I didn't plant my tomato seeds until October. I had a good strike rate but my babies are too small to put into the veggie garden yet. So I have potted them on into compost. I have used a range of pots: newspaper, toilet roles and some plastic tubes I had.
I am not particularly worried as I know that once planted, tomatoes grow quickly and my harvest won't be particularly late. Growing tomatoes is more like the tortoise and the hare having a race than thoroughbred horses. Tomatoes planted early may be winners for a while but are often overtaken over by late starters who thrive in the warmer weather.
But, next year I will start my seeds earlier, inside, in September.
*Cup Day - public holiday in this state...for a horse race. This year's race is the 150th. I think Victoria is alone in having a holiday for a horse race which is held on the first Tuesday November. Most take Monday off too and have a really loooonnngg weekend.
Looking good.I'm tipping Bart Cummings to be there.
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ReplyDeleteYou are not in the race for more than one reason - you are not a four year old.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the "late starters" theme, Hazel. Putting tomato plants outside before the weather is decent is never good -- they just go thin and leggy and always get overtaken by stronger ones coming on from the "back of the field". What varieties are you growing? (I'm a bit of a tomato fanatic myself...)
ReplyDeleteWell our Dad would be proud of me - I planted four tomato plants on Melbourne Cup Day!
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to compare these plants with the smaller seedlings that I will plant later when they are big enough.
Although the Melbourne air was cold and damp today it was surprising how warm the soil has remained.