Tomato growing query

Gardening to 'grow your own food' from square foot to half an acre !!
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Spreckly
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Tomato growing query

Post by Spreckly »

One of my school friends has encouraged me to grow tomatoes. Ted was the gardener/veg expert, but I have ordered a packet of Moneymaker, which he grew, and been on you tube to refresh my memory. But we have half a bag of compost in the potting shed, and I wonder if I can use it. The internet said to use fresh, but this was from a firm selling seeds and compost. What do you experts think, please.
albertajune
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Re: Tomato growing query

Post by albertajune »

When they say fresh, I think it means not to use compost already in pots from last year. There is no reason why it can't be used if still in its bag.
Good luck with your tomato growing. There is nothing like home grown for flavour but unfortunately the last two lots that I tried growing ended up with tomato blight so had to be destroyed.
Glad you are finding an interest in veggie growing as it does help. Gardening in particular is something that takes away all my anxiety.{hug}
I am now a widow and live with my memories.
Freeranger
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Re: Tomato growing query

Post by Freeranger »

I think it should be fine too, Spreckly. You'll end up feeding your hungry tomatoes anyway (about twice a week when they get their first flowers) so that will overcome most soil deficiencies.
Spreckly
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Re: Tomato growing query

Post by Spreckly »

June and Freeranger, thank you for your replies. I need to get some Tomarite, I gave our bottle away to a neighbour during a clear out!
KarenE
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Re: Tomato growing query

Post by KarenE »

Hi Spreckly, yes it'll be fine. I put a sprinkling of growmore on mine if I remember, but to be honest I rarely feed them and usually they do well (I'd advise feeding and watering often though if growing in containers). Somewhere warm & sunny is the best place, they will grow in containers but moneymaker are quite vigorous so you'll need to stake out with a cane, and don't be afraid to prune hard to keep it under control. It may not be so vigorous in a container though!
If you are into container gardening, I'd also recommend growing strawberries and cherry tomatoes (tumbling tom are a good variety) in hanging baskets. Really easy to grow!
Karen
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Mo
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Re: Tomato growing query

Post by Mo »

Are you going to grow them outdoors or have you got a greenhouse as well as the polytunnel you gave away?
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Spreckly
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Re: Tomato growing query

Post by Spreckly »

I have a greenhouse, which I am currently trying to tidy up! It also needs the algae washing off, but that is a job for my tall son. I will be growing the toms in large pots, or growbags, and hopefully my remaining canes will be tall enough, otherwise I will have to ask for some back.
Mo
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Re: Tomato growing query

Post by Mo »

Spreckly wrote: hopefully my remaining canes will be tall enough, otherwise I will have to ask for some back.
{rofwl}
If you get the growing bug you might wish you'd kept more.
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