />
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Find out more about <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/html/blight-resistant-tomato-seeds.html" target="_blank">blight resistant tomato seeds here</a>. <br />
<br />
<h3>
Non Blight Resistant Varieties</h3>
Black Opal, Black Cherry and Rosella are three great tasting black purple cherry tomatoes that are well worth growing for their sweet flavour.<br />
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Then their are the old favourites in the UK which include Moneymaker, Alicante, Shirley and Gardener's Delight. These have been grown for many years and remain popular because of their reliable performance and very good taste.<br />
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Whatever seed varieties you choose this summer, if you are growing outside, I recommend at least one blight resistant variety.<br />
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More about <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/html/tomato-seed-choice-2018.html" target="_blank">choosing tomato seeds here</a>. <br />
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<br />Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-3640455507549277002014-06-03T08:22:00.004+01:002014-06-03T08:33:13.268+01:00Silicon - Supplement for Tomato PlantsSilicon as a supplement for tomato plants has a number of benefits that are well known in the hydroponic world of growing, but not as widely used as many other supplements.<br />
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For the home gardener, silicon is almost completely unknown - but that's a pity because silicon can be used to protect plants - especially those growing outside and enhance their performance too.<br />
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My visit to the Home Grown Expo at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry was fun and informative - there's always something new to learn and new products to try out and test on my plants. One of these is Solar Green Power from "buddhas tree".<br />
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I now have several plants receiving the silicon treatment and I shall be giving the results of the test later in the season!<br />
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The difference between Solar Green Power and other brands is that they use silicic acid which is much more readily used by plants than other brands that use potassium silicate.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The benefits of silicon include:</b><br />
<br />
Greater tolerance of cold, heat, under and over watering and under and over feeding.<br />
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Improved growth rates
owing to an increase in photosynthesis and greater resistance to aphids and diseases - such as fungal spores!<br />
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I look forward to sharing the results later in the season - if this product can help resist against blight spores in wet weather, it will be worth using every season by default!<br />
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More information about this product at: <a href="http://www.buddhastree.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.buddhastree.co.uk </a><br />
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<br />Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-7779460221790734002014-06-01T20:45:00.001+01:002014-06-01T20:45:51.574+01:00Curled Leaves on Tomato PlantsCurled leaves and branches on tomato plants are often caused by stress.<br />
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Of course, disease, weather conditions, and soil problems, including under and over watering, can cause stress and leaves and leaf branches to curl.<br />
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However, this often happens in the early summer when plants are still developing their root systems and we get warm sunny days when water uptake is greater than plants can cope with at their stage of development - especially if they are growing in containers.<br />
<br />
Sometimes if roots have been damaged by over feeding or disease, this can cause a restricted uptake of water by a plant. <br />
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Usually curled leaves and leaf branches return to normal growth when temperatures become more stable and roots have had more time to develop a system that can cope with higher summer temperatures.<br />
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<br />Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-58184446415778003632014-03-11T20:43:00.000+00:002014-03-11T20:43:06.919+00:00Popular Organic Feeds for TomatoesNow is a good time to decide on organic feeds for later in the season. <br />
<br />
Popular organic feeds for tomatoes include:<br /><br />
<ul>
<li>Comfrey Tea</li>
<li>Nettle Tea</li>
<li>Compost Tea </li>
<li>Seaweed Extract</li>
<li>Poultry Manure</li>
<li>Horse Manure </li>
</ul>
<br />The teas are easily made from leaves, but the seaweed (if taken by you from the sea) would need a thorough wash and soak to remove all salt.<br />
<br />
Poultry manure may carry disease unless heated and processed, so you wouldn't put raw manure directly into your soil just before planting.<br /><br />
Organic feeds have the advantage of avoiding the possibility of over-feeding and nutrient salt build up because organic food cannot be accessed by roots until it has been gradually digested by the friendly bacteria etc in the soil. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><b>Soil Temperatures</b><br />For the organic grower it may be necessary to delay sowing by a week or two so that soil conditions are more favourable - the soil temperature is warmer.<br /><br />
<b>Soil Air Capacity</b><br />
Healthy soil is full of friendly microbes that feed and protect roots from disease. These friendly bacteria and fungi need oxygen just as the roots do, so a well drained soil with an open texture is ideal.<br />
<br />When roots are happy the whole plant flourishes. When roots are stressed or diseased they take resources from the plant above the soil and growth is effected.<br /><br />If you are thinking about growing tomatoes using organic feed, there has never been a better time to start. You can save money too if you make your own!<br />
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More info about growing organic tomatoes <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/html/growing-organic-tomatoes.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<br />Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-71176243407513608262014-02-22T20:49:00.003+00:002014-02-22T20:51:57.238+00:00Pots for Tomato SeedlingsOne of the jobs that I'm not particularly fond of, is cleaning and sterilising my pots. For years I've used the usual 3 inch pots to transplant my seedlings into, but now I'm using what I think is better ... plastic cups.<br />
<br />
I bought a pack of 100 for £1.00 in the local discount store - so they work out at one penny or one pence each!<br />
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They are deeper than my brown 3 inch pots which is ideal for leggy seedlings.<br />
Slightly narrower in diameter so you can get more onto a tray and they are white.<br />
<br />
I think that white reflective surfaces are very helpful when growing tomato seedlings in the early spring, when light levels are low.<br />
I will now use plastic cups - recycle them of course - and not have the job of sterilising old dirty pots each season for my tomato seedlings.Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-38777787982318157492014-01-31T20:45:00.001+00:002014-01-31T20:45:13.282+00:00Tomato Newsletter 2014 The Tomato Newsletter 2014 begins February 1st at <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tomato Growing</a>.<br />
<br />
If there's nothing like the taste of a home grown tomato, there's also nothing like the taste of one that's been grown without spending a fortune on equipment.<br />
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The newsletter includes money saving tips - also great for those who like to recycle - and tips on growing tomatoes organically to name but a few of the subjects covered.<br />
<br />
If you would like to sign-up, <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/html/contact_nick.html" target="_blank">please go here</a>.<br />
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Week one also includes a list of varieties that grow well in the UK.Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-2806642467774935402014-01-19T09:21:00.000+00:002014-01-19T09:21:13.980+00:00Choosing The Tastiest TomatoesPerhaps the main reason why we grow tomatoes is for the taste. There's no doubt that a home grown tomato is a treat for the taste buds.<br />
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However, some home grown varieties taste better, or are sweeter than others.<br />
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The sweetness of a tomato is measured on the Brix scale. For example, Gardener's Delight has a rating of 7.0 and Sweet Million rates at 7.1.<br />
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There are varieties that rate higher including Sungold at 9.3 and Rosada at an amazing 10.5!<br />
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Of course there's more to tomato taste than sugar content alone. Gardener's Delight is well known for having a good balance of sugar and acid which enhances it's traditional flavour.<br />
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I guess that a high sugar Brix rating with an acceptable amount of acid content should produce an excellent flavour.<br />
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Here's a <a href="http://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Plant-trials-and-awards/Plant-awards/10-AGM-plants/10-AGM-cherry-tomatoes" target="_blank">list of varieties and their Brix rating</a> worth trying this season.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFElwhyphenhyphenvECIxe1bK2HkVpzpU0RuZ57-W1WM94Jmy6vLYrW3P4f8Fv2nhEOoXmh3OMYTi_y99v-xIbx97G8qJU2KIIMZfi0-Yb2Ui1w3cmeB3xnC6tAZ4-POSbvHusRwx0UsDavqHOHEcZ8/s1600/Piccolo,+Sungold+and+Black+Cherry+Tomatoes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Piccolo, Sungold and Black Cherry Tomatoes" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFElwhyphenhyphenvECIxe1bK2HkVpzpU0RuZ57-W1WM94Jmy6vLYrW3P4f8Fv2nhEOoXmh3OMYTi_y99v-xIbx97G8qJU2KIIMZfi0-Yb2Ui1w3cmeB3xnC6tAZ4-POSbvHusRwx0UsDavqHOHEcZ8/s1600/Piccolo,+Sungold+and+Black+Cherry+Tomatoes.JPG" height="209" title="Piccolo, Sungold and Black Cherry Tomatoes" width="320" /></a></div>
Three of my favourite varieties for taste are Piccolo, Sungold and Black Cherry (left) which I grew last season.<br />
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As always, I shall be trying new varieties and definitely ones from the list with a high Brix rating.<br />
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<br />Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-28714412730356519912014-01-12T12:28:00.000+00:002014-01-12T12:28:02.634+00:00Last Season - This SeasonLast season was the best tomato growing season I've had for about six years. The wet weather stayed away and there was plenty of sunshine - very unusual for a summer in the UK!<br />
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Instead of blight and the numerous other diseases caused by damp weather and cold conditions, stress caused by high temperatures and supplying enough water was the main concern.<br />
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Container growing has come on in "leaps and bounds" with the introduction of air pots and smart pots that allow much more oxygen into the roots than a conventional plastic pot or container.<br />
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This allows plants to grow with more vigour and reach maturity sooner - especially if watered and fed consistently.<br />
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So last season was spent optimising growing conditions rather than struggling against the weather.<br />
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I guess the challenge is being ready for whatever the weather throws at us!<br />
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Let's hope that the season ahead (2014), is as good for growing tomatoes as last season was.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/newsletter2" target="_blank">Tomato Newsletter</a> begins again in February 2014.<br />
<br />Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-6301538065490569762013-02-05T18:23:00.000+00:002014-01-12T12:10:40.110+00:00Tomato NewsletterThe Tomato Newsletter has just started again.<br />
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With a new season just around the corner, Nick has updated the <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tomato Growing website</a> and is including information about some of the latest growing devices.<br />
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Air pots and fabric pots are a great aid to providing more oxygen in the root zone of tomato plants and consequently a more successful result.<br />
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Propagation has its new items too with sowing seeds in sponges that provide an excellent ratio of moisture and air for healthy root growth.<br />
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If you aren't receiving Nick's Tomato Growing Newsletter, you can <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/newsletter2" target="_blank">sign-up here</a>.<br />
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Lots more posts to come at Tomato Daily as we approach the new season!Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-89484743270300445442012-08-22T19:33:00.001+01:002012-08-22T19:34:29.089+01:00What Is Blossom Drop?Blossom drop happens when a tomato plant aborts its flowers. as in the photo below.<br />
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<a href="http://www.tomatogrowingblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Blossom-Drop.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A Truss Aborts Its Flowers" border="0" src="http://www.tomatogrowingblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Blossom-Drop.gif" title="Tomato Blossom Drop" /></a></div>
This can happen for a number of reasons but the most regular cause is because the flowers fail to pollinate.<br />
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This happens when the air is too dry or too humid and the pollen finds it difficult to find its way to the ovary in the flower.<br />
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The way to help avoid blossom drop is to shake flowers and stems. It is also a good idea to hold something that vibrates, such as a toothbrush against the stems and flowers to simulate the affect that a bee has when it helps pollen move within a tomato plant's flower.<br />
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It is frustrating when an entire truss of flowers fails to pollinate and set fruit, so keep shaking those plants, stems and flowers!<br />
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More information about blossom drop may be <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/good-vibrations" target="_blank">found here</a>.Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-41312630571162640732012-07-11T08:41:00.001+01:002012-07-11T08:41:43.671+01:00First Tomatoes Of The SeasonThe first tomatoes to ripen this season in my pollytunnel are Red Alert. These are cherry tomatoes grown in containers and are a bush variety.<br />
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Red Alert is one of the easiest varieties to grow, and if you live in a short season area, is one of the most reliable and quickest tomatoes to grow - especially if the weather is poor.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjtmpVddPWTygEXYHePIfcBaWHzlGZfqXQb9gTX821ZiGWB2RtmmUsvrT4S1BvwTvatJSaUttvsNdCbdBzAEVtbNh6qy-MommOtY9h1TatY-QjaM-INhKJXLYJLOLO_lbryeSYrlpUClm/s1600/SDC10834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjtmpVddPWTygEXYHePIfcBaWHzlGZfqXQb9gTX821ZiGWB2RtmmUsvrT4S1BvwTvatJSaUttvsNdCbdBzAEVtbNh6qy-MommOtY9h1TatY-QjaM-INhKJXLYJLOLO_lbryeSYrlpUClm/s320/SDC10834.JPG" title="Red Alert Tomatoes" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Alert - one of the easiest varieties to grow.</td></tr>
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Another reason why I like to grow Red Alert is because the flowers set fruit easily and early in the season. Some varieties can take ages from when the flowers first appear to when they fade away and the small pea-like tomatoes show.<br />
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If you haven't grown <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/red-alert" target="_blank">Red Alert tomatoes</a>, I would recommend that you give them a try!Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-68264712415654080172012-06-20T08:03:00.000+01:002012-06-20T08:03:23.672+01:00Watering TomatoesRoots need moisture and air to grow successfully – too much water in the
soil on a regular basis will reduce growth and encourage diseases.<br />
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<a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Tomato-Root-Structure1-300x244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Tomato-Root-Structure1-300x244.jpg" /></a></div>
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A good root structure is achieved with a balance of both moisture and air.</div>
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Try to keep soil just moist is the usual
advice. </div>
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Another method is to give the soul a good watering, then let it
almost dry-out before watering again.</div>
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It's important that there is some moisture in the soil at all times because roots cannot absorb nutrients if the soil is bone dry.<br />
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Tomato plants need different amount of water depending on the temperature, whether or not they are fruiting and how many leaves a plant has - the more leaves the more water that's required.Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-13044851202056436902012-03-18T18:31:00.000+00:002012-03-18T18:31:55.519+00:00Tomato Seeds & VarietiesFor me, this is the most exciting time of the season - choosing which tomato varieties to grow this summer and I always end up with too many plants!<br />
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<ul><li>Bush varieties for large containers</li>
<li>Tall varieties for grow bags and the greenhouse</li>
<li>Hybrid varieties for vigour and yield</li>
<li>Heirloom tomatoes for taste and history and tradition</li>
<li>Cherry tomatoes for hanging baskets and salads</li>
<li>Medium to large varieties for slicing and sandwiches</li>
<li>Red, yellow, orange, pink, green, white and black tomatoes for colour</li>
<li>All shapes and sizes including plum tomatoes for the barbecue and frying </li>
</ul>The problem is ... I don't have enough room to grow all of these types - but I'll try to squeeze in as many as I can! <br />
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In my part of the world, sowing begins in earnest at the end of March and beginning of April but I've already sown lots and have plenty of seedlings growing - I can't stop myself!Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-4035101548110454062012-02-11T09:19:00.002+00:002012-07-01T09:53:26.389+01:00The Tomato Club & NewsletterThe Tomato Club, that tomato growers can join for free, is now up and running on a weekly basis again this season.<br />
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It is especially useful for those who grow tomatoes in containers and grow bags. There is a lot of information available - including a weekly quiz - and is well worth joining.<br />
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Of course, coming from a short season area - the UK, many of the tips and suggestions relate to tomato growing in a cooler climate, but it is useful to note the varieties that are successful at cooler temperatures and those that ripen early.<br />
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Here is the link - <a href="http://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/newsletter">Tomato Club</a>.Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-2886843276885552052012-01-16T12:38:00.000+00:002012-01-16T12:38:30.289+00:00Tomato Red AlertFinding tomato varieties that grow well in your area is very important for success. With so many from which to choose, when you find one that does very well, it's worth growing every season and for me, it's Red Alert.<br />
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The earliness and taste of this variety are second to none - at least in my garden - and I would recommend it to everyone to try.<br />
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As a cherry and bush variety it is easy to move under cover in the spring if temperatures become too cold or weather too wet.<br />
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It's only downside is that it can become a bit "leggy" and needs plenty of light. It performs best in a large container rather than a hanging basket and as a general rule, will produce an excellent harvest in a large pot or container. Grow bags are OK too, but it's best to keep the low growing branches off the ground.Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-13083506986722005582012-01-01T19:10:00.000+00:002012-01-01T19:10:24.138+00:00Happy New YearHappy New Year and a successful tomato growing season!<br />
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Santa brought me a large electric propagator and an LED grow light to replace my old set-up, so I have the chance now to sow tomato seeds even earlier than usual.<br />
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One of the problems with sowing early is that plants can become too leggy - especially if there is not enough light. Therefore, keeping seedlings at a mild temperature requires some artificial lighting in the form of a grow lamp/light.<br />
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Getting the combination of light, heat and moisture correct can be tricky because too much heat and moisture and they'll shoot up like rockets ... a temperature that is too cold will slow or even check growth and plants may not recover.<br />
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Keeping a minimum of moisture in the soil (under-watering) is my approach when conditions are cold. When temperatures are warm and light levels are high, tomato plants are happy with plenty of moisture, especially when they are fruiting.Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1323981415575558471.post-60324101525430857802011-10-04T22:05:00.000+01:002011-10-04T22:05:49.220+01:00The Challenges Of This SeasonOne of the main challenges for me this season has been tomato<b> flowers slow to pollinate</b>. This was partly because of a lack of flying insects in the early summer. Also, when you have sunny days, you also have cooler nights in the early summer, and a wide fluctuation between day and night temperatures, which can cause a delay in flowers setting fruit.<br />
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The other problem I had was <b>fruit splitting</b> on my outdoor plants. Black Cherry and Sungold were badly affected with just one downpour of rain!<br />
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I will change these varieties next season to Chocolate Cherry and Golden Cherry F1 which are supposed to be less prone to splitting or cracking. Another two varieties to add to my list!Nick Chenhallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12623629490882080414noreply@blogger.com0