The Tomato Growing Thread 2019

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by JWK, Jan 19, 2019.

  1. Scrungee

    Scrungee Well known for it

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    They suffered waiting for some ground to be cleared for them, (I only had room in tunnels and that wouldn't test their blight resistance) then were neglected whilst I was away, so I didn't bother planting them. I still have loads of seeds for next year that I got free from Wyevale.

    @JWK Could you post a pic of yours?
     
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    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      Excellent - I will do the same too.
       
    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      I will soon ...
       
    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      Strange thing is the plants on the North side (i.e. shadier) part of my greenhouse are much much bigger than those in direct sunlight. I have no shading and was away for two weeks during that heat wave and couldn't do much about it. My max/min recorded +40C so I reckon that was just too much for the south facing plants, they didn't die but I they didn't grow much. I have 8 each side so it's fairly obvious something is making a big difference.
       
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      • Cinnamon

        Cinnamon Super Gardener

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        Mine are now getting into proper fruiting. The black ones are quite early this year, especially svart, also black trifele (my favourite) and boar's hoof (a new one for me). Lots of cherries & mini plums ripening, including romello (good flavour for a blight resistant tomato, crack resistant attractive angular fruit) and 0-33 (low temp resistant tomato, tho temp tolerance didn't really get tested).
         
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        • Redwing

          Redwing Wild Gardener

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          Blind Taste Test

          Well we did our blind taste test; it was truly blind but there were only two of us so an extremely small sample. We cut them up so as to disguise their shapes, numbered them, mixed them up, blindfolded ourselves and ate them with a spoon. These are the results, marks out of 10:

          Orange Paruche 9.5
          Golden Sunrise 9
          Black Russian 8.5
          Rosella 8.5
          Red Cherry 7.5
          Costoluto Fiorentino 7

          First picture from top left clockwise: Golden Sunrise, Red Cherry, Orange Paruche, Rosella, Black Russian and in the middle Costoluto Fiorentino.

          IMG_6555resize.JPG

          Next picture is two days pickings.

          IMG_6559resize.JPG

          Other observations:
          Black Russian and Costoluto Fiorentino grow better outside than in the greenhouse.
          Golden Sunrise seems to be the highest yielding.
          Black Russian is low yielding but makes up for it in size and flavour.
          Costoluto Firoentino is a bit of a disappointment but I'll probably give it another chance next year because the fruits are so pretty.
           
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          • JWK

            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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            Thank you for posting that @Redwing it's very informative. Golden Sunrise used to be one of my favourites but I haven't grown it for a couple of years as it became really susceptible to diseases and I hardly got any edible fruit. Where did you get the seed from as I'm tempted to give it a go next year?
             
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            • Redwing

              Redwing Wild Gardener

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              I grew it many years ago too and remembered it was good so when I saw the seeds for 50p/packet in last years Wyevale sale I bought some; they are Mr Fothergills.

              Out of interest @JWK , what are your favourites? I'm sure you've said somewhere but I don't remember.
               
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              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                Thanks I will look out for them in this years Wyevale sale - should be coming soon on the late summer bank holiday.

                So far this year Sungold and Gardener's Delight have been my favourites with Black Cherry and Floridity as runners up. I'm also growing Suncherry, Golden Crown, Orange Paruche, Magic Mountain and 'Oh Happy Days', I promise to do a taste taste soon :blue thumb:
                 
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                • JWK

                  JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                  @Scrungee my single 'Oh Happy Days' plant is smaller than most of my other varieties and has 3 or 4 good sized fruit on each truss:
                  IMG_20190811_092531870.jpg

                  IMG_20190811_092607113.jpg

                  Picked along with some Sungold and Orange Paruche:
                  IMG_20190811_093641383.jpg
                   
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                  • Verdun

                    Verdun Passionate gardener

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                    Will look forward to the results JWK :)

                    My favourites cherry Toms this year!
                    GD this year have been delicious
                    Sweet Petite too has been superb...the best so far.
                    Honeycombe proving tasty too
                     
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                    • Redwing

                      Redwing Wild Gardener

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                      So are the Gardeners Delights grown this year from precious “old” seed or recently bought seed? Just wondering if the seed companies have done some revitalising of this old favourite. Would be nice to think they have.
                       
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                      • lolimac

                        lolimac Total Gardener

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                        I must say my Ailsa Craig Toms are absolutely delicious ,sweet and full of that good old fashioned tomato flavour...Beefmasters are nice and beefy too..:pathd:
                         
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                        • Verdun

                          Verdun Passionate gardener

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                          Hiya Redwing, my thinking too about GD. I thought I would give them another year and the taste etc. is like it was when it was the most popular cherry. Be interested in JWK’s comment about this :)
                           
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                          • JWK

                            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                            Hi @Redwing

                            There was a thread on here last year where a few of us raised plants from old seed packets:
                            Gardener's Delight Tomato Seed Germination and Growing Thread

                            The consensus was that the seeds from 2005 were the best, in terms of flavour, size, yield and also being trouble free. I saved seed and a few members are growing them again this year. If you are interested (or anyone else) then please PM me and I can let you have some for next year.
                             
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