The Tomato Growing Thread 2019

They suffered waiting for some ground to be cleared for them, (I only had room in tunnels and that wouldn't test their blight resistance) then were neglected whilst I was away, so I didn't bother planting them. I still have loads of seeds for next year that I got free from Wyevale.

@JWK Could you post a pic of yours?

 

Mine are now getting into proper fruiting. The black ones are quite early this year, especially svart, also black trifele (my favourite) and boar's hoof (a new one for me). Lots of cherries & mini plums ripening, including romello (good flavour for a blight resistant tomato, crack resistant attractive angular fruit) and 0-33 (low temp resistant tomato, tho temp tolerance didn't really get tested).

 

Blind Taste Test

Well we did our blind taste test; it was truly blind but there were only two of us so an extremely small sample. We cut them up so as to disguise their shapes, numbered them, mixed them up, blindfolded ourselves and ate them with a spoon. These are the results, marks out of 10:

Orange Paruche 9.5
Golden Sunrise 9
Black Russian 8.5
Rosella 8.5
Red Cherry 7.5
Costoluto Fiorentino 7

First picture from top left clockwise: Golden Sunrise, Red Cherry, Orange Paruche, Rosella, Black Russian and in the middle Costoluto Fiorentino.



Next picture is two days pickings.



Other observations:
Black Russian and Costoluto Fiorentino grow better outside than in the greenhouse.
Golden Sunrise seems to be the highest yielding.
Black Russian is low yielding but makes up for it in size and flavour.
Costoluto Firoentino is a bit of a disappointment but I'll probably give it another chance next year because the fruits are so pretty.

 

I grew it many years ago too and remembered it was good so when I saw the seeds for 50p/packet in last years Wyevale sale I bought some; they are Mr Fothergills.

Out of interest @JWK , what are your favourites? I'm sure you've said somewhere but I don't remember.

 

Will look forward to the results JWK

My favourites cherry Toms this year!
GD this year have been delicious
Sweet Petite too has been superb...the best so far.
Honeycombe proving tasty too

 

So are the Gardeners Delights grown this year from precious “old” seed or recently bought seed? Just wondering if the seed companies have done some revitalising of this old favourite. Would be nice to think they have.

 

I must say my Ailsa Craig Toms are absolutely delicious ,sweet and full of that good old fashioned tomato flavour...Beefmasters are nice and beefy too..

 

Hiya Redwing, my thinking too about GD. I thought I would give them another year and the taste etc. is like it was when it was the most popular cherry. Be interested in JWK’s comment about this