THE TOMATO GROWING THREAD 2018

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by ARMANDII, Jan 1, 2018.

  1. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Don't remove any leaves WobblyGoblin they are the plant's power source. I'm not stopping or limiting mine as there is still lots of growing time this season. A photo would help us give better advice, for the time being do nothing.
     
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    • WobblyGoblin

      WobblyGoblin Apprentice Gardener

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      Thanks JWK. I'd read some advice that cutting back leaves would force the plant to concentrate on the fruit but it did sound iffy to me :scratch: So far I have only cut off the leaves which were turning brown or touching the floor, and a few extras where the leaves were probably overcrowding and completely blocking the light. When in any doubt I've left the leaves.

      I'll try and take a couple of pictures this evening. Basically I'm happy to wait things out but I'm inexperienced so don't want to miss out and get no tomatoes by not taking action!
       
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      • Vince

        Vince Not so well known for it.

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        Gonna take a piccy of my recent picked toms, anyone got a very large plate?
         
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        • ARMANDII

          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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          [​IMG]
           
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          • Scrungee

            Scrungee Well known for it

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            Big tomato picture update!

            big tomD.jpg
             
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            • Cinnamon

              Cinnamon Super Gardener

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              I tend to lose my end of season tomatoes to blight, so have already topped them! I still should be harvesting tomatoes for another 2 months from the flower buds I've got.

              I've also removed leaves near the ground to reduce the likelihood of blight getting in. It's also reduced transpiration and watering, which is good.

              Lost a lot of tomatoes this year to birds that jump up and have a feast. Lots of gaping holes in bigger tomatoes closer to the ground, plus many cherry tomatoes completely removed from the sepals and scoffed. You can tell which ones they've nicked as I harvest tomatoes at the 'elbow'. Caught several blackbirds in the act!
               
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              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                Me too. This is the first year it's ever happened to me inside the greenhouse. At first I thought it was squirrels as I found a few half eaten with what looked like bite marks. Then I spotted a magpie in the act.

                The birds were being very selective. At first they were eating my Gardeners Delight (at that time they had the highest sugar content), then they switched to Sungold (which overtook GD for sugar content).

                They had a go at Steak Sandwich, just a few pecks and moved on - not sweet enough:
                IMG_20180808_065526383.jpg


                I've put netting across the door to stop their game.

                Strangely they haven't bothered with my outdoor plants.
                 
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                • Phil A

                  Phil A Guest

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                  Got some well Scrunged tomatoes, the little orange one was lovely :)

                  DSCI0002 (1).JPG
                   
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                  • Susieshoe

                    Susieshoe Gardener

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                    F60549E2-07B5-4570-8217-C752A6B3BF55.jpeg
                    Bit of a size difference in my Black Krims!!
                     
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                    • Scrungee

                      Scrungee Well known for it

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                      Are those from the Crimson Crush and Orange Paruche plants?
                       
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                      • Phil A

                        Phil A Guest

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                        I knew you'd remember the names :thumbsup:
                         
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                        • Scrungee

                          Scrungee Well known for it

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                          Orange Paruche is now one of our favourites.
                           
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                          • JWK

                            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                            A question about Steak Sandwich, is it a pink colour - I'm waiting for it to turn red but maybe it stays pink?
                             
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                            • Loofah

                              Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                              Think it goes red, or a reddy pink maybe. I usually take beefsteak types off when they're pink anyway to finish off indoors (I read somewhere once upon a time that this is the way to avoid 'floury' flesh)
                               
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                              • misterQ

                                misterQ Super Gardener

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                                The first of my beef tomatoes.
                                [​IMG]


                                I don't have problems with birds or moths, but woodlice.

                                No matter, They'll still make good cooking tomatoes.


                                Here they were a few days ago.
                                [​IMG]
                                 
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