2013 Tomato Growing

For JWK: This is the toms of Black Seamen which I thought you might be interested in as I think I'm the only one growing them. To be honest didn't know what to expect regarding shape although I thought they might be smooth and round.






My "Shirley" toms


My Rosada toms.

 

Very good Armandii, looks like your Black Seamen are going to be pretty big. Your Rosada are ahead of mine which are outdoors. Got any ripened yet?

 

One Rosada and one Alicante very nearly to the point where I pick them. I like picking Rosada when they're really red because they're so sweet then! Most of the crops are still that Lime Green which means there's still a lot of waiting to do

 

I started growing Rosada 3 years ago and in the first year had a decent crop and picked them when they were very red, Freddy. They were just so sweet and full of that fresh taste that only home grown toms can give. So I use them for Salads and have never tried to cook them. It's all down to different tastes and palates as I find some Toms that growers rave about just don't "float my boat"
I'm not a fan of the shape of the Black Seamen and others like it. It's the first time I've grown it so I'm waiting impatiently for the first taste as, to me, that's what it's all about.

 

Good crop this year

 

Another decent wee haul tonight:

 

Apart from a rough head count, I'm not really - supply is beginning to surpass demand, so it can't be a bad thing. I'm just trying to come up with ideas to do something with them for use later on in the year. Anyone know of a good cream of tomato soup recipe that freezes well?

 

I wonder if our plants knew something we didn't this year Sheal? Mine are nowhere near as tall as I expected (or indeed had last year), but stems are thicker whilst foliage is a bit less; just makes me wonder if there was some sort of in-built 'code' that let them know there was going to be a period of scorching weather that told them not to bother with too many leaves to give away moisture with, but instead to concentrate on big stems to capture as much water as they can and to get on with the job of making fruit?

 

Any chance of your tomato and basil soup recipe please?