too late for tomatoes?

[yvette]

Due to a family bereavement, I have not yet planted any tomato seeds. Is it too late to bother now? I'm wondering if I should just buy some tomato plants this year. As an inexperienced gardener, I would really appreciate a bit of advice. I live in London, in case that's relevant.
Many thanks,
Yvette

[Helsbells]

Is defiantely not too late, I planted some last weekend. Cant remember the variety, erm something like Gartenpearle I think.
Get some in definately.

[Green Aura]

You should be OK sowing them now - they'll catch up quite quickly.

[Chicken6]

I think they would catch up, my ones that were only sown three weeks ago are growing much faster than the earlier ones
which were sown in February

[Colin]

You could cheat and buy/beg or steal a small tom plant from a friend
I tend to plant very early and then take cuttings from the best ones which increases the numbers very rapidly. Cuttings will root in under a week, seeds take a lot longer to get going.

[yvette]

Thanks so much for all your responses - think I will put some in today, but I might also check to see if my neighbour has any spare plants in his greenhouse...! I really appreciate your help
Yvette

[Urban Ayisha]

i got given all my tomato plants last year, i think people tend to do a lot from seed so have some spare. i've had really bad luck with all my seedlings this year so far... they were all dpoing really well for a couple of weeks and seem to just have collapsed!! bit gutted as theres not long left til planting out time and i really want to avoid buying plants as its do bloody expensive!!
i dont know whether ive waterlogged or under watered or scorched them or too cold or what... theres so many possiblities!

oh and yvette, if you want to speed the germination along i recently was advised to germinate somewhere warm, like an airing cupboard. this has worked really well for most of my seedlings!

reading this post, i think il sow all my seeds again tonight