The Italian Gardener

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Tomatoes are warm weather plants and will not tolerate frost, so to get an early start to the season, they are best grown from 6-7 week-old transplants. Seed should be planted in moist seed-starting soil 0.6cm deep, and kept warm and damp until they emerge in 5-10 days. As soon as they are through the soil, they need to have exposure to about 12 hours light per day and this can be provided naturally in a warm green house, or by fluorescent lighting 10cm above the seedlings, or a combination of both.

When the seedlings get their first set of true leaves (about 5cm high) they should be transplanted into 10cm pots. Plant the seedlings deeper than they were (almost up to the first leaves) and grow on in warm, light conditions. About a week before you plant them out, acclimatize them by putting outside in a sheltered spot for a few hours, and increase the exposure each day. Plant out in the afternoon, or on a cloudy day and water in well. Space 45cm apart if they are to be staked and pruned.

Peppers and Eggplants are warm-weather lovers and will not tolerate cold, so to get an early start to the season, they are best grown from 8-10 week-old transplants. Seed should be planted in moist seed-starting soil 0.6cm deep and kept warm (30 degrees C) and damp until they emerge in 5-10 days. As soon as they are through the soil they need to have exposure to about 12 hours light per day and this can be provided naturally in a warm greenhouse, or by fluorescent lighting 10cm above the seedlings, or a combination of both.