Yesterday when it was return to deluge from the skies (when it’s not been a feature for so long, it makes you realise just how noisy rain is) which at one stage where I was included hailstones – I am sure this little Tommy crew is sat looking out at the rain – and thinking – not going out in that, not ever.

Only the one flower truss still. And at this stage, so pale and tightly curled must be the flower – that I got ahead of myself, forgot where I was in the growing process and starting admiring it as a baby tomato. Oh dear, there’ s a long way between now and that moment.

I checked in at a garden centre again this weekend to make sure there are still plenty of tomato plants wanting good homes. And there were – but all grafted varieties from Suttons. I don’t know what’s happened to all other kinds. Is there is a red squirrel/grey squirrel kind of thing going on this year but played out with normal v grafted tomatoes instead?

They will be joined by some garden centre sourced ones soon but the GC may as well hang on to them until it warms up and judging by the plentiful supplies still in stock this the weekend, I am not the only one thinking along those lines. Lots of the Suttons grafted plants to choose from including the two varieties on one graft plant. I’m tempted.  (Just in the name of research you understand!)

When I got off the train this evening, there was a whole “flower” bed of dandelions, on the station platform, gone to seed. Given that commuting is the ultimate in habit forming behavoirs, I must have walked past this little edged bed many times before but paid it no attention. But today, preoccupied by thoughts of how nature schedules things (nearly as capriciously as a train company but perhaps with a greater intelligence behind the design), I wondered at the fact that nearly all the dandelions were now seedheads. So if the seeds are now dispersing – when will the new plants appear? ( And yes I know this is a weed but when a little further on in my walk I came across a strolling dad and toddler duo – with the little boy being taught to huff and puff to blow off the dandelion seeds it seemed even more portent!)

Answers on the wind please!

Whereas contrast and compare to this year, when growers are worried that their plants are not going to be ready in time, that growth has been stunted and slow. Given that these plants must be some of the most closely watched and cossetted plants around – it gives pause to ponder who is in charge. Clearly not us as much as we would like to think we are.

So in that context I am so pleased with the Loseley Gardeners Delight trio. I don’t think they will taking up a trip up to town or bringing home Gold Medals anytime soon – but in terms of Best in Show when it comes to my patch – they are doing very nicely!

However the one thing you can be sure about nature is that she’s in sync. Unlike the random factor that human nurture introduces. Here I am referring to myself.

With no windowsills to speak of, I thought wedging the plant pots into the gap/ledge between the sides of a double radiator (the radiators being under the window) would be the perfect place to put them to get lots of light. Which was all very well until with this unseasonable weather – I flicked the switch on the heating to warm myself up. Much later I remembered the tomato plants. There’s gentle bottom heat from a propagator. This was not that heat. Thinking what I would like on a hot summer’s day, I plunged them into a dish of cooling water. I swear I heard them gently sizzle as they hit the water!

Life got in my way which resulted in a dearth of blogging and a demise of those early seedlings. Neglect the only cause. Although I also had bad germination rates for some varieties. In fact null points for Black Prince and Britain’s Breakfast!

So I have had a change of plan. I have restyled myself as a “plant hunter/collecter”! With a bit of scrounging on the side (the less arduous of version of foraging). Pictured are my buy of the week. ( Snapped before snaffled.) Three Gardeners Delight for £3.00. And with impeccable  pedigree! Loseley House near Guildford in Surrey.

Their plant fair lasted three days with invited nurseries as well as home-grown plants for sale. The tomato plants were sown and raised on site. Big Red sold out on the first day. I bought the very last three Gardeners Delight on the morning of the third day. So for the Tommies come lately it was Moneymaker only. As tomato plants they looked gorgeous – everything a prosperous young tomato plant should be. But sadly they grow up to be Moneymakers so that ruled them out!

I am going to sow some more seeds this week end. Late – but for the fun of seeing my own plants grow – but my early plants are now going to be just that – plants.

Orkado F1 Hybrid. You won’t need to worry about a less-than-perfect summer with this superb outdoor cordon variety. First trusses are early to ripen with an average of 8 round, deep red fruits of up to 140g each per truss. The firm, well-flavoured fruits resist splitting and are ideal for slicing. 8 seeds. 99p.

Good value for F1 seeds. Perhaps low on thrill factor – but if it delivers flavour and standard size tomatoes early in the season – that’s good enough!

Sungrape F1 Hybrid. Enjoy the unique sweetness of this “baby grape” variety! From the same breeder as our popular Sungold and Suncherry Premium tomatoes, Sungrape has a distinct flavour profile due to its high levels of sweetness (brix content of 10) and acidity. These tasty tomatoes are quite thin-skinned, but resist splitting. Best grown under glass, but will grow as a cordon outside in a sunny situation. 6 seeds. £3.69.

I have one question but it’s important … is the flavour as good as Sungold? If it is, then  a cute shape and skin that doesn’t split makes it an attractive alternative.

Tumbling Tiger F1 Hybrid. Grow this fabulous British-bred tomato on the windowsill. Enjoy an abundant crop of tasty, striped, plum-shaped fruits – expect up to 300 per plant! Compact habit when grown in a 20cm pot on the windowsill or will trail gently if planted in a 35cm basket or container. 10 seeds. £2.69.

Very tempting. 300 tomatoes from a pot on the windowsill (my one windowsill won’t hold a 20cm pot but leaving that to one side for the time being) would be great and as Tigerella is one of my favourites, I’d love to try this mini tiger cub of a tomato.

Black Prince: Very dark red to brown fruit with soft flesh. Sweet juicy flavour. One of our heritage varieties and is best grown indoors. 10 seeds per packet. £2.25. From W.Robinson&Son

I always like to grow a dark, standard to large tomato and Black Prince sounded suitably noble and mysterious to earn its place in this year’s line up.

Britain’s Breakfast: Lemon shaped fruit, red and very sweet. Standard habit and has a large spreading truss with many having over 60 fruit per truss. Fruit does not split when ripe. A unique variety. 30 seeds per packet. £2.10. From W.Robinson&Son

As this is a year of showcasing Britain’s Best – I cannot think of many things better than a Big Breakfast – and if this tomato, grilled is one component of a few lazy, summer morning fry-ups – or maybe tucked in between a couple of slices of fresh white loaf with some charry pork bangers – then it will something humble but royal to celebrate all the same.

Tomato ‘Berry’ F1:  Cascading trusses of deliciously sweet, dark red “strawberry” shaped fruits. The small 15g fruits have outstanding flavour, ideal for adding to children’s lunchboxes, for salads and sandwiches or just pop in the mouth and enjoy! This early ripening cordon variety is best grown in the greenhouse, but will also grow in a sheltered, sunny spot outdoors. Height: 200cm (79″). Spread: 50cm (20″). 7 seeds per packet. £3.69. Thompson&Morgan

A variety that I think has only been around for a couple of years, so feels a bit more of a novelty than serious tomato. Although that may be to underestimate it. If it does have outstanding flavour – then the only lunchbox/mouth it will be going in is mine! Especially as I only got 2 seeds in the packet. They were tiny, so I carefully took the packet apart by the seams to see if any had lodged in the corners but nothing. One for customer services!