2016 Tomato Growing

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by JWK, Jan 2, 2016.

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  1. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    I've tried getting really early tomatoes in the past by sowing on 1st Feb, this is before I had growlamps so had to make do with juggling plants between window sills and my greenhouse, bringing them back indoors when cold nights threatened.The plants are getting pretty large in April when the fruit start forming so moving them around is a pain and got in our way indoors. I got a few early tomatoes in early June but for the extra effort I didn't feel it was worthwhile for me.

    Now I have growlamps/heater it's a lot easier BUT I've found these earlier forced plants produce tasteless watery fruit to begin with, it's only when they start getting natural light that mine seem to improve with flavour.

    I like alexmac's method but I don't have the indoors space to copy that, I'd welcome other's thoughts on this too for getting early tomatoes with a decent taste.
     
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      JWK, Jan 13, 2016
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    • Phil A

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      Mine survived the frost this morning :)

      DSCN2492.JPG
       
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        Phil A, Jan 13, 2016
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      • Scrungee

        Scrungee Well known for it

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        Vanmeuwen's Gigantomo competition is back for 2016.

        http://www.vanmeuwen.com/new-tomato-gigantomo

        Good job I got a 'few' Gigantomo seeds during the free seeds bonanza last year, it would be great to win £1,000 with those free seeds.

        [​IMG]
         
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          Last edited: Jan 15, 2016
          Scrungee, Jan 15, 2016
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          I've got one packet of Gigantomo :) Wouldn't mind winning £5k thanks very much!
           
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            JWK, Jan 15, 2016
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          • Cannyfullpots

            Cannyfullpots Gardener

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            I've got some of those seeds knocking about somewhere:)

            In for a penny in for a pound hey:rolleyespink:
             
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              Cannyfullpots, Jan 15, 2016
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            • Carllennon

              Carllennon Gardener

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              My tumbling Toms are coming up now, Bit disappointed with germination rate, 45% failed as I had 2 per pod.
              Still plenty of plants though.
               

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                Carllennon, Jan 24, 2016
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              • MrsTea

                MrsTea Khazâd Ai-Mênu

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                Hello all,

                I am considering planting tomatoes this year using hanging planters. Has anyone experience with those hanging planters?

                Last year I planted them "standard" in my ex-greenhouse and learned how tomato plants behave. Never in the world did I think how much picking of those shoots is actually required :hate-shocked:.

                One of the problems that I see with those hanging planters is the weight of the soil and the actual plant.

                What's your thoughts on those planters? Do you think it's worth investing, or just stick with the traditional way?
                 
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                  MrsTea, Jan 27, 2016
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                • JWK

                  JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                  I've grown Tumbling Tom in pots in the past, it gives an astonishing yield of small tasty fruit. It will grow in fairly shallow containers but you will need to water and feed it constantly. I've see people grow it in hanging baskets and it will do very well.
                   
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                    JWK, Jan 27, 2016
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                  • Fat Controller

                    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                    @MrsTea - that will depend on the type of tomatoes you want to grow. If you want to have them in hanging planters, I would say you are best with a determinate (bush) type, which also negates the chore of whipping off the robbers.
                     
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                      Fat Controller, Jan 27, 2016
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                    • MrsTea

                      MrsTea Khazâd Ai-Mênu

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                      Thank you both for your advice. I will keep an eye out for bush-like tomatoes (if that makes sense :rolleyespink:) and then decided whether I go for planter bags or pots.

                      One more question, if you don't mind: if you have them in baskets, how would you protect them from rain? Or is it an urban myth, that tomatoes have to be protected from rain at all times?
                       
                      MrsTea, Jan 28, 2016
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                    • JWK

                      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                      I would still recommend Tumbling Tom - which s a bush (aka determinate) type.

                      Never heard that one before - they can be grown outside and rain isn't the problem, lack of sunshine and warmth are the real bugbears and is the main reason most folk grow them under glass.
                       
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                        JWK, Jan 28, 2016
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                      • MrsTea

                        MrsTea Khazâd Ai-Mênu

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                        Hi John,

                        I have just made a note of the Tumbling Tom and will keep an eye out for them, thank you! :)

                        So the rain issue is an urban myth.. you know last year I grew them in my ex-greenhouse which had quite a few panes missing even then. So they go rained on quite frequently but it didn't cause any problems. That's when I started to doubt what I had been told in the past about the rain causing all sorts of problems such as blight etc.

                        Thanks again John!
                         
                        MrsTea, Jan 28, 2016
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                      • Scrungee

                        Scrungee Well known for it

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                        Rain droplets on outdoor tomatoes followed by bright sunshine can cause sunscald spots on the fruit making them unsuitable for showing in 'outdoor' tomato classes.

                        And, unless kept watered during dry periods, heavy rain can cause cracking and splitting of the fruits.
                         
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                          Scrungee, Jan 28, 2016
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                        • MrsTea

                          MrsTea Khazâd Ai-Mênu

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                          Hi Scrungee, so basically, if I am not showing off my tomatoes and keep them watered, I should be okay? :)
                           
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                            MrsTea, Jan 28, 2016
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                          • Tracy_x

                            Tracy_x Gardener

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                            Hi, I am new, just sow my tomato seeds yesterday
                             
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                              Tracy_x, Jan 28, 2016
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