Tomato Growing Thread 2023

I wonder how they "make"/ grow, this fungus, and how long it survives in the dried out state.

 

Its because we dont really know if it does anything, John, that how would you know its still working.
Or do you have some evidence that it really makes a difference.

 

Good to know @JWK.

 

But if you plant the same species in the same soil, then there is as likely a surviving population of MF that will sustain, as there is the potential population of adverse factors.Unless you can see an increasing root mass, year upon year, then the conundrum continues.

 

While this relates to maize, not tomatoes, its conclusions are 'interesting'
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/188097585.pdf
Another facit:
Can Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Reduce the Growth of Agricultural Weeds?

 

Which plants is suitable to grow in winter?

 

Tomatoes will not grow without managed light and heat until March in UK; whera are you?

 

Unless you have a heated propagator and a grow light you'll just end up with a spindly mess if you sow now. I have heat and light, and I'm sowing just three or four micro dwarf seeds this week. They only get to about 30cm tall, so can be kept on windowsills until after the last frosts. I'm also test-sowing some very old/dubious seeds to see if I get anything, but if they prove fertile, will have to cull all but the best seedling from each batch, in order to give them enough light to avoid straggling.

PS. Hit me up if you would like some tomato seeds. I always have far too many!

 

I grew Moskvich, Orange Banana and Ukrainian Purple in 2021, which was such a horrible tomato year that my conclusions may not be fair and balanced. Orange Banana and UP need space, I think. I had them in pots in my greenhouse and the yields were only okay. Taste was unremarkable, although cooking greatly improved the flavour of Orange Banana.

I grew Moskvich outdoors, in the rain and the gloom and more rain and more gloom. It gave just a very few, larger than expected fruits. I only managed to get one ripened but the taste was very good.

Last year I grew Tonnelet ( striped plum, cordon)and Grushovka (pink, meaty heart/round, bush). Tonnelet gave a reasonable yield indoors. The taste was mediocre until the fruits were very ripe, at which point it was lovely. Grushovka (grown outdoors but moved indoors later in the season) wasn't nearly as early as promised, but eventually gave up a huge crop of very tasty fruits, which made a very decent pink sauce.

 

Previously I have grown too many varieties for the greenhouse space I have, and found some a bit bland eg flame, bloody butcher. Looking at taste tests by better growers in this forum, I saw Sungold and Honeycomb were highly praised. Do any of you experts have more to add please before I order seed?