Talkback: Planting out tomatoes - Page 2

Bit late now, Mandy, but you didn't have to chuck 'em. Purple leaves aren't fatal. It's usually a sign of cold and a lack of nutrition. Some warmth and TLC would have resurrected them.

Some lovely writing on your blog, too. Congrats.

My tomatoes also got purple leaves, but as soon as the weather warmed up they were off, they are now fairly healthy looking and starting to develope their first flower buds. Will be planting them in the greenhouse border some time soon. 

This year I have also planted marigolds in the greenhouse border next to the where the tomatoes are going. not sure if they will have any affect, but they will look great when in full flower. 

Marigolds are reputed to deter all sorts of pests, but their main claim to fame is to repel root knot nematodes in the soil. They're wee wormy things that attack plants' roots. Nasty things.

Hi all, am happy to report that I finally put my tomatoes, chillies and aubergines out last week and yesterday found LOADS of hoverfly larvae munching all the aphids. Hope this weather lasts!

Kate

Hello Italophile.

Thanks for the info on how Marigolds deter 'Root Knot Nematodes' - didn't know about that.

I'll now put more down near to my beetroot and radish, I did loose all my beetroot except for two plants.

Thanks a million.

Interesting to hear what everyone else is doing. I've had the same problem with the cold and wet and then possibly sun scorch on my sweet corn plants. They are in peat pots and desperate to get into the ground. Not a good forecast for sunday but I'm tempted to risk it. Does fleece really work?