Tomatoes are threatened by cold and frost
Young tomato plants displayed in small pots sparked joy on sight at the local garden centre recently. Several of the most popular varieties to choose from too: “Gardener’s Delight”, “Shirley”, “Moneymaker”, “Tumbling Tom”, and “Golden Sunrise” to name but a few. “Buy” said the heart, but common sense almost won the day simply because the threat of cold nights and frost remains until May.
Gone are the days when February saw the provision of modest glasshouse warmth via an electric fan heater with thermostatic control.
The soil-warming cable in a propagating box, was another early luxury.
However, simple economics rules out the continuity of such extravagance.
Solid fuels, oil, gas and electricity have all soared in price, but where there’s a will, there’s a way!
The conservatory, which is heated as part of a living space and maintains a minimum temperature of 10 Celsius overnight, also enjoys full daylight.
It has always offered yearround sanctuary to a few tender plants so, it’s a small step to introduce an element of seed sowing and plant seedlings.
Truth to tell, it’s now more like a garden room and the better for it. Recently potted container plants, bought as plugs, have been introduced and I, being unable to resist those small tomato plants, came home with a handful of “Golden Sunrise”, one of the sweetest cherry types. The challenge now is to maintain steady growth in them all.
Tomatoes are one of the most communicative plants you can grow, in that they show their feelings through the leaves.
In keeping with many species, they droop when there’s a shortage of, or have been given too much water. When subjected to an overnight temperature below 5 Celsius their leaves become blue-tinged with cold, and they suffer a setback in growth. Adult plants respond to a huge day/ night temperature fluctuation by curling their leaves upward like a clenched fist. Offering daytime shading can rectify this.
Tomatoes love plenty of food and complain when there’s a shortage of minerals by displaying different leaf colour formations. Thankfully it’s possible for the savvy gardener to recognise the signs and resolve the situation.