Tomato Growing 2024

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by JWK, Jan 1, 2024.

  1. DiggersJo

    DiggersJo Head Gardener

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    It is a piece of string. Come September the light becomes a problem as well as heat and the long-range forecast here is not too good. Even abroad it became a problem once September came in, but one of our locals planted up a late crop of toms end of August with a view to harvest for Christmas! Not indoors, but they were sheltered. I had a freebie plant last year and left it until October and the small amount of fruit <10 were fine. Previously I would snip off end flowers on some truss, but am unsure it did much good.
     
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    • Philippa

      Philippa Gardener

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      Surprised you haven't had any ripe ones yet @BB3 . Mine took a while but all 4 varieities ( Sungold, Choc. Cherry, Black Krim and Tumbling Tom ) have picked up with the mini heat wave we had recently. Picked quite a few of the first 2 types and the other 2 are showing signs of beginning to ripen. There should still be a couple of months yet but of course all depends on weather which makes it more of a guessing game. I'd be tempted to leave them for now and maybe see if which trusses are the first to show signs of fruiting and concentrate on those.

      @JWK Nice little haul there - what type are the large pinkish ones at the front of your pic ?
       
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      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        It takes about 2 months from flowering to ripening for cherry types, so work backwards from your last frost date. Greenhouse plants stand a better chance. Last year I had a few plants with fruit ripening into November. Blight is my big issue here and will often destroy the crop regardless of time.
         
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          @Philippa Honey Moon, very tasty, early and blight tolerant
           
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          • BB3

            BB3 Gardener

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            Practically no frost last year. Maybe I'll be picking them at Christmas!
            If it takes 2 months, then I'll leave them until next month sometime.
             
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            • hamesy

              hamesy Gardener

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              After a slow start, the fruit on my tomatoes are ripening up nicely. I harvested a load on Sunday and when I went down the allotment earlier today, there's loads more to harvest. Looks like it will be a good year for my toms, especially after last year when all the plants died on me.
               
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              • Philippa

                Philippa Gardener

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                Happy Tomato Christmas @BB3 :biggrin:

                Thanks @JWK - sound interesting .
                 
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                • salar

                  salar Gardener

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                  The dreaded blight has appeared on all my tomatoes in greenhouse. I've had to strip all the lower leaves off on every plant, hopefully this will help control it.
                   
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                  • JWK

                    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                    Whereabouts are you @salar ?
                     
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                    • LunarSea

                      LunarSea Front Garden Curator

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                      I'm really pleased with ours in the greenhouse this year. Maybe fewer than usual but the quality has been top-notch. Next year I'll be sowing more Maskotka (the larger ones in the photo). They're a bush variety but I restrict them to just a few side shoots and the quality of the fruit is much improved.

                      Tomatoes-Aug.jpg
                       
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                      • salar

                        salar Gardener

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                        • JWK

                          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                          That's a real shame you have blight @salar, I feel it's just a question of time before it spreads south as it's been such humid conditions lately.
                           
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                          • mrboxpiff

                            mrboxpiff Apprentice Gardener

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                            Hi everyone, I'm new here.
                            I like to grow a variety of different tomatoes each year and my go to standard type has been Shirley. However, I think it's time for a change as this variety isn't working so we'll for me now. What alternatives would you suggest? I always grow indeterminate in an unheated greenhouse. Thanks.
                             
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                            • Philippa

                              Philippa Gardener

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                              I'd say Sungold are always a good bet - generally prolific and tasty. There are so many varieties now that much will depend on your taste and, just as important, your location. I'm sure others will have plenty of suggestions. :)
                               
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                              • JWK

                                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                                Welcome to Gardener's Corner @mrboxpiff

                                Have a look at last year's taste test thread for some ideas:

                                Tomato Taste Test 2023

                                We will be having another tomato taste thread in a few weeks.

                                There are now a few blight tolerant varieties with good taste.
                                 
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