It's that time of year again ...

[Green Aura]

Looking good. We've had a lot more sun than usual over the last month. I assume you've had similar good weather so that probably explains the early ripening.

[Weedo]

Temperature is more important for fruit set while sunlight is for vegetative growth and health. For fruit set, night time temps are just as important as daytime - 15-20 degrees c roughly if you can manage it - particularly if too hot fruit wont set well

[Odsox]

For fruit set, night time temps are just as important as daytime - 15-20 degrees c roughly if you can manage it

Well that explains why I can't grow tomatoes, or at least get them to set fruit.
I would say that I can count on one hand the amount of days per year that the night time temperatures are above 15 c here, if it goes above 16 c I have trouble sleeping.
I think it all depends on the variety, with those professing to be "early" being are able to set fruit in a lot cooler temperature than the maincrop type varieties, which is why of course they are named as early.

Every year for several years now I have experimented with early tomatoes to see if their claims are justified. I sow at least 2 varieties on the 1st of January and when the plants are big enough they are transferred to my unheated conservatory. That is usually during the first week of March when the overnight temperatures are usually between 5 and 10 degrees, although daytime temperatures can reach 20 degrees on sunny days.
So far the record is for picking ripe fruit on the 24th of April, 15 weeks from sowing. That was a variety called Latah.
During March and April I can guarantee that the overnight temperatures never reached 15 c.

Next year's experiment is between Latah (again) and Matina.
Matina purports to have ripe fruit in 55 days from transplant as opposed to Latah's record of 54 days. So we shall have a race on our hands from New Year's day.

[Odsox]

Well there are going to be ripe tomatoes for Christmas, but not exactly how I planned it.
I thought I timed it for the plants to have ripe fruit starting for Christmas, but they are heading for finishing during the next few weeks.
These SFT plants are a bit strange, well they are here anyway, in that you get a flush of flowering and fruiting followed by ... nothing. Then when you think they're going to die they start all over again.
Well this time they're in for a big surprise because when I've picked the last ripe fruit they are going to be turfed out.

This is because of me being evicted from the conservatory and my impending 1st of January early tomato test. I think I can only wangle 2 plants in the (mostly) unheated conservatory, so I will grow 2 more in the vacated windowsill space indoors.

[Weedo]

Sounds like it has worked for this year - toms are reasonably indifferent to day length as long as they can get about 10 hours daylight (natural or supplemented). Temperatures are much more important. Pollination in housed conditions can be an issue where bees etc. are lacking - the solution is quite scientifically complex, you need to grab the bush and give is a shake a couple of times a day the spread the pollen about. Also, if you have found a strong growing plant that does well at your patch and another that suffers a little but fruits well, try grafting the fruiter to the grower; tome graft quite easily.

A 16 degree night would be heaven around here at the moment

[Green Aura]

It works out for Odsox every year, Weedo. He's the master of the year-round tomatoes.

The rest of us look on with only very mild envy.

[Odsox]

These will be ripe for Christmas, at least I got the timing right for them.
But I don't think I'll bother with them again, although they are a good sized plant for windowsills the fruit is a bit on the small side.
OK I suppose if you like winter salads, but I'm not all that keen on summer salads let alone winter ones.
It was worth the experience though.

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[Green Aura]

We still have one or two sad looking chillies - at this time of year we pick them semi-dried. Then we'll select which plants to keep for next year - we've got a couple that are on their third seaon but I'm not sure they'll make another.

But that's it, the polytunnel has been cleared and shut up for the winter. The citrus trees have got a fleecy overcoat this year. Oh, and I still haven't worked out when to harvest the turmeric.The leaves are starting to brown a little round the edges now.

[Odsox]

It's that time of year again ..... again

I have just potted up 5 chitted Silver Fir Tree seeds, destined for the windowsill in this room I'm typing in.
About a month later than last year as these little plants grow faster than I anticipated.
So hopefully fresh tomatoes for Christmas tea again.

[Green Aura]

Well this year we might be doing that with you (but here obviously ). We've got the little hydroponics unit now. We were just talking about when to start them just the other day. Do you think now is about right?

[Odsox]

Do you think now is about right?

Well a lot depends on what tomato variety you intend to grow.
If it's SFT like me then you can see on the original posting that I started too early last year, and trying it nearly a month later this year.
Growing SFT in spring takes 90 days from sowing to ripe fruit according to my notes.
My Christmas tomatoes will be reliant on the vagaries of the sun on my windowsill, and having the artificial light for 10 hours a day (if necessary) where your pod will have as much "sun" as you program it to have. This room though does have a storage radiator, so the temperature doesn't vary much from 20C, much the same as your pod probably.
So give it a go and if you get ripe fruit too early or too late you will know better next year.

I hope you're going to show us lots of photos

[Green Aura]

I might manage one.

[Odsox]

My window hedge is starting to take off.

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[Green Aura]

I've not got round to doing mine yet. Maybe Easter instead of Christmas.

[Odsox]

I've not got round to doing mine yet. Maybe Easter instead of Christmas.

Have you got some SFT seed or shall I send you some ?
(or anyone else reading this, even if you have to register first)