Tomato Growing Thread 2021

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by JWK, Jan 4, 2021.

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  1. Scrungee

    Scrungee Well known for it

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    It's going to be a yellow or orange tomato. They go from green to final colour (unlike peppers).
     
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    • FrancescaH

      FrancescaH Gardener

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      Tumbling Yellow it must be then! I'm quite happy with it. Put it in a ropey old wall planter, I've got 3 plants in there and they're producing a lovely amount.
       
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      • Blue arbour

        Blue arbour Super Gardener

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        I've had a really poor show of tomatoes this year. Think it might be due to the weird weather and lack of bees about earlier on due to the cold, wet spring, then the scorching last few weeks. Never had such a poor show.
         
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          Yes the weather is to blame for our woes this year @Blue arbour. To help pollination when there is a lack of insects all you need do is gently shake your plants, they are self fertile and just a few taps will transfer pollen between the male/female parts of the flower. I shake mine every time I pass, twice a day at least. It's more important in a greenhouse where there are less insects and no wind to shake them.
           
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          • john558

            john558 Total Gardener

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            My outdoor Tomatoes are growing better than the ones in Plastic Growhouses.
             
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            • Blue arbour

              Blue arbour Super Gardener

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              Thank you @JWK, I'll give that a try. Though to be honest, there haven't been many flowers form. They are in mini greenhouses, as they were last year, but there will be no glut this year, I think. Last year and the year before I had plenty of fruits.
               
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              • Scrungee

                Scrungee Well known for it

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                Update:

                1) The plants grown from saved Suncherry Premium seeds have larger leaves of a slightly different shape, but the big issue is that the trusses have a massively reduced number of tomatoes. Considering the seeds can be bought for 30p each if you shop around (80p from T&M), it's not worth saving them on yield alone, and I haven't even tasted a saved on yet as they're growing slower than F1s.

                2) The Tumblers from saved seed seem to have less vigour than F1s, but I'm not growing both for a side by side comparison. As they have been a bit slow (and have less flowers), I've not tasted one yet, but wont bother saving them again. Will probably try a new variety in containers and window boxes next year - any recommendations?
                 
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                • JWK

                  JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                  Interesting result Scrungee, goes to show that using saved seed from F1 varieties is a lottery.

                  I don't grow tomatoes in containers or window boxes any more so can't suggest an alternative to Tumbler.
                   
                • FrancescaH

                  FrancescaH Gardener

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                  Think I've got blight. San Marzanos starting to brown and shrivel at the base of the plants. Absolutely soaked plants out there. Nothing looks close to ripening aside from the cherries.
                   
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                  • pete

                    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                    Black areas usually show on stems and leaves, it progresses very quickly and even ruins the fruit.
                    Its a bad year, cant remember one this bad, and not just for toms and pots.
                     
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                    • FrancescaH

                      FrancescaH Gardener

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                      It's on the branches, but mainly at the base of the plant. Whole branches down there shrivelled off. Nothing on the fruit yet. But we shall see.
                       
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                      • FrancescaH

                        FrancescaH Gardener

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                        Very first tomato eat of the season!

                        Dattero & Tumbling Yellow.

                        Tumbling Yellow nice. Bit acidic for my taste but still fairly sweet. OH liked it a lot.

                        Dattero lived up to all the expectations I had, so happy. Gorgeously sweet (how I like them). Prolific, fast growing, healthy (so far). All round very happy and will have to be a favourite going forward.

                        [​IMG]
                         
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                        • Fat Controller

                          Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                          Well my two beefmaster fruits have been munched (slugs I presume) so I am down to three or four red cherry toms that I will pick over the weekend and then all the rest of the plants are going in the bin. Cucumbers are starting to look distinctly mildewey too, so we've amounted to a couple of sweet peppers and some chillies.

                          Serious question, anyone know how much a used 10 x 8 Eden greenhouse with safety glass is worth?
                           
                        • JWK

                          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                          I always get mildew on mine, it never affects yield so nowt to worry about.
                           
                        • JWK

                          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                          I bought a practically new 12 x 8 Rhino off ebay 3 or 4 years ago for ££400, with safety glass and lots of staging. I think Eden are a similar brand so I would guess a similar price. A lot depends on the specification and extras like auto vents. The other thing is all greenhouses are in short supply now, same as sheds and fencing so that will drive up prices of second hand ones.
                           
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