2014 Tomato Growing

Ahh, but that might not work either. AFAIK, tomato feed (Tomorite for instance) is biased toward high potash but still contains Nitrogen, plus other stuff. Hopefully someone like @Kristen and @JWK can shed a bit more light on it, they're the scientific sort

 

And have a wee dram yourself @Loli. We all need a pick up now and then,
Jenny

 

Hehehehe ... good luck with that

 

2 x Tumbling Toms in an upturned Asda bucket - now on a plinth 'cos they are cascading. Am I overdoing the Tomorite?

Jenny

 

For my money, what you have there are some very healthy specimens. You must be doing something right

 

Thank you Freddy - proof will be in the taste of course. Wish it wasn't taking so long,
Jenny

 

I'm just trying to remember when it's best to 'stop' them.

 

Not at all John,I really appreciate and value your advice and everyones...I've topped up the pots with fresh compost and 'Tomorited' them

@Kristen ....Watch it....

 

My Manx Marvel which someone kindly gave me at Shiney's open day (sorry, can't remember who), is doing ok.
It's got four trusses now, the first three of which have all set quite well. The biggest fruit has so far reached about golf ball size.



Meanwhile, in the greenhouse, the new variety from Kings, 'Rosella' which I'm trying this year are proving to be extremely vigorous and productive.

Kings claim that they taste of 'a blend of raspberries, blackberries and other summer fruits', which is stretching it a bit, although they do have a pleasant tangy flavour, not as cloyingly sweet as some cherry varieties, with perhaps a hint of summer berries in there.

They also have a good firm texture, less 'squishy' than many cherry toms. In terms of size, they only reach about the size of a large grape, but they more than make up for this by the sheer number of fruit produced.

Here's a photo, taken from outside the greenhouse, which gives some idea of their impressive productivity.



While removing the side shoots from one of my Rosella plants about a month ago, I noticed one of the shoots which are sometimes produced at the very base of the plant had some good roots on it.
As an experiment, I potted it up and grew it on, planting it outside against a sunny wall in a 10lt pot when large enough. This plant now has three trusses on, the first of which has already set fruit. Truly this is a tomato which just wants to grow and grow.

 

Sorry about this, just another fleeting visit again, still no computer and I'm snatching my other half's (with his permission) after he's retired for the night.

@JWK your 'Golden Pearls' look as if they're doing well, they tend to have very long trusses so a pretty good yield.

@Trunky the 'Manx Marvel' fruit tend to differ in size quite a bit, some of them can get quite large before they ripen.

After what I thought was going to be a disastrous year for all my toms they've suddenly decided to 'truss up' if you'll excuse the expression. Fruit is now being picked on a regular basis and as soon as I get my computer back I'll get some pictures on here. 'Golden Pearl' have excelled themselves this year and are very sweet. I've picked the first 'Gardeners Delight' and that was as I expected for the first fruit, hopefully they will sweeten more as time goes on which I find usual for those. I have noticed this year that a number of them are greenbacks, this is the first time and I've grown them for years. I'm growing 'Shirley' for the first time and had to bin a number of fruits because of blossom end rot, the remaining trusses seem to be okay and are not far off starting to ripen.

 

Thanks Armandii!

Pictures as promised......



Golden Pearl


Golden Pearl


Shirley.....the first fruit is just starting to show signs of ripening.


Gardeners Delight.....issues with ripening this year.


My scrawny Manx Marvel's, although looking healthy are not showing much in the way of fruit.


Manx Marvel fruit, that's all they've produced so far and they are currently the size of 10P.