Tomato Growing Thread 2021

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by JWK, Jan 4, 2021.

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  1. pete

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

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    Dont have any neighbours who actually really try to grow anything, next door are trying, but somehow I dont think much will come of it.

    I might not bother next year, when I first started growing outdoors I went for years and didn't even know what blight looked like, but it just gets worse every year now, this year is just about the worst I can remember.

    I eat some tomatoes but cant really see the point in using up greenhouse space on something I can buy in the shops, I often end up giving most away any way.:smile:
     
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    • NigelJ

      NigelJ Total Gardener

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      Yesterday found my first Silver Y moth caterpillar, of the year, eating a tomato
       
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      • Oakapple

        Oakapple Gardener

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        Tomatoes are very disappointing ( outdoors) this year, so little growing, only a handful and some have black ‘bottoms’, is that blight? I suppose it’s all the rain and not enough constant warmth.
        However the few I have had so far taste very sweet.
         
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        • NigelJ

          NigelJ Total Gardener

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          The Black Bottom was a 1920's dance.
          Seriously though could be blossom end rot rather than blight.
           
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          • Aidan mc

            Aidan mc Gardener

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            Has anyone seen shoots growing out of the centre stem(rachis i believe its called) of the leaf on a tomato plant?
            Just some varieties seem to be doing this.
            I don't mean between the leaf joint and main stem.
             
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            • pete

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

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              Yes used to get that with Marmande occasionally.
               
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              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                Not noticed that, but am getting shoots coming on the flower trusses, that often happens. Best to snip them off I think, as they will sap energy from the plant.
                 
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                • Loofah

                  Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                  I still haven't had any disease issues for which I'm very grateful but it's all staying green! Probably all ripen the week I'm away...
                   
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                  • Susieshoe

                    Susieshoe Gardener

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                    have you tried growing blight resistant tomatoes? I’ve been successfully growing Crimson Crush and Oh Happy Day for several years. They do get some blight but it doesn’t overwhelm them and I can usually just remove the affected leaves and fruit and still get a good crop.
                     
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                    • pete

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

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                      I tried a blight resistant variety a couple of years ago.
                      Wasn't really worth the effort, I'm not a taste expert like some are but they were pretty bland.

                      And in a normal year I can get a crop on the ones I prefer to grow, this is the first year I remember as a total wipe out.
                       
                    • Loofah

                      Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                      I spoke too soon! Bunch of Tom plants with blight. Keeping a watch on the rest...
                       
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                      • Scrungee

                        Scrungee Well known for it

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                        I wonder if there's going to be a high demand for blight resistant tomato seeds next year?
                         
                      • JWK

                        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                        I'm not so sure many of the new gardeners have grown tomatoes from seed, they probably just buy plants from a GC. If they got blight this year it will put them off for good.
                         
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                        • Loofah

                          Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                          So when you've cleared the border of the blighted tom plants, are you able to re-use the border the following year or will blight spores persist?

                          Great shame as one variety, Tiger, was looking very promising and had good root system too.
                           
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                          • JWK

                            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                            Blight spores persist on dead plant material overwinter, I don't take any chances and replace the soil when I've had it in the past.
                             
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