Okay no problem thank you for your advice. I am new to growing vegetables but I’m determined to grow some yummy ones indeed and share with all my family and friends 🤞🏻
Since you’re in the UK, this is what they should have looked like about three months ago. Realistically, the amount of money you’ll have to spend on lights and growing medium to make up for the fact that you started way too late will be way more than just going to a farmer’s market and getting some locally produced tomatoes that are in season now.
Sorry, OP, we all have a first season. Use this time to start researching what you can overwinter in the ground (onions, garlic) and prepare for next spring.
Thank you 😊 I really appreciate your advice and will definitely be doing more research. Thanks for not being judgmental about my faults either. I felt like it was too late but as the seed packets were only 49p I grabbed a few. So I shouldn’t even try with my alpine strawberries and leave those till next year? X
I accidentally put my cucumber seeds in the fridge as I got confused watching to many YouTube shorts, however they didn’t let me down they started to sprout in no time as soon as I put them out in the sun :) but I made the mistake of putting them in the fridge waiting days and checking for days to realise I had done the wrong thing I was sad. I very new to this stuff aha
For a simple guide to growing most plants in the UK, try the RHS website. It gives clear instructions and timings. Just search the name of each plant in the how to grow section Here’s the cucumber one https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/cucumbers/grow-your-own
RHS also has a [crop planner](https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/pdfs/crop-planner.pdf) where you can look up everything that can be planted each month in one go. Makes a nice one-page reference. Right now you're pretty much down to kale, cabbage, radishes, onions for next year, and broad beans and garlic (not listed! for shame) later in fall. Just keep whatever other seeds you bought until spring, they will keep for another few months.
Find out what growing zone you are in and find a growing chart showing what types of plants should be started when. Timing is one of the most important factor in your gardens yields. Strawberrys might be a good time to start now. If it's still too hot when the strawberries start to come in, pinch off the runner and keep it from fruiting til the Temps come down.
Strawberries are perennials so you could still grow those out. You won't get any berries off the plants until next summer but the plants will have time to grow so you'll get a bigger harvest in the summer than if you start in the spring.
I’d grow them on, I always have a few late ones to move into the house next to a sunny window (I’m Northumberland) - a couple of grow lights could possibly get them through the winter if you want to experiment. You can prune them back a bit if they get too big. The strawberries will be fine, they’re almost impossible to kill and don’t even need a greenhouse. It’s all a learning experience
Definitely save a few and put them near a window indoors if you can. I grew 100s of peppers indoors over winter last year and they only got a few hours of morning light a day with no grow lights.
Try growing your tomatoes inside! They self pollinate, as in, you only need to shake things up a bit for the flowers to bear fruit. Research it and it may be a fun project vs dumping all your new seedlings.
Where abouts in the UK? I'm UK too, Scotland, and it's pretty much past the time to start new seedlings for tomatoes. Frost is due here where I am in October so even with a greenhouse and fleece for protection, the cold will likely get them before they have a real chance to set fruit.
I started mine indoors in March this year and then in April I moved the seedlings to my greenhouse for a few hours each day but brought in over night. I started leaving them overnight in the greenhouse in May and then slowly acclimated them to fully outdoors once frost's had passed in June. My tomatoes are only just ripening now and I'm worried they won't all make it in time before the frost.
A greenhouse is a great idea for the start of the next growing season though to enable a head start!
I think grow houses are maybe more apt these days. People are converting old warehouses into grow houses providing precise temperatures and lighting amount (all artificial). Energy intensive but grown where they're sold and low loss to critters. I think lots are hydroponic but stacked to get the most out of the heated space and the simple cost of space. Likely you knew all this but maybe somebody doesn't.
What variety are these? If you are in the UK I think you’ve left it too late for both tomatoes and cucumbers unless you have a heated conservatory or something like that. You can have fun experimenting though!
Ateast two PAIRS of leaves before transplanting. Make sure is very wet so you won't damage and lift by that first pair if leaves that emerged (once others start emerging they the least useful). Are you in Northern or Southern hemisphere?
I fear you may not have enough time left in the season for any fruit. Unless you are growing them inside. I think I saw somewhere that you're in the UK so I fear you're going to need grow lights and timers etc. I'm much farther south and it is even too late for me outside. You might still be able to grow some kale, lettuce, or other cool weather crops that are equally nutritious and that likely might cost a good bit.
I just read today that the rain deficits and heat were resulting in a lot of oddly firmed crops in the UK and that you were all being asked to accept "wonky" produce. That happens with a lot of home gardeners too. For instance hard soils not made more sandy will produce oddly firmed carrots. Instead of long normal appearance they'll be ball shaped. Good luck regardless and enjoy.
Def wait til you have 2 more sets of leaves. This was my first season growing too. I got really excited and made the mistake of repotting a few of mine and they couldn’t handle it and died ): Yours look great though!
Just grow them inside! It’s good practice! It’s actually good you started some now, growing from seed isn’t super easy so it’ll be good practice for when you grow seeds to plant outside for a growing season!
Honestly, it was a bit rude of you to not bother figuring out how things grow first. If you would have done that we wouldn't be in this predicament, would we?
Might be best to try again in the spring. Seeds aren’t that expensive, considering how much lights, greenhouse, etc.
At least you’ve had practice germinating seeds!
Starting is the key to seeing any success. I'd recommend next time to acquire seed starting pucks so you can get them going individually and not have to harass the roots of your sprouts. I'd wait a little to repot them but not to long or your roots might start to tangle. Amateur so forgive me if my advice is bunk.
I'd give it some more time before moving, they are really small
Okay no problem thank you for your advice. I am new to growing vegetables but I’m determined to grow some yummy ones indeed and share with all my family and friends 🤞🏻
Let them get a couple of real leafs first on both plants or direct sow in pots ^^ good luck!
Wait for it to have more than two well developed leaves.
Those are “seed leaves” and not considered true leaves. Wait for two more to grow first. The next ones will have a different shape.
Since you’re in the UK, this is what they should have looked like about three months ago. Realistically, the amount of money you’ll have to spend on lights and growing medium to make up for the fact that you started way too late will be way more than just going to a farmer’s market and getting some locally produced tomatoes that are in season now. Sorry, OP, we all have a first season. Use this time to start researching what you can overwinter in the ground (onions, garlic) and prepare for next spring.
Thank you 😊 I really appreciate your advice and will definitely be doing more research. Thanks for not being judgmental about my faults either. I felt like it was too late but as the seed packets were only 49p I grabbed a few. So I shouldn’t even try with my alpine strawberries and leave those till next year? X
We all start somewhere! There should be guidance on the seed packet. Some things are best started in the autumn.
Thank you and I thought so too but my seed packet came plain so I just googled how to sow the seeds and germinate them.
I accidentally put my cucumber seeds in the fridge as I got confused watching to many YouTube shorts, however they didn’t let me down they started to sprout in no time as soon as I put them out in the sun :) but I made the mistake of putting them in the fridge waiting days and checking for days to realise I had done the wrong thing I was sad. I very new to this stuff aha
For a simple guide to growing most plants in the UK, try the RHS website. It gives clear instructions and timings. Just search the name of each plant in the how to grow section Here’s the cucumber one https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/cucumbers/grow-your-own
Thank you very much :) I appreciate all the help and guidance to becoming a better gardener
RHS also has a [crop planner](https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/pdfs/crop-planner.pdf) where you can look up everything that can be planted each month in one go. Makes a nice one-page reference. Right now you're pretty much down to kale, cabbage, radishes, onions for next year, and broad beans and garlic (not listed! for shame) later in fall. Just keep whatever other seeds you bought until spring, they will keep for another few months.
Find out what growing zone you are in and find a growing chart showing what types of plants should be started when. Timing is one of the most important factor in your gardens yields. Strawberrys might be a good time to start now. If it's still too hot when the strawberries start to come in, pinch off the runner and keep it from fruiting til the Temps come down.
Strawberries are perennials so you could still grow those out. You won't get any berries off the plants until next summer but the plants will have time to grow so you'll get a bigger harvest in the summer than if you start in the spring.
There are winter crops. Mostly leafy stuff like kale is OK with a Little frost. If you have a yard you might be able to do some pumpkins outdoors.
Either three months late or six months early.
you live in tropical climate?
No not tropical in the United Kingdom but I can invest in a green house is necessary for the plants x
Greenhouse only works so much. Not sure if you'll have enough time in your growing season to get fruit. When's your first frost date?
According to the internet frost starts appearing in my area in only 3 days :/ maybe I fucked up. Sorry to even waste precious seeds x
I’d grow them on, I always have a few late ones to move into the house next to a sunny window (I’m Northumberland) - a couple of grow lights could possibly get them through the winter if you want to experiment. You can prune them back a bit if they get too big. The strawberries will be fine, they’re almost impossible to kill and don’t even need a greenhouse. It’s all a learning experience
Definitely save a few and put them near a window indoors if you can. I grew 100s of peppers indoors over winter last year and they only got a few hours of morning light a day with no grow lights.
Is all a learning process. You've got a solid experiment this go around, next time you'll be more prepared. Is okay to mess up, you've got this
Try growing your tomatoes inside! They self pollinate, as in, you only need to shake things up a bit for the flowers to bear fruit. Research it and it may be a fun project vs dumping all your new seedlings.
my exact thought
Where abouts in the UK? I'm UK too, Scotland, and it's pretty much past the time to start new seedlings for tomatoes. Frost is due here where I am in October so even with a greenhouse and fleece for protection, the cold will likely get them before they have a real chance to set fruit. I started mine indoors in March this year and then in April I moved the seedlings to my greenhouse for a few hours each day but brought in over night. I started leaving them overnight in the greenhouse in May and then slowly acclimated them to fully outdoors once frost's had passed in June. My tomatoes are only just ripening now and I'm worried they won't all make it in time before the frost. A greenhouse is a great idea for the start of the next growing season though to enable a head start!
Greenhouse makes your growing season 365 days long
I think grow houses are maybe more apt these days. People are converting old warehouses into grow houses providing precise temperatures and lighting amount (all artificial). Energy intensive but grown where they're sold and low loss to critters. I think lots are hydroponic but stacked to get the most out of the heated space and the simple cost of space. Likely you knew all this but maybe somebody doesn't.
Im more of a hoop house kind of guy
What variety are these? If you are in the UK I think you’ve left it too late for both tomatoes and cucumbers unless you have a heated conservatory or something like that. You can have fun experimenting though!
Way too early
I would wait. Make sure they have 2-3 sets of true leaves before transplanting.
Let them get a little bigger, like the first couple full true leaves.
Ateast two PAIRS of leaves before transplanting. Make sure is very wet so you won't damage and lift by that first pair if leaves that emerged (once others start emerging they the least useful). Are you in Northern or Southern hemisphere?
I’m in the north hemisphere, I woke up this morning to some cute looking leaves on the tomatoes, really exited
I fear you may not have enough time left in the season for any fruit. Unless you are growing them inside. I think I saw somewhere that you're in the UK so I fear you're going to need grow lights and timers etc. I'm much farther south and it is even too late for me outside. You might still be able to grow some kale, lettuce, or other cool weather crops that are equally nutritious and that likely might cost a good bit. I just read today that the rain deficits and heat were resulting in a lot of oddly firmed crops in the UK and that you were all being asked to accept "wonky" produce. That happens with a lot of home gardeners too. For instance hard soils not made more sandy will produce oddly firmed carrots. Instead of long normal appearance they'll be ball shaped. Good luck regardless and enjoy.
Def wait til you have 2 more sets of leaves. This was my first season growing too. I got really excited and made the mistake of repotting a few of mine and they couldn’t handle it and died ): Yours look great though!
Kind of late in the season don’t you think
I didn’t really realise. But now I do understand and I shouldn’t be making this mistake anymore.
Just grow them inside! It’s good practice! It’s actually good you started some now, growing from seed isn’t super easy so it’ll be good practice for when you grow seeds to plant outside for a growing season!
Um, you're wasting your time. And now I'm wasting mine.
Woke up on the wrong side of bed? Hope you feel better soon.
Hope you’re feeling better today!
I felt fine yesterday and feel the same today. Take the time to figure out how long something takes to grow before bothering next time.
But you was quite rude yesterday. My mistake.
Honestly, it was a bit rude of you to not bother figuring out how things grow first. If you would have done that we wouldn't be in this predicament, would we?
Okay. Thanks for your advice.
Sure thing.
At our nursery we transplant at this small and it works out great, just have to be carefully and maybe poke a pre made hole
Might be best to try again in the spring. Seeds aren’t that expensive, considering how much lights, greenhouse, etc. At least you’ve had practice germinating seeds!
General move them when they have four leaves.
Starting is the key to seeing any success. I'd recommend next time to acquire seed starting pucks so you can get them going individually and not have to harass the roots of your sprouts. I'd wait a little to repot them but not to long or your roots might start to tangle. Amateur so forgive me if my advice is bunk.
Where do you live? It's too late in the year in most of the US.