THE TOMATO GROWING THREAD 2018

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by ARMANDII, Jan 1, 2018.

  1. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    [​IMG]
     
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    • Cinnamon

      Cinnamon Super Gardener

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      Happy New Year fellow tomato growers. Here are my first babies of 2018:
      Hello World WP_20180102_14_02_43_Pro.jpg
      Their mama was a big of a triffid Black Russian x Bloody Butcher I think cos the plant was very vigorous and fast growing, potato-leaved with smooth Black Russian type fruit. This photo was taken yesterday and I've got Bloody Butcher and 42 days also germinated. I'll wait a while before sowing others, though I'm tempted to put in an order with Tatiana's Tomatobase.
       
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      • Cinnamon

        Cinnamon Super Gardener

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        PS Armandii, you tomato appears to have chrysanthemum leaves! Jus sayin!
         
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        • ARMANDII

          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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          Just bought my usual choice of Tomato seeds for sowing in March...........

          Rosada
          Ailsa Craig
          Alicante
          Money Maker
          Shirley

          Nothing too exciting, but reliable and all, last year, gave me heavy cropping.:snorky:
           
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          • ricky101

            ricky101 Total Gardener

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            Hi All,

            Have always grown the toms in the greenhouse, but this year want to try growing them outside in the sunniest spot in the south facing garden.

            Any suggestion as to the best varieties, bearing in mind we are up in the W Yorks Pennine hills.

            Have generally grown cherry toms indoors for the better flavour, but perhaps no so true for outdoors ?

            Also wondered what is the best method of growing them, just let them side shoot at random or restrict them to a limited number or even grow as a cordon ?

            thanks
             
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            • JWK

              JWK Gardener Staff Member

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              Hi Ricky, the problem I always have with outdoors tomatoes is blight. It's a race between getting the fruit ripened before blight strikes. It seems that every year I get blight now, whereas in the past it was never much a problem.

              So you need to grow a variety that doesn't mind the cold and will ripen fast and also be blight resistant. I am on the search for such a variety myself, and this year I'm trying Crimson Crush on the recommendation of other GC members as the best tasting blight resistant variety. It's specifically bred for outdoor growing and is a fast cropper so seems to fit the bill.

              It depends on the variety, Crimson Crush is a cordon type and will need side-shooting. The bush types you just let them get on with it.

              The other main difference for outdoor growing I 'stop' my plants at four trusses to encourage the plants to put all their energy into selling and ripening the fruit - this will be at an earlier stage of the season for greenhouse toms.
               
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              • Freddy

                Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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                Last year (amongst others) I grew these outdoors...
                Tomato Seeds - Tumbling Tom Red at Suttons Seeds
                3 to a 3ft planter, I had very good results. They started fruiting in early July, if memory serves. Very good flavour, and plenty of them.
                 
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                • "M"

                  "M" Total Gardener

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                  That is the only variety I grew last year and I was really pleased with the results.
                  I put four in my VegTrug (but ended up pulling one out because of spacing issues); I put two in a 12" hanging basket, which did ... ok-ish; and one in a 15" hanging basket which turned out to be the very best in terms of crop per plant. The 15" hanging basket is on a bracket attached to the house and didn't get any sun until after midday.
                  The three remaining ones in the VegTrug needed support when they started to spill over the edge - not something which happened with the basket ones - so I doubt I'll grow them in there again, just for that reason.
                  They freeze well too @Freddy :thumbsup:
                   
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                  • Freddy

                    Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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                    Mine spilled over, but I had already placed the planter on top of a couple of large upturned pots, so it wasn’t an issue.
                    As for freezing, not much chance of that, Aunt Sally scoffs the lot...almost :heehee:
                     
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                    • ricky101

                      ricky101 Total Gardener

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                      Ah, never considered blight, though no signs of it round about or affecting the greenhouse ones, yet !

                      Think the Tumbling Tom or Crimson Crush sound ideal.
                      The TT cherry type which l prefer and being small can have anywhere in the garden but also in have some as backup in the greenhouse without taking all the space up the usual cordons would.

                      I know its a piece of string question, but roughly, how far down do the TT trail, 1, 2, 3 ft ?
                       
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                        Last edited: Jan 7, 2018
                      • Freddy

                        Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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                        I would say around 2ft? I suppose one could give them a trim, if necessary.
                         
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                        • "M"

                          "M" Total Gardener

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                          Really!? Crikey, yours did do well :thumbsup:

                          I'm struggling to find the photos I took of mine, but I don't think mine reached that length. Well done Freddy! :love30:
                           
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                          • Freddy

                            Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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                            A bit difficult to see...


                            DEC75AAC-6536-425B-AA75-41F2592C70BE.jpeg



                            The trough is around 1ft tall as is the upturned pot it stands on. They were still in growth at this point.
                             

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                            • ricky101

                              ricky101 Total Gardener

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                              Have to confess I have not followed the previous years Toms threads so a question that doubtless has been asked before.

                              Beechgrove, the really good gardening tv program, presenter Jim McColl always says his favourite tom is Rosella; do all agree ? has any member actually grown it ?
                               
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                              • Freddy

                                Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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                                Not tried it myself, but just took a look, and are quite tempting. For me though, ‘Sungold’ rules:)
                                 
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