Tomato Growing Thread 2012

Thanks Jenny!

 

God made me do it. "No I didn't" came the voice from the next bed.

 

Some pics of some small bush tomatoes suitable for growing in pots, window boxes, etc., 'Red Robin' a non F1 variety so seeds can be saved from year to year. Not ripe yet - like so many other varieties:



Anybody else growing these?

 

I was wondering about this. If one has other varieties growing in the greenhouse, isn't there a possibility of cross pollination?

 

Most tomato varities (other than currant tomatoes or 'potato leaf' tomatoes) have their reproductive bits fully enclosed within an anther cone which completely surrounds both the male and female parts and normally prevents cross-pollination. The female bits however become active 24hrs before the male pollen stuff gets in gear, so if it can get through, then cross polination can occur. These things do happen occasionally.

 

BTW, John (JWK) hasn't posted for quite some time! Come on John, it's your thread! How are your toms doing?

 

Actually, before reading the Competition thread, I thought that the results would be assessed by a GC jury, paying visits at the spot to ascertain the advertised qualities of champion tomatoes (tasting some salad, inspecting the plot, having a chat with the grower, etc.)

I'll measure a cross-section of the biggest ones, you've teased me, but this will be outside the Competition.

Jenny, I've put you on the list. Just PM your address.

 

I saw what looked as if it might be blight on a tomato plant about 30 mins ago, but on closer inspection I thought it looked like blackleg as it was just the stem and the leaves showed no sign of infection.

Can you get blackleg on tomatoes? Things are bad enough this year with getting new diseases.

 

Not sure if "blackleg" but during that really wet and cool period, my outdoor toms really suffered, stems and leaves gave me the impression of blight, as soon as the weather improved, so did the toms! loads of new growth and plenty of fruitlets....

And there was I about to incinerate the whole lot!

 

Angelina,
a glossy snapshot of one of your finest hunkies to go on my bedroom wall would be wonderful - together with height,width and weight please,
and an evening phone number?
thank you,
Jenny

 

...Hey ofcourse you'll be in the comp as long as it's no toooo big

 

I'll have a word in the office, see if we can afford the bus fare to Bulgaria I'm sure we've got a tape measure & some scales somewhere.

I must be getting old, i've just given a young Bulgarian Girl a lift & what did I talk to her about?

You've got it, Tomatoes

 

No direct route.

Bet you can't smoke on a bus these days though

 

Damn, Zigs is off thumbing it through Europe!

Hmmmnn, time to play?

 

I'm not going without the rest of the staff, i'd get scared on my own, and i'd get lost