Day 30: Update on tomatoes!

It’s been just about a month now since I planted the four tomato seeds and I’ve finally managed to lay my hands on a camera again. So here they are!

Day 28 - All four
Fathima, Virender, Chun Li and Noah one month old :)

Here’s a close up of Fathima:

Day 28 - Fathima
Remember I planted her two inches deep, so she's actually even taller!

Here’s a comparison with how she was just 12 days ago:

Day 18: Mani holding Fathima
Our Caretaker Mani - This was just 12 days ago!

The time will soon come when I’ll have to transplant them again into even bigger gamlas. Perhaps two weeks more. In the meantime, Geek Gardener (GG) has kindly consented to send me some of his indeterminate tomato seeds. I’ve also ordered a packet from the UK.

I’ve learnt since that Fathima and Co. are determinate tomato plants. Meaning they’ll give one big burst of tomatoes and then die off. I’m not sad for them – that’s their nature after all, but it’s sad for me :( . The seeds I’ve requested GG to send along will be indeterminate ones which will grow like vines (upto 25 feet!) and give fruit throughout the year. Let’s see how things go. My online journal will continue!

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13 thoughts on “Day 30: Update on tomatoes!”

    • In reply to Chandramouli

      I'm still quite new to vegetable gardening. I'm trying to grow coriander, but they seem to take a very long time to germinate :( . It's been over a week since I sowed the seeds.

      I plant to grow potatoes, capsicum and a few other staple veggies. Let's see!

      Reply

      • In reply to bhagwad

        Hi,

        For seeds which take longer to germinate, you can try soaking them in water overnight before sowing. And for seeds which are even harder to germinate like say bitter gourd you can try soaking them in luke warm water for about 10 mins before keeping them soaked in normal water overnight.

        You are certainly showing signs of having a good green thumb. Wish you all the luck for your vegetable gardening. Quite liked the idea of naming the 4 :)
        They will surely reward you for this personalized attention.

        Regards
        Raj

        Reply

      • In reply to Raj

        Thanks for the advice. I only soaked them for an hour and they swelled up – so I thought that would be enough.

        If these don't sprout within the next week, I'll try your suggestion for sure. Thanks for the encouragement :)

        Reply

      • In reply to bhagwad

        Coriander seeds need to be split into two to help them germinate faster. A tested method that i learnt from my mother is to ground the seeds very gently with a slipper before planting them.

        Reply

  1. They have grown!! I am waiting to see those tomatoes… the tomato plants I remember were kept standing with bamboo sticks for support. I had no idea there were Determinate and Indeterminate plants!

    Love the watering can :)
    Glad your camera is back :)

    Reply

    • In reply to Indian Homemaker

      From what my mom tells me, that watering can is some 30 yrs old!

      You remember indeterminate tomatoes – they grow throughout the year and climb as vines. Apparently it's impossible to get them in Tamil Nadu. Here people don't even know that tomatoes can grow like that! They stare at me in disbelief when I ask them for seeds that produce year round tomato plants :)

      Reply

  2. Hi ,

    I am a stumbling kitchen Gardener. Asking people for tips did not help much. I liked your Tomato series, which led me to the information on Geek Gardener.

    Thanks.

    All the best for the harvest.

    Reply

  3. Probably vegetables like gourd, Brinjal..
    Will start soon after the heat wave diminishes in Hyderabad.
    Will keep you posted.
    Thanks.

    Reply

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