Tomato Growing Thread 2021

To share our experiences and help each other in growing the most popular fruit in the world.

Last year's discussion here: TOMATO GROWING THREAD 2020

 

I'll be sowing mine early to mid-March. Planning to grow this year, the first five I've had success with in the past:
Sungold F1
Gardener's Delight 2005 strain
Honey Moon
Black Cherry
Golden Sunrise
Santonio F1 (New to me - recommended by @Cuttings )
Jaune Flamme (Grown by @sandymac & @ARMANDII - so thought I'd give it a try).

 

What do the Black Cherry type taste like @JWK ? I only like really sweet little toms like baby plum.

 

You might not like them then. Black Cherry are more savoury tasting than sweet

Tomato taste test 2020

 

Ive only put Thessalonika Toms up to now on an order today

 

That's an interesting variety @joolz68 have you grown it before and what does it taste like?

 

No & i have no idea how nice it may taste ...i think im just missing greece also hoping it may make my greek salads taste like theirs

 

Glacier
Terenzo
Crimson Crush
Sungold
&..............

 

i stopped growing dark savoury types as i do not like the taste and no one i give toms to family and friends like them either, About two dozen people who i give toms to when asked all said they disliked them.
Types tried black cherry, brown berry, black krim, Cherokee black, chocolate stripes,
Regards sandy

 

Ok so what compost mix are people using this year?

 

COMPOST MAKE UP

Levingtons M2 90%
Worm compost 10%

Additives FBB, Mycorrhizal fungi
Calcified seaweed, Seaweed meal
Sulfur.
feed maxicrop organic tomato feed
tonic, seaweed extract andfor microherd back treacle

regards sandy

 

Ooh thanks @sandymac I assume your worm compost is your own "home grown" type?

 

50% Coir, 50% own compost with added Perlite & feed. Well it worked fine last season so fingers crossed.

 

yes i have a wormery, the worm bedding is coco coir and all household waste from veg peelings, cabbage stalks etc fed to worms, they absolutely love sweet melon rind. you have to be careful how much coco coir you use as it needs to be buffered as it holds on to calcium, that is why i use calcified seaweed. i have tried growing with all coco coir but i had problems with blossom end rot even when adding lime, calcified seaweed and dosing weekly with a propriety cal/mag solution.
regards sandy

 

I'll start my seeds in John Innes Seed Compost (as usual). Then, for the first time, I'll be going peat free for the potting on stages: using Westland New horizon Multi-purpose Compost

I then plant directly in the soil border in my greenhouse (as in past years). I dig in my own compost and wilted comfrey leaves.

I also use mycorrhizal fungi at the final planting stage. This stuff makes the plants develop really big roots and overcomes any issues growing the same tomato plants year after year in the same soil.