Tomato Growing 2025

Not sure, but I rarely water them and they are grown pretty hard, probably dont get the bumper crop that way but it suits me, I dont eat loads of them.

I often think with all the cosseting in a greenhouse and liquid feed etc. that they are probably close to the better supermarket ones in taste.
Not a connoisseur of taste though, so probably talking rubbish.

 

I also keep my tomatoes on the dry side for extra flavour.
My sister's father in law prided himself on growing enormous onions, which in my sister's opinion, tasted of nothing, mainly water.
I am sure a lot of the out of season veg. on the Chelsea stand lack decent flavour. I also wondered how much it must have cost to get everything to such a high standard so far out of season.

 

I don’t know the answer to the cost implications other than they will be pretty high I expect.
I friend of mine, sadly departed used to exhibit Dahlias at Chelsea and many other shows. His set up was quite extensive ( only did it as a hobby not his business). He has various greenhouses and a row of fridges! The fridges were set at different temperatures to delay the flowers until required. He was a plumber to trade and I know his wife said he would have been able to have retired many years previously if it was for his flaming Dahlias. Flaming was not the adjective she used! Negotiating around her kitchen was not the easiest and quite noisy with half a dozen fridges in it!

 

When I was Show Sec. to my local Horticultural Group, many moons ago, I used to help stage our exhibit in the Assosciation class at the Reading Show. After finishing our exhibit I would wander around the marquees watching the growers stage their dahlias, fuschias and chrysanths.
Oh my word! fatsidious does not describe what they get up to produce their "perfect" exhibits. Each bloom has its own support cane, buckets for no more than 4 stems, children's paintbrushes to coax individual petals into exactly the correct position, etc. etc. etc. That was just at the show, it was a way of life. We have heard of golf widows but there are many dahlia, fuschia and chrysanth widows languishing in the background.
The camaraderie amongst the growers was wonderful to see and hear, the cheerful rudery as each one arrived in the tent, "Did a gale blow through your plot last night Fred?" but always happy to help each other out. I loved it and miss the very late nights and tiredness. The thrill of finding a red card next to our exhibits more than made up for having the kids asleep in the back of the car etc., so many tales to tell.

 

Greenhouse has eight in there, amongst the chillis and garlic

Outside most are in pots but I'm trying two in the ground

They are getting a bit of a battering today outside

 

Our community garden allotment is currently undergoing raised bed rennovations so planting is a bit behind but I did manage to get some of my seedlings into the ground over the long bank holiday weekend.





They are cherry plum tomatoes from collected seeds (originally from Morrisons Piccolo cherry tomatoes).

 

Can anyone recommend a good book on how to grow tomatoes.

I am still old fashioned and like an actual printed book.

Thanks

 

I took some tomato plants to work and today I’ve sent pictures on how to pot-on, on the work messaging group.
#wellbeing #teambonding

Gardening is the best hobby.

 

Our 2 outdoor Sungolds are loving this early evening warmth . Just basking in the sun with a drink of Tomorite,
Jenny namaste

 

When I dropped off my spare chillie plants at the local community garden yesterday the garden was a sight to behold. Someone must have walked around broadcast sowing red poppy seeds everywhere. It is a glorious picture, the poppies are even growing between the bottom of the wall and the pavement, they are in full flower so scarlet everywhere. Gorgeous.

 

Dwarf Pink Opal, marked up for seed saving, from isolated truss. Wish they'd hurry up and ripen!

 

Lucky you. I have only just potted my tomatoes into their final grown up pots and moved them into the greenhouse. Maybe ripe tomatoes for Christmas? A few have flowers on them so I should have a taste before long.

 

Those were sown quite early. The majority of my cordon types are just setting fruit.

 

Good old Sungold, my go to every time. I thought Bloody Butcher was going to be earlier but they are still stubbornly green. I have to remember it is only the middle of June. Up here with a “ normal” spring unlike the great one we have just had I would not be getting ripe tomatoes until about the 2nd week of July. I’m hoping another week and then there should be the beginnings of plenty.I have already had 2 descent cucumbers so not complaining for once!