I love them but they’re one of the plants that don’t do well for me. the scent is incredible.
There’s now growth in the tom seedlings, . . they’ve come to a standstill because of the low temps here the last few days and at night time, . . . I have a paraffin heater on all night but even today with it on the temps only 10 degrees so I dug out the old Primus stove, . . I’ve had that for 52 years, used to take it on fishing trips for a brew up, . . it’s still working great and the word ENGLAND stamped on it lets you see that Great Britain had industries before Thatcher.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z48/den234/misc/primus01.jpg
Campers and the likes all use propane gas now but I don’t like the idea of pressurised gas, . . . . the temp in the greenhouse is now 80 and holding. 
Interesting, I’ve never seen one. Glad it’s still working so well.
You must’ve seen captain Scott of the Antarctic using them in documentaries DM. 
Been fitting treble glazing in the greenhouse the last two days . . . . it’s bubble wrap 
. . . I just finished it and came out of the thing and jeez it’s freezing in the open air . . . . they’re charging £1.99 a metre in the GC . . . to think I’ve binned that stuff for years too . . . the kids used to go crazy bursting the bubbles . . . so did I, great fun so it was.
We’re never too old to enjoy popping bubble wrap! I use it to cover my pots in the tray to keep the humidity up until the seeds have germinated and move to the window sill. Handy stuff!
A question . . . . do you allow side shoots to grow on bush and trailing type toms ? . . . I have 5 hanging baskets with tumbling toms in them. 
I believe it’s recommended that you do. I never have on mine, but I don’t grow the tumbling ones.
Mine in their pots are getting very tall, will be ready to plant outside on May 1st; also the peppers and basil. I started two potatoes outside earlier in the week, hope they do well. I did them in a huge pot last year and they didn’t.
My toms seem to have suffered a bit down the greenhouse. Thank goodness I only took half of them down.
Here’s something that will stop the kids messing your bubble wrap up http://www.virtual-bubblewrap.com/popnow.shtml
do you allow side shoots to grow on bush and trailing type toms ? . . . I have 5 hanging baskets with tumbling toms in them.
Yes,in moderation. You don`t want them overcrowded with shoots though.
Even with my cordons I start off being keen and pinching out the side shoots but some get away and I don`t think it does any harm to have a couple of main? stems
. . they’re charging £1.99 a metre in the GC . . .
That is very expensive-if you can store it somewhere or share? another time buy a roll.
I thought so too OG . . . but it’s heavy duty and will last for years . . . it’s stapled to the inside support timbers . . . the whole interior is like a cocoon . . . it’s amazing the heat it retains even on the coldest nights . . . . at the bottom of the GH I’ve stapled cardboard fillets to the timber shaped to the contours of the corrugated acrylic, a draft was blowing up and under . . . . I have two varieties of hangers BTW . . . tumbling tom and Balconi . . . will let you know how they crop and taste like come harvest time.
Seen another variety last week . . . cristal . . . what are they like ?
Cristal–I`ve seen it advertised but I do not pay those prices for F1 hybrids.
Have a look at this for some ideas.
http://www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk/acatalog/A-Z_of_Vegetables_TOMATO.html
There are other companies but that`s an example and they are reliable suppliers-and of course,with non F1 you can save the seed-
Great link OG . . . I have a few . . . Black Cherry, Ferline F1, and Marmande . . . so you save your own seeds! . . . at £3 a packet that’s a good idea.
I do save seeds and I get sent a few because I cannot grow every type I like even in three or more years. Always more to try. But you will never see Money Maker,Alicante or Ailsa Craig amongst my selection
I was disappointed in Ailsa Craig also. OG, how about some tips on saving your own tomato seed … I’d like to try that with Marmande.
The 3 very sorry looking tom plants I rescued from B&Q’s have really picked up and growing away. I’ve planted the cucumber seeds and some sweetcorn, just love it. Waiting for them to appear.
After much thought . . . and sneezing at the stink of paraffin . . . I’ve lead a power cable into the GH . . . I got an electric heater during the week especially for GH’s and it’s so much cleaner . . . the cost’s about the same as paraffin . . . later on I may fit a radiator from the CH but I costed it and all in it’ll be £100 . . that includes everything . . . the outside temps still dropping to nearly zero in the early hours here ATM.
Get yourself a Myson CH fan heater instead of a rad, can also be used in summer as a cooling circulator.
OG, how about some tips on saving your own tomato seed … I’d like to try that with Marmande.
Take a couple of ripe fruit and squish out the pulp into a little dish,add a few drops of water. Leave until you get a layer of mould(said to prevent disease-Im not sure but I do it anyway)then rinse the seeds, dry on kitchen paper and store. And dont forget to label them.
Works every time-no problem with Marmande but remember F1* hybrids may not come true.
- The cherry type Sweet Million does because it`s classed as an F1 but for odd reasons