2013 Tomato Growing

Hi folks.

An interesting discussion, not much I can add really.
I note Kristen says he stops his late August, I stopped mine weeks ago, when they reached the top of the canes, just short of the glass. I suppose they were around 5' 6" tall? I have been picking ripe fruits for at least 6 weeks now, and for the last few weeks, I've had Tomatoes coming out of my ears! My outdoor ones too are getting into full flow. As for flavour, generally I don't think they're quite as tasty as normal, although 'Sungold' are as outstanding as ever, for me. I suspect it will only be a few more weeks before cropping starts to decline. I did expect that the hot spell we had might cause the plants to suffer, but for me, no real problems.
Based on previous years, this year looks like being the best so far, in terms of yield.

Cheers...Freddy

 

Including 'Ferline'

 

Oh yes, something I have noticed is that quite a few varieties are producing very large fruits, maybe this is diluting the flavour? I picked a 'Ferline' yesterday, and it was a whopper, compared with previous offerings.

 

Mine are all over the ridge and clambering out of the vents! I am happy to have some green Toms at the end of the season (even if too green to ripen) in case we get a great Autumn - I would rather that than have everything ripe by end of September, say, and perhaps miss on a few later ones.

Toms which have gone light green (i.e. started ripening) will usually ripen in a dark drawer with some Ethylene (e.g. some ripe bananas), so should be able to extend the harvest that way somewhat ... although by then I have gone off Summer Crops and started to move to Winter Crops ... we prefer to eat with the seasons, and try to avoid eating out-of-season. No imported Strawberries for Christmas ... and no Leeks in early Autumn, or Swede in Summer.

 

Tigerella triple trusses

Jack McH

 

Interesting to see the differing and varied results you're all getting wtth tomatoes this year.

In what I can best describe as a peculiar year, my results are somewhat 'mixed' so far. I'm growing the same three varieties as usual; Beefmaster, Alicante and Gardener's Delight.

Beefmaster. These normally get off to a good start, produce a few large, tasty fruit and then peter out towards late summer. This year however, they've done exactly the opposite. After a very slow start, when they seemed to grow painfully slowly and only produced a couple of average sized fruit, they're now romping away and there are several large fruit on each plant which are swelling daily to a good size.

Gardener's Delight. Again, after a slow start these are now romping away and the trusses are hanging laden with more fruit than I've had for many years.

Alicante. Worst year ever. Poor flower set, slow, weak growth and smaller fruits than usual with tough skins. This is from a variety which has produced reliably good results for me for many years and from plants which are growing in the same soil, in the same greenhouse as the Beefmaster and Gardener's Delight.
Interestingly, I planted a few left over Alicante plants outdoors in the vegetable patch and these, although later, are promising to produce more fruit than the indoor plants.

As I said, a peculiar year.

 

My growing this year has been almost identical to yours Freddy. I stop my plants at five feet and I'm sure this makes a difference, I think it concentrates the energy of the plant into the fewer trusses produced, although they are loaded this year with fruit. Also, I have found the new varieties (to me) I've tried this year are pretty much tasteless. 'Golden Pearl' (cherry) which I grow every year is the only one that's maintained the norm, a mild flavour but sweet.

 

Hiya Sheal.

It certainly seems strange, where some folks are struggling to get theirs to ripen. To me, it's been a good summer with regards to temperatures, indeed I can't keep up with my crop this year. As I said before, I get the impression that fruits aren't as tasty as usual. As an aside, I've noticed that a lot of my 'Sungold' are splitting, and before anyone starts shouting "Irregular watering!", I like to think that they're just bursting with flavour

 

Well the few Early Goliaths that i've had have been a fantastic flavour.

 

Hiya folks.

Out of interest, has anyone tried 'Sungella'? If so, how do they compare in terms of flavour with 'Sungold'? I like the idea of larger fruits with the same great flavour

 

I've missed out on Gardeners Delight this year. Yes I grew them but mistakenly gave them to my son-in-law instead of something else, he let them die through lack of water!

 

Thanks for the info John. I've found that since I've been growing 'Sungold' (the last three years), that their flavour has been by far the best. I think I'll stick with them

 

I have G/D this year for the first time, and they are (for me) the best of the rest, so I'll be growing them again next year