Question Time

[hiyatim]

I have a whole new batch of questions so ill try some here again...

My cherry tomato cerise, must be about 3 months old now, its only 6 or 7 inches tall, its in a pot probably far too small for it, about 4 inches across and inches down, its starting to flower...

1. is the pot far too small and can i repot it or is it too late??

2. ive read stuff about trusses...whats a truss and do i need to do anything with them??

3. im supposed to start feeding it at some point to do with trusses and flowering but when??

4. my broccoli green calabrese and cauliflower all year rounder are getting pretty damn huge, i know i will probably know when they are ready as they will look like what i buy from the supermarket but can i leave them in the ground too long??

5. my cabbage greyhound is also massive, are there tell tale signs of when they are ready??

6. the brassicas mentioned above..i grew some in huge pots which are doing really well, i also grew some in 6 inch pots (experimenting if i could get smaller produce from these pots) the experiment is failing misserably, they dont look happy at all, can i move them into bigger pots (i have some of them supermarket buckets now )

7. some of my carrots and parsnips and beetroots have been growing in pots for 3 months now, the foliage is nice and big, how long do these take to reach a good harvestable size?? any tell take signs when they are ready?

8. what size pot will a single radish need, how many can i get in a 6 inch pot?

9. i had a post with peas that lesley helped me to germinate on kitchen roll, they went in the ground with shoots last wednesday 2 inches down, how long until they are likey to show, im worried for them

NB i apologize if people have asked these questions before, im just finding as things are developing more and more unknowns are appeaing to me

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Tim, repot the cherry tomato plant into one of those containers you got from the supermarket. BTW how much did they charge? Cerise is a determinate or bush tomato variety so there is no need for side shooting as there is with indeterminate tomatoes. You say the tomato plant is flowering now - well, these flowers are your future tomatoes and the trusses. You've seen "on the vine" tomatoes in the supermarkets and this vine of tomatoes is a truss. With cherry tomatoes the truss will be much bigger containing loads of tomatoes. You can usually expect over 200 tomatoes from a cherry tomato plant. When the tiny tomatoes start forming then is the time to start feeding one a week with tomato feed. I have seen a cherry tomato plant grown in a baked bean tin but the plant was small with only a few tomatoes - but it was an experiment.

[hiyatim]

thanks lesley, thats handy for me not having to do anything with it (although i like excuses to be out there pottering )

first 3 questions answered already thanks, any1 for the other 6??

[Lesley Jay]

With your cabbage give the heads a squeeze. If they are nice and filled out then they are ready to harvest and enjoy! When cauliflowers and broccoli look ready then eat them or harvest and freeze them because they bolt so very quick - one day you have lovely cauli's and the next they are past it. A really good cabbage variety is Minicole as it isn't huge and can stand in the ground for about 3 months without bolting. Tastes good aswell. Transplant the brassicas from those 6 inch pots! Parsnips take up to 34 weeks to grow and are supposed to taste sweeter after a frost. Carrots want about 12 weeks for early varieties and 16 weeks for main crop varieties.

Pull a beetroot and see what size it is and have patience with the peas!!!

[hiyatim]

sorry guys if your here to test your knowledge lesley beat you to it ...
but im very glad she has

there is still the radish question there tho ...

Lesley, the pots from the supermarket were free, they werent keen to give me many tho, i spoke to 2 people who said i could have a couple, but the lady who gave them to me gave me 11 and said keep coming back for more. im so chuffed as they are perfect size, the tomato plant will be re potted tomorrow. i have money makers in the greenhouse too which are in a small pot, if i have enough ill repot them too

[Lesley Jay]

Originally Posted by hiyatim

Lesley, the pots from the supermarket were free, they werent keen to give me many tho, i spoke to 2 people who said i could have a couple, but the lady who gave them to me gave me 11 and said keep coming back for more. im so chuffed as they are perfect size, the tomato plant will be re potted tomorrow. i have money makers in the greenhouse too which are in a small pot, if i have enough ill repot them too

Well, I would keep going back to see that same lady as staff do change and you might aswell build up a nice collection of containers!!

[stupo74]

Hi Tim,
"Whats this" Favouring the "Boss Lady" again
Quote:
sorry guys if your here to test your knowledge lesley beat you to it ...
but im very glad she has

How many "House Points" does that make this week?????
No chance of any "cards" with a "Veg Forum" ,,,,, "CV" like yours,

However, it just goes to show, that "The Lady In Charge" is not just a pretty face,,,,, but a "True Professional"

As for the radish question,,,, Errrrrrrr 1??????? Big 1

cheers stupo.

[hiyatim]

hey stupo...

have you not heard, flatery gets you everywhere

actually, im providing a service, keeping these 'experienced brains' fresh and active

as for the radish, im not sure they grow that big but it could be worth a try

[stupo74]

Hi Tim,
Love it keeping these "Experienced Brains" active
Great A'int it, i love the "Gardening", but the "Banter" gets me at it every time.
Can't fault you cheers stupo

Ps, Mrs stupo says, she has seen a "Radish" that will fit a "six inch pot"
cheers stupo

[hiyatim]

Stupo
thats one hell of a radish , i might be forced to peel it slice it and offer a slice of 'apple' to some friends lol

yeah this forum really seems to have the right balance of friendly banter and useful info - im agreeing with you here not sucking up to "the boss"

Tim