Tomato Growing Thread 2012

Actually they're in pretty much the same sort of place they've been in previous years - it's just been a case of two bags quite far apart replaced by three slightly closer together but not so close that there isn't plenty of room for the air to circulate. The plants in question are those furthest away from the door but, that said, my greenhouse does have two windows on that side which, rather than opening directly above each bag (as it were) now fall either side of the middle one - there's a single, central window on the opposite side.

Since none of the plants in the other two bags are affected in a similar way, (and the bags themselves are all the same 'make'), I'm still at a loss to know if it's just bad luck or something to do with the growbag itself.

 

I've never had blight when growing tomatoes but wonder if I may have it. I noticed on two tomatoes next to each other the undersides were looking like this. (My crappy phone took these pics, so they look out of focus)



The plant itself and the other fruits look unaffected though. Some of them are the size of small apples. I keep all my plants in the greenhouse too.

 

Heres some of my blighted ones from a few years back Jane.

 

You do "save" some really bizarre photos Ziggy.

 

Hiya Jane.

I don't think it's blight. Blighted tomatoes tend to take on a blistered appearance, as in Ziggys photo. It might be blossom end rot? Dunno

 

Thats why I save the pics Jenny, for reference Think Freddy is right, could be blossom end rot or sunscorch if they were up against the glass in a greenhouse, could have just cooked them?

 

I am pleased to see pics of tomatoes outside
Mine are the same and I thought having just flowers I had missed the boat
for fruit

My greenhouse ones are weired ? All planted same day
The shirleys down one side are in fruit, the stalks are pencil thin
The aisla craigs down the other side, are mainly flower only, but
those that are fruiting on a truss I have four small fruit and four dead flowers ?
the stalks on these are an inch thick
The best and quickest are two Tigeralla I put in to try, they were fruited first
and seem the most healthy

I have had one orange tomato "supersweet" everything else is GREEN I think
I will be lucky if any of the rest turn red before the nights are dark again

Jack McH

 

Only got 2 red ones down here Jack.

 

I'd say that was blossom end rot too. I think that Blight will be evidenced by significant black sections on the main stems?

I think JWK may have posted some photos a couple of years ago when (if my memory serves me) he got blight in his greenhouse.

 

It looks like blossom end rot to me too - caused, as I understand it, by irregular watering.

(It's the only thing my tomatoes aren't suffering from!)

 

That sounds about right. I used some really cheap nasty compost from b&q that doesn't seem to hold much water at all. Lesson learned for next year I guess.

Is it safe to compost the plant (once the seasons over) and the fruits pictured?

 

I would. (Although I am a bit careful where I use compost from Spuds and Tomato plants/compost left-overs - same reason as crop rotation in the veg patch).

 

Hiya Jack.

That's because the flowers weren't pollinated. What I do is to go round with a soft brush, 'tickling' each flower. Most will tell you that this isn't necessary, and that just disturbing the plants by shaking (gently) will do the trick. It's just something I do that I feel confident with. It works, so I do it The other thing that I think is important is to make sure the inside of the greenhouse has a bit of moisture in the air, as this will help the pollen stick. This was a real problem with my last greenhouse, which had a concrete floor, which meant I had to dampen down the floor every day. Hope this helps...

Cheers...Freddy

 

Or you can use an electric toothbrush. I wonder what the tomato enjoys the most?

 

Freddy,
any idea how Poolcue's Monkey Ass is doing???