Tuesday 29 January 2013

Tomatoes - The Jewels of the Garden

Well, how did we all get on with our tomatoes last year?  I made the decision to grow more outdoors - bad decision!  The poor plants didn't stand a chance against the wet weather and blight.  Up at the plot the Sungold stood their ground and didn't succumb,  they were very slow to produce any fruits, but gradually caught up, and I was still picking them in October.


Sungold

In the greenhouse I grew Marmande, Alicante and Gardeners Delight which fared better

Marmande
I try and sow my first batch of seed in February, especially for the the larger tomatoes, to give them a long growing season.  Another batch in March and then again in April - hopefully that will give me a fair chance of  getting a good harvest, by not putting all my eggs in one basket and sowing them all at the same time.  The Tumbling Tom plants in the hanging baskets are usually the most prolific, but last year they let me down I'm sad to say - the tomatoes just refused to ripen and I had to bring them into the relative warmth of the greenhouse - something I have never had to do before.

This year I am going to try a few new varieties including Bloody Butcher, Garden Peach and Red Zebra.  These are from a mixed packet of seed which also includes a white tomato called  Snowberry.
Bloody Butcher


Snowberry

Red Zebra


Garden Peach

Let's hope this year is a better year for tomatoes - plenty of sun, not too much rain and definitely no blight. So  - it's seed packets and potting compost at the ready - propagators plugged in and warmed up - and let's get planting! 

31 comments:

  1. Your Sungold tomatoes look lovely. I only tried growing tomatoes outside once - I don't think they were too keen on the north-western weather! I only attempt to grow them in the greenhouse now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sungold are my favourites for flavour - I usually manage to eat most of them before they even reach the kitchen.

      Delete
  2. I made the mistake of putting my tomato plants outside last year but the results werent good.I will grow more but in the green house this year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will still try a few outside - last year was the first one where I have had problems.

      Delete
  3. I had the same thoughts last year, more outdoor tomatoes, what a mistake we made. All my tomatoes, those grown outdoors and those in the greenhouse, had to be picked whilst still green to ripen on the windowsills. Still, they never got blight, which I know many people had to contend with last year. I'm not letting it put me off, I shall be growing outdoors again this year, surely we're due a good summer?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We can only keep our fingers crossed and pray to the gods of gardening Jo.

      Delete
  4. We were going to try some outdoors and then changed our minds. In the end we had a decent crop but they were so slow to ripen. The mixed pack looks interesting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always look forward to trying a few new ones although the name Bloody Butcher doesn't sound very inviting.

      Delete
  5. I don't have a greenhouse, so I always grow Outdoor tomatoes. I have done this with varying degrees of success for the past 20 years or so. I think I have only ever had one disastrous harvest - the year when I planted my toms in a raised bed, as opposed to pots, and was therefore unable to quarantine and separate them when blight struck one plant. The blight swept through the whole crop and there was nothing I could do to save it. Growing several varieties in time-spaced batches is good tactics too - avoids putting all your eggs in one basket, so to speak.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The only ones that I grow in soil are Sungold - they seem to be able to withstand anything and grow like wildfire.

      Delete
  6. I put all my tomato plants outside last summer when we went away for a few days - disaster! So this year it's either no tomatoes or no holiday... I might give 'Sungold' a try though - on your recommendation!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think you'll be disappointed with Sungold - just don't go on holiday!

      Delete
  7. All beautiful tomatoes but I especially like the look of the Marmande you grew last year. Is there a reason you're not growing them again? The Snowberries also look pretty unique too...just imagine using them in a pasta sauce!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry Tanya I perhaps didn't make it clear that I am growing all the ones I did last year plus the new varieties.

      Delete
  8. I grew Sungold last year in the greenhouse, along with Gardener's Delight. They both did well, and I had loads at the end of the season that ripened indoors too.

    This year the request from the tomato eater is Sungold only - he agrees with you on flavour. I thought I'd put most in the greenhouse and try a couple outdoors. Propagator at the ready :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I do find a lot of these fancy-looking toms to be rather uninteresting. I shall stick to one cherry tom, six Roma, six Portuguese, and six Marmande. All outside, of course.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The new varieties only get one chance - if they don't taste good they are off the list.

      Delete
  10. I was pleased at how I did with tomatoes last year, and surprised that although the Gardener's Delight succumbed to blight the Golden Queen didn't. I'll be growing the latter again this year along with Outdoor Girl which has been recommended to me.
    All we need is plenty of sunshine! Flighty xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. I think I will be sticking to San marzano & Gardeners delight. Both grown from seed & kept in the greenhouse. I may purchase a couple of plants of slicing tomatoes for salads from the garden centre.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are so many varieties to choose from that I can't resist trying a few new ones.

      Delete
  12. I've never heard of the snowberry variety, so will give that one a go. None of my tomatoes took last year due to the weather so I am determined that the greenhouse is going to be full of great stuff this year. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Last year wasn't the best for growing stuff for any of us - Chel C but I'm not going to be beaten.

      Delete
  13. Interesting that sungold does so well outside, I shall have to remember that. I am hoping to sow some tomato seeds soon, and fill one of the greenhouse with them this year, it is so windy here, I am not at all sure it would be worth trying cordons outside, but I will give tumblers a whirl.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe we'll get a good summer Janet - but don't hold your breath.

      Delete
  14. I've never seen white tomatoes yet! They look fantastic!

    Last year I grew red and yellow, regular size and cherry tomatoes. This year I'm going to repeat the same varieties because I've got many seeds left. I'd definitely buy the white tomato seeds if I had a chance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It will be interesting to see what they taste like and how well they grow.

      Delete
  15. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Its amazing how many tomato varieties are out there. And to think the shops offer about 3 varieties. I hope you have lots of success this year.

    ReplyDelete

If you have enjoyed reading this post why not leave a comment - I would love to hear from you.

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...