2017 Tomato Growing

Funny you should say this @Scrungee because 1 of my Sungold plants has fruits which are different shape to all the rest. All my plants were grown from seed that came out of the same packet but 1 has fruit which are much less round and have pointy ends. Still orange and tastes.....hmm maybe a little less sweet but basically the same. The fruits are a little smaller and more of them per truss if that's possible! Maybe because mine a growing in soil beds in the greenhouse they are growing huge this year and producing trusses with at least 40 fruits per truss. I'm in the process of giving a lot of Tomatoes away atm.

 

I've thoroughly enjoyed Tomato Season this year. As you may know, I've only grown Tumbling Toms, but, I've had a wonderful harvest (and still yet more to pick!) so no complaints about size, structure or taste from me.
I've been intrigued by the growing experience, trying different places, spaces and plant compaction to see what did, or did not, work for me. I know, now, that one plant can take up a goodly amount of space and doesn't like "sharing" - no matter how much other 'space' might be available to cater to numbers! Non scientific result is:

Might have to tap @Zigs shoulder for a couple of Manx seeds though ... I'm hoping for another good year next year!

 

This Gigantomo may well be my baseline weight for this year's beefsteak trial.

 

You must be delighted!!! What a corker Hope this is all contributing to the successes (and enthusiasm) of the Stamford Hill Estate gardens.
You must feel well proud

 

Probably only growing small toms next year Scrunge, things I can dry to store, but ta for the offer

Been fishing all week, only had a few off a boat, no sign of any from the shore

I've got blight

 

I've now closed up my 1.5 X 1.5m polytunnel end ventilation panels, plus the front doors to keep things warmer and ripen more toms. Removing leaves on beefsteaks to accelerate ripening. Cherry toms still growing up at high level and producing new ftuits that should ripen before frost gets in the tunnels.

A couple of tomatoes are approaching 3lbs, but the plants are beginning to fail. If I'd managed to get megablooms to set on these plants they could have been 4 or 5lbs. But I did'nt get a single megabloom to set this year.

Got my first Tomato Moth damage in the tunnel where I previously had problems and changed the soil, but as on the plant nearest a door don't know if from one left inside or came back in.

Shirleys are starting to crop well, and loads of beefsteaks ripening, going to start bottling/pasteurising tomato sauce.

Now selecting best toms for seed saving.

Too tired to post pics and or other stuff, adding tommorow.

I had over 60 the morning of Melpash Show, but struggled to get only around a dozen the following morning. Hoping things improve by Wed and that it doesn't get too stirred up on Sunday.

 

Mouse has destroyed both my low level Angelina's in the greenhouse

Picked me Ox hearts that were at ground level before he finds them too

 

Me cherries are still flowering



Me plums have nearly finished though



Ripped one blighted plant out of the greenhouse, so far so good with the others though

 

Lots of Bulgarians are coming, biggest so far 828g/1lb 13ozs.

 

I blame the economic situation.

 

Got a slow cooker on for some more tomato sauce, which reminds me

I grew a 'big boy' tomato last year! (posted on last year's tomato thread, but so pleased with getting something like that thought it worth a second viewing).

 

My plums are reddening up



Biggest tom so far, 2lbs 9ozs/1.162Kg

 

Today's picking of Suncherry F1 tomatoes with the ones I've been leaving to pick as 'on the vine'. I found an organic smallholders forum where they were discussing varieties of cherry tomatoes to grow for sale, and Suncherry was the most popular variety.



That truss of 4 Bulgarians in with them weighed just over 4lbs 8ozs, unfortunately the trusses on them have had fewer tomatoes than other years.





P.S. I always try and pick tomatoes grown for size weight not completely ripe as the lose weight as they ripen, but always wait until they're past the 'blush' stage so that the seeds will be suitable for saving after the tomato has continued to ripen off the plant.

 

Hi,

Sill got several of trusses on the greenhouse cherry tomatoes, but still green.

Any point keeping them on the plants this time of year in this poor September weather, better to just ripen on the window cill ?

 

As long as they've reached that slightly translucent green stage. If they're still that solid green they won't ripen off the plant