TOMATO GROWING THREAD 2020

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by ARMANDII, Jan 18, 2020.

  1. ThePlantAssassin

    ThePlantAssassin Gardener

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    a nearly ripe Sungold. Is there something wrong? Not sure whether to eat or throw away 20200813_093802.jpg
     
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    • Redwing

      Redwing Wild Gardener

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      Taste it and see.;)
       
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      • ThePlantAssassin

        ThePlantAssassin Gardener

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        @Redwing
        nope. just couldnt do it in case it was nasty and it might put me off tomatoes. Im funny like that. In the bin it goes.
         
      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        Well atleast cut it open first and see what its like inside.:smile:
         
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        • sandymac

          sandymac Super Gardener

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          Sungold looks like that when not ripe as do many other varieties it is usually green gel around the seeds. Do as pete suggests and cut it open or leave it in a warm place to ripen a little more, I pick sungold at that stage of ripeness (a) because i like the tang of the green gel (b) if you leave sungold on the plant too long they split.
          Regda Sandy
           
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          • Scrungee

            Scrungee Well known for it

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            Wondering if it's time to take the growing points out of some of my polytunnel tomatoes.

            I've got a horizontal cane suspended from the apex, and let some grow to their full potential just in case we get good weather into autumn.

            IMG_20200814_174549568_HDR.jpg
             
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            • Susieshoe

              Susieshoe Gardener

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              5953E3D9-7625-4C33-928F-E1B1054C57CF.jpeg I appear to be growing mutant black pineapple tomatoes! I’m used to cat face toms but I’ve never seen anything like this! At least 10 other tomatoes like this!
               
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              • ThePlantAssassin

                ThePlantAssassin Gardener

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                Im pretty sure that by this time last year and years previous to that I was picking my tomatoes a big bowl full very regularly. This year apart from the occasional Sungold I have plants covered in green tresses with no hint of a colour change. Im also growing Piccolo. Is my mind playing tricks on me or are they really late this year? Im starting to lose patience (not that thats ever been my strong point)
                 
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                • JWK

                  JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                  I've nipped out the top of mine in my smaller greenhouse at 6 trusses.

                  in my main/taller greenhouse I use these:
                  20200729_082907.jpg

                  When the lower trusses have finished I can let them down a foot at a time, some have 12 trusses flowering now with the hope of an Indian summer so they can ripen.
                   
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                  • JWK

                    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                    Mine are ripening OK, are yours in the shade? I get a bowlful every few days, yesterday I started using my dehydrator to store the excess:
                    20200816_144452.jpg
                     
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                    • ThePlantAssassin

                      ThePlantAssassin Gardener

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                      @JWK no they are in hottest sunniest part of the garden. Usually ideal spot for them. Im thinking they may have been late starting off due to unavailability of plants this year. I thought they'd catch up.
                       
                    • JWK

                      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                      Yes the late start will shift the ripening time, Sungold are always the earliest for me so it just depends on the other varieties you are growing, they all vary.
                       
                    • pete

                      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                      Just a question,:biggrin:
                      Is there any real evidence that tomatoes need sun to ripen, I mean I know it sounds like a stupid question, but I'm thinking of the old method of putting unripe ones in a drawer, indoors at the end of the season.

                      Due to the fact I planted Physalis next to my toms this year they have been overshadowed and get almost no sunshine, the plants are stunted, but the toms are ripening.

                      So is it more that they will only start to ripen when they reach a certain size or age.

                      Also we have the gas effect, and once one starts to ripen the rest do as well.:smile:
                       
                    • JWK

                      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                      No sun needed for tomatoes to ripen pete, it is just heat and the age. Plus, as you say, any ripe tomatoes in the vicinity give off ethylene which triggers ripening (commercial growers pump that gas into their greenhouses :)) Bananas give off ethylene so you can get the same gas effect putting a ripe banana in the drawer along with the green tomatoes.
                       
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                      • Vince

                        Vince Not so well known for it.

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                        Picked and tasted the first of my toms, Gardeners Delight grown from seed supplied from our very own JWK, Delight it was, full of flavour, sweet and juicy.

                        My dilemma, do I eat them all or save some for seed?

                        I will save some seed, I just have to.

                        Thankyou so much John
                         
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