2017 Tomato Growing

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by wiseowl, Jan 9, 2017.

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  1. Scrungee

    Scrungee Well known for it

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    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      From Scrungee's link:

      This is a definite, never buy chilled tomatoes or store them in a fridge.
       
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      • Scrungee

        Scrungee Well known for it

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        The trouble is that tomatoes from chilled storage aren't then sold from chiller cabinets in the supermarkets, so cannot be identified (until you eat them, and then the lack of taste could be attributed to being a bland variety and so on).

        I'm waiting for the supermarkets to start introducing heritage toms, as if they're something new (and trendy) at double the price of what they sell now.
         
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          Last edited: Jan 27, 2017
        • Loofah

          Loofah Admin Staff Member

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          If the supermarket sells them they'll still be bland (and unripe)!
           
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          • john558

            john558 Total Gardener

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            And full of water:tomato:
             
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            • Cinnamon

              Cinnamon Super Gardener

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              I bought 2 heirloom/heritage tomatoes from a farmers' market once and handed across a fiver. Apparently it wasn't quite enough money. :yikes:

              *Hasten to add this was to try them and save the seed if good
               
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              • ARMANDII

                ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                Well, I'm growing the varieties that I know and find reliable such as ......

                Ailsa Craig
                Shirley F1
                Modus F1 [alternative to Rosada]
                Moneymaker
                Alicante

                The Modus F1 is offered as a substitute for Rosada which came from Japan and ran into exorbitant licencing renewal fees by the EU:gaah:
                 
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                • Tomhip

                  Tomhip Gardener

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                  As Linz is doing I am also growing this year for the first time Black Russian and latah among other varieties I am searching for the taste of tomatoes that I remember of years ago I suspect that the lack of it is partly down to breeding and or feeding, I have had some valuable advice from Alexmac which I will try and emulate this year, just be aware Linz that Latah is a bush variety that is supposedly very unruly but also I'm told is a very early variety, hope this information is right! I have no experience of growing this tomato
                  Tom
                   
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                  • JWK

                    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                    You might like to look through our past taste tests @Tomhip - a lot is down to genetics and personal taste.

                    Tomato Test Experiences 2016

                    The growing conditions make a difference, in the past I've found growing outdoors in soil gives the best taste (compared to growing in a greenhouse in containers). Treating them mean helps improve the flavour but you get less yield and a much shorter season.
                     
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                      Last edited: Jan 31, 2017
                    • Tomhip

                      Tomhip Gardener

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                      I'm sure you are right John on that score but I believe given the right feed and conditions it may be possible to get a tasty tomato using pots or hydroponics at least I hope so
                      Tom
                       
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                      • JWK

                        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                        Sowed my Estamino Rootstock last night - my first sowings of anything this year :)

                        Note: grafted Toms need an early start to compensate for the knock back during the grafting process in March.

                        Tomato Grafting
                         
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                        • Tomhip

                          Tomhip Gardener

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                          thats interesting John I haven't considered growing my own rootstock have you found the benefits outweigh the extra effort and is it tricky operation?
                          Tom
                           
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                          • Tomhip

                            Tomhip Gardener

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                            John I posted a question to you just a couple of minutes ago regarding grafting then i realised you had put a link with your post Im as thick as the proverbial sometimes any way I find the subject interesting
                            Tom
                             
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                            • JWK

                              JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                              That's OK Tom, links are not always obvious :)

                              On that thread it may not be too obvious what I think the benefits are and whether they outweigh the extra effort, so in summary:

                              I can grow in the same soil year after year - so a bit less effort in digging out and replacing the greenhouse borders as I used to do.
                              Grafted plants are more vigorous and less susceptible to diseases.
                              Buying ready grafted plants are very expensive and they don't sell any tasty heritage varieties (they all seem to have unfamiliar Dutch names.

                              Disadvantages:
                              Time/effort - I enjoy experimenting so for me there is a novelty factor too so I don't mind it.
                              Dexterity - my fingers/eyesight are getting worse each year - you need nimble fingers so as not to crush the stems etc.
                              Extra costs of rootstock seeds (not much more really, I paid £2.55 for 12 seeds)
                               
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                              • Tomhip

                                Tomhip Gardener

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                                Thanks John I must say I admire your patience and tenacity (I aint got any of that) Im going to use the quadgrows which of course negates some of the reasons for your grafting quest, I wish you every success with it my friend.
                                Tom
                                 
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