Tomato Growing Thread 2021

I like that idea, as most who grow from seed end up with more plants than they need.
Nothing wrong in growing a couple of plants and not expecting them to reach a large size.

I'm actually getting cherry toms off of my overwintered plants and have been for a while, I've stopped them at three trusses and they are only in 6in pots.

"Red alert", actually do something similar naturally, they almost stop growing after setting some fruit, so the plant never reaches a big size but produces early toms.

 

I'll often grow a couple of outdoor cordons in a polytunnel for seed saving, so there's no point in letting more than one truss form, and the quicker the fruits can be removed away from the risk of blight the better.

 

Had to pull off my first tomato for blossom end rot today. It was a completely catfaced one, and had just started to turn. Hopefully no others will have problems.

Also, does anyone get regular catfacing? I've never had it before but I have about 3 tomatoes this year so far that are catfaced. I thought it was rarer.

 

I had to look up cat facing, it looks to me like the problem you usually get on the large nobbly types.
Always used to get it on Marmande, one tom of each truss was always the worst.

Blossom end rot is usually put down to allowing the plants to dry out too much between waterings.

 

The only cat facing i have experienced is with brandy boy tomatoes, they are the largest tomato i have grown, First time i have grown this variety, nice tasting but i prefer steak sandwich not quite as large but nice uniform tomatoes and very good taste. (better than brandy boy IMO) and no losses due catfacing.
regards sandy

 

I do not rate either Chempak or Tomorite for tomato taste, i have experimented with various tomato feeds over the years, I only use organic fertilisers now and for tomato taste you need to cover all the bases.
I use FBB. Calcified sea weed and seaweed meal, Mycorrhizal fungi, worm compost, aspirin and sulphur mixed in the compost at the begining of the season at the final pot up.
I use liquid feed once toms have formed
Maxicrop organic tomato food (brown bottle)
Alga mic (cold pressed seaweed)
Black treacle
Green future organic tomato fertiliser
along with growing varieties known for good flavour and i can not grow enough for family and friends.
You can feed what you like and if you grow the likes of money maker you will never get good taste
regds sandy

 

Epic fail... again... large bushes, and only few random big tomatoes formed. Again managed to make some ??? mistakes. Cherries are not many either...

 

If you dont mind me saying they look very tall without many leaves, in the greenhouse.

 

Yes, they are indeterminate varieties, but look leggy anyway ( I removed leaves close to the soil only). We have neighbours' trees close to the greenhouse, but from the north, north-west direction. Could be some shade.
... The most of flowers dried and dropped. Ok, partially could be weather, cold nights at 12-15C, then scortching days ( installed shading), but 2 glass panes are taken out at the side. I blame stupid idea to put peas when planting. Those were supposed to sprout, but not grow as too deep, and produce nitrogen. The advise was 2 peas per hole, rrrr, I was more generous . They say when too much nitrogen, flowers fall.

 

Aahhh, still learning

 

I think its either a light or soil problem, really doesn't look like too much nitrogen.
Never heard of putting peas around them.
I tall did you let the peas grow?

 

Despite being too deep peas sprouted and I pinched them out. I wiil add fresh soil for the next season (must be not enough this year) and will try to grow a couple of plants in bags of fully fresh soil to compare. And hopefully neighbours chop their trees by then.
Year 1 - had greenhouse full of foliage, nearly couldn't get in, and loads of tomatoes. Y2 very modest, but still something. Y3 now - not happy at all. Can't blame varieties, as half of them are repeating from y1 and y2.