[Don FoleyParticipant]

Hi Jacqui, At 10 weeks from sowing these should be 30 – 40 cm high.
From your dates it seems they have been in these small pots for 7 weeks.
I would suspect two things. Overwatering and lack of nutrients.
Overwatering will cause the roots to die back. The plant is trying to stop itself drowning.
The overwatering will also wash out the nutrients from the compost faster, which in those pots would have run out in 3 – 4 weeks anyway.
I would suggest moving them on to slightly bigger pot, maybe 3cm bigger, with fresh compost.
I would also suggest planting deeper – up to where the first leaf comes off the stem. This will encourage fresh root growth from that area of stem currently exposed.
Try a different compost just in case what your using is suspect though if it were you would have had problems with other seedlings?
Water from the bottom to try and encourage the roots to spread downward.
Check the roots again in about 10 days when you should observe fresh root growth.

Don.

[Don FoleyParticipant]

Hi Kippers,
Blight wont survive on seeds. It needs living tissue.
The other thing to remember when composting anything with seeds is that you need your compost to be at a high temperature in order to kill off these seeds.
Don.

[Don FoleyParticipant]

Hi Kath,
I suspect he may have been talking about Blight? Tomatoes and Potatoes are members of the same family and are attacked by Blight (apologies if I’m being patronising).
If that is what he was talking about then he is incorrect. Blight only survives on living tissue so it is quiet safe to put these plants on your compost pile.
It is, as Charles will no doubt confirm, a common misconception that you cannot/should not put blighted material on a compost pile.
Don.

[Don FoleyParticipant]

Hi Emma-Jane,
That quantity would give you around a 3″ covering over the entire area. Charles would recommend 4″.
But I suspect the measurements you quote are for the whole area, Beds and Paths. Is that correct? If so you need to calculate the total path area and then see what you need.

[Don FoleyParticipant]

Hi Kioralaura,

I use the TFA Thermometer, which I think is what Charles uses, and I find it very reliable. I don’t deliberately leave it out in the rain but on the couple of occasions I have done there were no ill effects. I wouldn’t deliberately leave it out
as I see no reason to do so.

Don.

[Don FoleyParticipant]

Hi Ron,
I agree with Charles, I think it must be Rats. Scatter a few Rat Traps around the affected areas and see what you get.
Keep us posted on how you get on.
Don.

[Don FoleyParticipant]

Hi Tim,

That is a good choice of feed. You should be feeding once a week once flowers appear. Regular watering and regular feeding make a big difference with Tomatoes. As for cutting off the lower leaves, once the first truss has set that would be a normal thing to do anyway.
It will improve air circulation around the plant, which is what you want.

Don.

[Don FoleyParticipant]

Hi Tim,

If it is only on the lower leaves it might be magnesium deficiency.
What are you feeding the plants with?

Don.

[Don FoleyParticipant]

Hi Steve,

As Charles states, what you have is a temperature issue. The variance between day (30) and night (10) temperatures is causing the problem, it is not something to be over concerned about. Tomatoes do not like huge variations in temperature, which is what you are currently experiencing. The plant will recover once temperatures even out.

Don.

[Don FoleyParticipant]

Hi Jason,

I haven’t come across this myself but I’m sure Charles will have an answer for you. What variety Tomato is this?

Don.

[Don FoleyParticipant]

Hi All,

I don’t buy seed from any of the big companies, T&M, Suttons, etc.
I purchase almost exclusively from Greenvegetableseeds.com (Klaus Laitenberger) and have never had a problem with their seeds. I find him very helpful and forthcoming with advice etc.
I’m getting another packet of these seeds today and will let you know how these perform in due course.
I have lost maybe 3 or 4 weeks, and its messed up my succession schedule but its hardly the end of the world!
If that’s the only problem I have this season I will not complain.

Don.

[Don FoleyParticipant]

Thanks Charles. My first thought was the seed but then I dismissed that on the basis of the result from the first sowing which I was happy with. I didn’t know seed could go off so quickly. You learn something new every season.

Don.

[Don FoleyParticipant]

Hi All,
I’m sure I have mentioned this point previously.
Firstly I should mention that I am based in Ireland.
I use Horse Manure and my own Garden Compost and fortunately have not experienced the horrific experiences of some of you here.
I buy my Horse Manure only from Racing or professional Showjumping Stables. These Stables are of necessity much more aware and informed about what substances their animals come into contact with. (That is not to suggest that farmers etc do not take care of their animals.) Rigorous internal and also independent external veterinary testing is carried out on an ongoing basis on bedding materials, food and grazing areas.
I would therefore recommend only purchasing from these equine organisations.
Don.

[Don FoleyParticipant]

Hi Lottie,

I am assuming from your description that you have a raised bed, then a path area and the this 50cm strip.
I would not plant Comfrey unless you plan on the Bocking 14 variety. Comfrey is very invasive. You could put Herbs in or various fast growing Veggies i.e., Radish.
But I think companion flowers/Plants for pollinators, Cosmos, Marigolds, Dill, etc., is an excellent idea. I strongly believe every allotment, whatever it’s size, should have such an area incorporated into the site.

Don.

[Don FoleyParticipant]

Hi Charles, I would always look to have 2 or 3(ideally) sprouts on each tuber when planting. My question is; where you have multiple sprouts from one eye does this count as 1 or for example, 3 if you have 3 sprouts from that one eye.

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