Tomato Growing Thread 2022

That is not a wall behind the tomato plants, at least not of brick! But I don't know what material it is made of. As for the space behind them there is a good 6 inches between the plants & the "wall" (for want of a better word!) As the plants are growing vertically up the strings there is a big gap.The "wall" never gets hot as the sun hardly touches it


I've been growing them this way for 20 years & never has this happened before. They were burned by the extremely hot air yesterday, it's not just a case of wilting from lack of water. Some of the smaller leaves were, quite literally, burned to a crisp. This is no exaggeration. My Fuchsias suffered even more!
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OK, just wondering as its the second time this year, seems odd if they dont get direct sunlight.

I can imagine the Fuchsias would have hated it yesterday.

 

What a shame regarding the hot air 'scorching' Got to be that short (in Wales when we were there anyway) spell of very hot wind. I honestly thought it would speed up the change in the forecast and the onset of cooler weather. No chance! Being 1000' up I was amazed how hot it was, and according to the 'mountaineers' It was still 'volcanic' at 10pm! Going to photograph our Toms now so will show you what delayed plants look like!!!

 

Well, still got Toms mostly few green trusses hiding under green foliage ( must explain to 'gardener' about side shoots etc) As last year, stuff growing better outside than greenhouse (with its golf umbrella hung from roof) She's at school where she's head of governors this afternoon, so perhaps some cakes later!
Actually, although late, we should get a good crop. Not grown beef hearts before but those 'double' flowers suggest some truss-support soon, so plenty of winter freezer puree!

 

Oops!! First two shots NOT Toms !! The onions are actually a foot across!! Missed lots of pics as not sure which ones I'm uploading as they very small. Amazing that although I only planted three varieties of seed (Ddraig Goch, Roma (courtesy Gardeners World) and Crimson Crush) there are some beef hearts that some friends of the Gardener gave her! I will publish some red ones IF they ever appear!
Oh and of course show the compost heap of sideshows later!

 

JWK,
I'm very interested in your de-hydrater.

What do you do with the dehydrated tomato slices? What is the brand of hydrater? I tend to freeze tomato sauces ready for pizza making and other tomato dishes. I have a vacuum sealer to increase the longevity of storage. I also freeze vacuum packed chilis.

Do you add water to make sauces etc from the dried tomatoes or do you have something else in mind?

Ademission

 

Gardener back, NO CAKES!! So out she goes and photographs a Roma covered with fruit, that I'd missed useless article, as well as not being able to walk much, I can't photograph tomatos!

 

Tomande F1, greenhouse grown.
RHS seed.
Tasteless, watery, wont bother again.

 

They look good Pete, Salt & Vinegar on them perhaps?

 

I was thinking tomato sauce.

 

JWK,
Thanks for taking time to give me the information on the dehydrater you have. I have dried chilis in our oven but never tomatoes. It doesn't surprise me that it takes as long as 36hrs as it took a long time drying chilis in the oven.
We end up giving away bags of tomatoes each year to neighbours and friends so this could be the solution. Thanks again.

Ademission

 

I have the same dehydrator and use it a lot from now through autumn. Mainly foraged mushrooms but also apples, hops, chillis and courgettes make nice crisps in them, although you have to eat them quickly as they go a bit soft within a few hours . Going to try tomatoes this year too.

I'm also going to try smoking some then dehydrating since I got a weber bbq recently

 

What a difference a couple of days make. Big beafsteak gordost sibiri ripening. Same days to ripening first fruit as my cherry rosella and ahead of my other cherry honeymoon. Sungold has produced a few ripe ones allready. Now praying it actually tastes good