Best Tomato Crop Ever

Have just taken in the last of my tomatoes and must say that this years crop has been my best in 9 years of growing. I had 2 varieties going, Gardeners Delight and Alicante. In previous years I have either used growbags or large tubs but never been too happy about the size of the crop, or flavour. This year I saw a snippet in a magazine somewhere ( probably the doctors waiting room ) and tried out something new.
I used growbags as before, but placed one on top of the other, with holes cut on the top and underside of the upper bag and matching holes on the top of the bottom bag. I opened up the bags today to see what had gone on inside, and found that there was a lovely open free root system, and perfect drainage. Whether this was the secret of my success or not, remains to be seen, but I intend to try it again next year. anyone else tried this before ?.

 

That sounds good,i will try that next year as i seemed to be struggling around pots all summer.

 

Interesting.
This year I have crown in bags and in plastic tubs.
The tub plants were healthier than the grow bags which seemed to to be very shallow this year.
Could suggest the extra depth is an important factor.
No bags for me next year.

 

I had the best ever, too! So many that I will be able to make chutney - first time I've been able to do that without having to buy some to supplement the amount!

 

HT, that appears to be an answer to my Tom problems..drainage,or lack of it that is and compacted roots.
I'll be giving your method a go next year

 

I have always grown my matoes in the ground, so not much to add there, but I would like to recommend a variety called "Benaris", it's a cherry tomato, of the most amazingly rich and sweet taste. Absolutely lovely. I have never sprayed my toms this summer, and fertilized twice (as twice in all summer, but the ground was rich of manure and compost), I am getting lots of them now (they were sown very late).

 

Well this was in Germany already, not italian sun, but may be it is still a bit sunnier than the UK. Honestly I don't know. I tend to feed my veggies as little as possible, except for the soil preparation (but with that I am a bit of a maniac,lol)

 

Hi Ivory,
Never heard of the variety "Benaris" before, but they sound good. Someone told me about another variety called "Fantasio" the other day. Anyone any experience of that one.

 

If you can get perfect drainage and plenty of aeration to the root zone most plants will take off in a big way. The simplest way is to sew some weedbarrier fabric to form the growbag, tip the compost from the growbag into it and bin the plastic.
You`ll have a really hard time trying to overwater it or preventing oxygen getting to the roots

 

Yesterday I made four jars of tomato chutney, using the tomatoes from the garden.
OK, I had to buy the onions....so I'm going to plant some onions for next year!!

 

Worth the effort to make tom chutney, I started a partially filled jar the other day and it is really, really nice.
Just four jars left to last the winter.That will be difficult!
robert