THE TOMATO GROWING THREAD 2018

So far it's been a better year than the past few.
My Supersweet 100 plant and Shirley in the GH were producing in second week of July. My outdoor Floridity produced the first ripe tom a week later, though are still slow to ripen but have so far avoided blight. In the polytunnel Supersweet, Shirley, Sparta and Floridity are now cropping daily and we are giving away almost as many or more than we are scoffing. Going to have to get the dehydrator out soon and store some.
Feeding mainly with home-brew comfrey brew.

 

More Gardeners Delight picked today.....so far, the taste seems as good as ever. (There was talk of GD not being as tasty)

Hiya KFF...... got me there .
(Read it as flowers not setting)

 

Getting slightly overrun now! This is only a proportion of what I’ve cropped. So far, 17 kilo and we’re only getting started

 

My plums are swelling up …

 

Had to pick the first of my gigantomos yesterday, annoying because I was hoping to pick the whole truss in one go........ it's only smallish at 425g, was hoping for 500g minimum!

My experiment of growing manx marvels as a determinate wasn't a complete failure, smaller fruit but 8/10 for taste (maybe the weather?)

 

I've also got some in 5L pots against a south facing wall where it gets blazing hot so have to be watered at least two times a day, all of the leaves are mottled, but, they are still forming flowers and setting fruit (albeit reduced in number).

I am going to leave it as-is just to see how they will all turn out.

 

The Morrisons "Grape" cherry tomatoes.

 

That's my view too...as it comes. I've had leaves that seem frazzled; they got too hot. Those especially near the greenhouse sides and roof are most affected. Placing some shading on the roof has, I think, helped. All the other varieties I'm growing, apart from Tumbling Toms, are flowering although fruit set is not as good as I would have hoped. I think they were starting to cook before I introduced some shading.

 

Someone asked what is the point of growing giant tomatoes, have you ever tried stuffing a salad one? Last nights stuffed gigantomo (ham, stilton and breadcrumbs) was exquisite, THAT is why I grow them.

 

Good answer! It was me that asked.

 

Sorry if I appeared rude in any way Redwing, unintentional. Now off to scoff the "Big Zacs"

 

Question for seasoned tomato growers: After an absence of tomato growing for six years I am pleased to start growing them again, 4 different varieties of cherry toms, one conventional variety and one exotic. No plum toms for me this year but would like to grow one next year? What's the best variety; good taste and average or above yield for greenhouse growing?

 

For anyone interested in the GC Tomato Taste record, I've started the entries off so feel free to add your own. PM me with an email address so I can add you to the shared access (think you'll need the email associated with a google account as it's on Google Sheets)

 

I grow Floridity it's a mini plum with excellent taste and texture, good yield and is early. It came first in a taste test trial in the RHS magazine a few years back and I've grown it for several years since. It's very reliable.

 

I grow San Marzano, loads of flesh, very little seed and excellent for making tomato sauce

Oh, James Martin swears by them so that may put you off?