If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Oh dear – it’s been life, dearth and demise the past two weeks.
Life got in my way which resulted in a dearth of blogging and a demise of those early seedlings. Neglect the only cause. Although I also had bad germination rates for some varieties. In fact null points for Black Prince and Britain’s Breakfast!
So I have had a change of plan. I have restyled myself as a “plant hunter/collecter”! With a bit of scrounging on the side (the less arduous of version of foraging). Pictured are my buy of the week. ( Snapped before snaffled.) Three Gardeners Delight for £3.00. And with impeccable pedigree! Loseley House near Guildford in Surrey.
Their plant fair lasted three days with invited nurseries as well as home-grown plants for sale. The tomato plants were sown and raised on site. Big Red sold out on the first day. I bought the very last three Gardeners Delight on the morning of the third day. So for the Tommies come lately it was Moneymaker only. As tomato plants they looked gorgeous – everything a prosperous young tomato plant should be. But sadly they grow up to be Moneymakers so that ruled them out!
I am going to sow some more seeds this week end. Late – but for the fun of seeing my own plants grow – but my early plants are now going to be just that – plants.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh no – that doesn’t sound too good. But I think you’ve still got a good chance of germinating some good plants that should play ‘catch-up’ nicely. Your high-born newcomers are good value and will be a welcome addition I think. Perhaps they could coax ‘Black Prince’ into life! Let’s hope they don’t get dissuaded by the cooler weather.
I’ve never tried the cynically named ‘Moneymaker’ although it’s common enough. Is is as mediocre as I’m led to believe?
Here, all my varieties are doing well, the B.C. need pricking out but the ‘Maskotka’ are weedy little things and show poor germination; 5 out of 10 isn’t good, although i suppose I can’t complain as they were freebies! Sunstream SS06 are also germinated (x7) ; SS07 and SS02 still to sow. French beans and leeks complete the windowsill picture and my true potato seeds are starting to germinate too.
Tomato Garden Pearl My first time to try this tomato. Came across it in a kit form,seeds pots and compost. I thought I would give it ago. Only difference I used the fibber pots to give the root system a chance, by not disturbing them as I had left the planting rather late by my standards.
No worry about giving them a good start. I planted them around 6 weeks ago. In my cold greenhouse. But within a sectioned off area made out of one of those plastic mini greenhouse’s you see for £10 or so. I found it on a skip plastic frames, shelves and all. I found it a great help getting my trays of seeds going. But those tomato seeds still haven’t put in an appearance. I guess its true. 20 seeds pots and compost is only a bargain when it gives results. So I guess I’ll be off to the garden centre to look for some tomato plants.
My grandfather (who briefly grew tomatoes commercially) swears by ‘Moneymaker’, but I suspect that’s more to do with its reliability and regularity than taste or interest. In fact, I doubt he’d understand our obsession with weird and wonderful shapes, colours, and names.
My ‘Black prince’ plants are doing fine – if I have any spare I’ll let you know, if you fancy giving them a second chance.
I’m glad you’ve managed to obtain some plants – I hope they grow well!