We start our summer seedlings early using this underheater that Mark made out of an old waterbed heater. It has a thermostat so that we can keep it at a constant 30c temperature. This way we can germinate tomatoes, basil, capsicum, and eggplant and have them up and ready to plant out as soon as the earth warms up and the threat of frosts is over.
Here you can see tomato seedlings, brandywine have germinated. They will be taken down to the potting shed to be potted up in a few days time. They will be potted up maybe 2 more times before they are actually ready to plant out.
Kate, that Mark is a clever chap.
ReplyDeleteI just love it that you've germinated your Brandywines - my favourite tomato, and you seem to use the same technique I use - potting on a few times and burying the stem more than is usual to encourage extra root growth.
How many crops of these summer vegies will you get in a season? Do you plant follow-up crops or just rely on the one planting?
Hi Rhonda, We have 3 tomatoes that we grow. The brandywines, roma, and tommy toe. They are less likely to be affected by fruit fly here. These I germinate all in one go and plant them out en mass.The same for capsicum and eggplant and pumpkin. Just about all other vegies have follow up plantings.And yes we do pot the tomatoes up and plant as you say,. We plant cabbages,tatsoi and bokchoy the same way.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. My husband built a green house out of discarded windows and building material. We don't have freezing temps very often so just needed something a little warm. What is tatsoi? I must look it up as I have never heard of it before. xx
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea! Makes me wish I had kept our old waterbed heater!
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