tomtatos (tomato potato hybrids) and TOMATOES!

[Zosherooney]

I had a (hidden) black russian for lunch, sliced with salt, nectar of the gods ! Skin was a bit chewy..... It went well with the cucumber and quiche.

[Herbidacious]

I had a (hidden) black russian for lunch, sliced with salt, nectar of the gods ! Skin was a bit chewy..... It went well with the cucumber and quiche.

Do ever cook with them, Zosh? I think mine may be ripe now. They feel it - I had thought they were going to go really dark, and that perhaps they'd gone a bit wrong being soft but still reddish, but a bit of googling suggest they don't.

btw everytime I mention them to husband he sniggers. And it's all because of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5A55eWbiBI

[Zosherooney]

Sorry Herb, Looked away.....

Nope, never cooked with them. Nearest I got to that was today, I rescued a BR from the snails and cut the rest into slices on a plate and grated some aged gouda over it and zapped it in the M'wave. I had it for lunch with the last bagel, very nice it was too.

[Herbidacious]

I am being plagued by snails. They seem very attracted to the BRs. I think next year I shall grow BRs again but give them special attention. They seemed to suffer a bit more from the couple of issues I had when I went on holiday than the other varieties did.

In general...

My tomato plants are mostly all looking a bit skanky now. (Apart from the ones that arrived and went in later. They are still flowering.) Possibly late blight. Not sure whether to keep watering them (gave up feeding them ages ago) and just let the remaining tomatoes ripen on the vine. Will that be ok? Or should I keep watering? Ach I probably will.

I've made about 8 or 9 loads of passata now. Some tomatoes are better than others... Gardener's Delight probably still comes out tops for flavour, but I was quite impressed by the very pretty Tigerella. Super sweet were not as sweet as GD. The Crimson cherry etc. were ok but not as tasty as the others. not yet tried the yellow ones, as they were among the late comers. Only just ripening, and have been rather slugged. I shan't bother with beefsteak type toms next year. Would like to grow some plum ones. I did grow other varieties, but the labels mostly went missing when the cat sitters moved the plants, so not sure which are which in some cases.

[suffolk]

I just don't understand what your slugs and snails are up to .......... I've never ever had a spot of mollusc damage on any of my tomatoes ... not even this year when they're planted out in the veg patch

[Herbidacious]

No I don't think I have before either... either they are very hungry, or my tomatoes are very delicious

[suffolk]

Undoubtedly the latter Herbi

[earthmaiden]

I grow tomatoes every year. One year they were attacked by slugs but haven't been before or since. I wonder if it applies only to certain kinds of tomato or slug. I don't know what the tomatoes were that year.

[liketocook]

I always seem to lose a few to snails every year, they don't seem to have a favourite type but it does tend to be the lower down ones that get munched.

[Herbidacious]

It's the beefsteak and Black Russians that are fallign victim most, but this may be a concidence.

I was wondering whether to make tomato paste. Not sure if I have enough left to want to use a lot making it. On the other hand, there's not much room left in the freezer for more passata.

Might smoke some in the hot smoker this weekend

[Herbidacious]

Was just about to make yet another batch of roast tomato sauce, and was giving the tomato press arm a twizzle to make sure I had enough room to turn it, and a load of green powder came out. I have not learnt how to take it apart and it's in the dishwasher! Good thing I hadn't put a load of tomotees in it.

[karadekoolaid]

Herbie - passata can be kept in bottles, perfectly well.
Our (Italian) neighbours buy whole cases of tomatoes, turn them into passata, bottle them, float an inch of olive oil on the top, cook for 20 minutes in bain-marie and then store them in the cupboard.
We did that once, and only one of the 12 bottles actually got damaged; probably because of a faulty cap.

[Herbidacious]

I might have a go. I think another 2 lots after this one (which will now have to do tomorrow.) I still want to smoke some, but the weather is so unpredictable and I have to do it outside.

[suffolk]

Anyone got enough space for me to spread my green tomatoes out to ripen? That's my two big turkey platters full ...

[Herbidacious]

I still have a few kilos of ripe ones on the plants, but a lot are splitting and attracting compost flies. I have quite a few yellow ones which I should pick and cook with (although they make a rather sickly coloured sauce!) I really should get rid of the plants this year. So it's worth keeping the green ones to ripen, Suffs? I don't usually bother. They sometimes seem to go a bit blotchy as they turn red (possibly late blight.) tbh I am a bit sick of dealing with tomatoes now

[suffolk]

If they've gone pale green (as most of mine have) then they'll ripen indoors as it's warmer than outside. Any that don't will go into chutney.

Mine have begun to split too ... it's because the high temperatures made the skins set early and now the rain is making them swell so they're splitting the skins ... it's another reason why I've taken mine off the vine to ripen indoors ... they won't continue to swell once they're off the plant.

I still have a few kilos of ripe ones on the plants, but a lot are splitting...

But once they're ripe they need picking!

tbh I am a bit sick of dealing with tomatoes now

that's gardening for you I've still got the grape harvest to deal with in the next ten days or so ... I'll be making jelly ...

[liketocook]

My greenhouse tomatoes are still quite happy and ripening nicely so they can be left for a bit. I had lots of splitting on the first ones but it has settled down a bit thankfully. Sungold I find are the worst culprits I find for this.
The hanging basket ones on the covered deck are looking a bit sad so I'll be taking them down next week and like suffs will ripen them indoors. Most years I find they do ripen nicely inside and it's lovely to still have fresh garden tomatoes when the weather has changed. Any that ripen unevenly I tend to use up in sauce or passatta.

[suffolk]

I think you're right LTC ... it's the smaller toms that are more prone to splitting ... my Sungold and Rosellas are both splitting but the big toms show no signs and they've all been growing in the same part of the veg patch.

[Herbidacious]

I think they are just very ripe...! I have had a lot of tomatoes now. Although it goes against the avoiding waist grain I am finding it hard to mind lost ones. (Although I have picked some to cook and cut of the exposed flesh bits.)

I might grow a few less plants next year... or try and persuade husband to agree to me getting a small extra freezer. (Or both! Not that I need his permission, but it's polite to ask... It might be amusing to get one and see how many months it is before he notices )

[liketocook]

Small extra freezer sounds like a plan

[Herbidacious]

I am pretty sure my splitting is caused by being very very ripe.

I really have had enough of bothering with them now bear in mind my husband takes no interest whatsoever in in either growing or eating them, let alone cooking with them. Next year I should grow fewer.

I might be able to squeeze a freezer in in the lean to, but I might also then have to build a little platform for the cat litter... which would have to go next to it. 1900 house = no garage, alas. (Not posh enough for stables )

[Herbidacious]

This could be my last batch...

need to make into sauce tonight

[liketocook]

Oh they look lovely herbi

[Herbidacious]

My plants were all knocked over by the wind while I was at my mother's. I think I am done with them now. I picked a few more today. I want to get rid of the plants as they are very messy, but not sure when I will have time.

[liketocook]

I think this is my biggest one ever (I have small but not tiny hands btw). It's a pink Brandywine

[suffolk]

[earthmaiden]

I am in awe of the quantity and variety of tomatoes that Wildies have grown! Puts my annual two plants to shame!

[suffolk]

Anyone got enough space for me to spread my green tomatoes out to ripen? That's my two big turkey platters full ...

Green toms indoors.jpg

Mine have been ripening beautifully ... lots have been eaten/turned into soup and passata ... half a kilo went into some courgette and green tomato chutney the other day and when the last lot have ripened I'll be making a tomato and chilli relish to have in bacon sarnies and the like

[suffolk]

The last kilo of Rosellas ripened on the windowsill (Rosellas have a lovely smokey flavour) ... they'll make a great tomato and chilli relish

[Herbidacious]

Ha I see you use a colander for yours as well, Suffs.

[suffolk]

I was just about to wash them before halving and putting in the preserving pan

[Herbidacious]

Ah I collect them in mine. It's big and won't break if I drop it (not that I am likely to) outside.

[Zosherooney]

Thought you tomato lovers might find this article interesting....https://www.theguardian.com/food/2018/s ... ce-passata

[suffolk]

Some tv chefs have been advocating this for a while ... IIRC Jamie and Rick Stein are two who’ve done this. I’ve certainly included a few bits of vine in sauces and soups before now if they’re going to be passed through a sieve at some stage.

However it’s possible that folk with a slight sensitivity to tomatoes may find they get a stronger reaction to the higher level of solanine that including the vine will cause.

[karadekoolaid]

The passata method is a wonderful way to conserve tomatoes. Since we have a year round supply. Italians over here are in heaven. Even then, however, the crops are subject to huge rises and falls in price; just two weeks ago, I bought tomatoes at Bs.65 a kilo; today they were anywhere between Bs.190 and Bs.250
A tip I was taught be an Italian friend: when you´ve made your passata and bottled it, float a film of olive oil on the top before giving it the water-bath treatment. The last time we made some, it lasted for over 6 months in the cupboard.
Today I planted 6 varieties of tomato, including yellow, orange and peach-blush varieties. Let´s see!

[Herbidacious]

I am looking at 'temporary greenhouses' for next year, now I have the space (a permanent one is tricky due to tendency to flood in the space) and came across this:

https://www.haxnicks.co.uk/garden-products/tomato-tubes

Looks a bit like a large plastic bag to me

[suffolk]

Possibly useful in a very wet spell ........ but I think I could cobble something as good together for less outlay

[scullion]

i think they need a bit more ventilation than those little holes - it's asking for blight, to my mind.

but I think I could cobble something as good together for less outlay

dry cleaning bags come to mind!

[Herbidacious]

My tall, further advanced than the rest, tomato plant seems to be wilting. It's not been outside until today (had to put it out while painters were painting - it will come back in shortly.) It's been a bit droopy for a while, and the stems are not as thick and strong as my tomato plants' stems are normally. I gave it a good feed and water yesterday. It was put into its final big pot about 8 days ago.

Any suggestions? Over watering?

Maybe it's the plant equivalent of a weak and sickly child in a Victorian novel that fades away for no reason.

[Herbidacious]

Tomato plant leaves are now looking bleached!

[Herbidacious]

Any ideas?

[PatsyMFagan]

Hello …. never contributed to this thread before as I don't generally grow my own produce … However, I have a couple of queries and hoping that all you GYO experts out there can advise:

Tomatoes: Last year I grew 6 plants recommended for hanging baskets ... I had heard that I may evade the dreaded blight that is rife in this area (and I did ). I bought a pack of 4 different kinds from Wyevale and have been looking forward to being able to grow them again this year (with hindsight I should have saved some seeds from last year's plants, but have never been very good at growing seeds ) BTW: No packs for sale this year so I had to buy separate plants although only 2 of them are recommended for baskets (tumbling tiger and tumbling tom - the third one is just a bush variety ) This year Wyevale were offering a FREE Gardeners Delight tomato plant. I have googled but can't find out whether this is a cordon, a standard or whatever This has been potted up and is being kept in the conservatory in an attempt to escape the blight ! I now have 3 trusses forming on the main stem and a truss forming on a side shoot that I didn't notice Should I remove the side shoot and let a couple more trusses form on the main shoot, or just let it do it's thing now ?


Potatoes: This year I am growing potatoes in bags and so far having a roaring success .... the plants very quickly reached the top of the (special) square bag with me adding extra compost .. now the tops are almost as high again as the bag and flowers are growing .. I presume I just leave the tops to die off on their own ? They are now taking up quite a bit of space on the patio though, so my thoughts are to move them to the end of the garden where they can do their thing

Herbi, I have been reading about your tomato plants overbalancing When I first attempted to grow tomatoes in grow bags, I bought some metal frames that slide under the bag, the tops then fold over and a cane can be inserted that goes down through the pot and becomes self supporting ... I have just taken a pic and will send it on the next post ... if you think they will be useful, I can pack them up and pop in post ..

[PatsyMFagan]

For Herbi:

I cut the bottom out of these large pots and stood them on top of the growbag after I had cut the holes in it .. I then filled the pot with more compost … Didn't stop the dreaded blight attacking though

[scullion]

Gardeners Delight tomato plant. I have googled but can't find out whether this is a cordon, a standard or whatever

pretty sure they're a cordon, and i'd leave the flowering side shoot on - but then i'm not very strict on removing side shoots. to try and reduce the chances of blight, when it's a bit bigger, remove the lower leaves so water splash from the soil doesn't get on the leaves and to let more air flow round the plant.
if the potatoes are earlies then they are usually harvested when they've flowered and are still small, although leaving them in the ground you'll get a bigger potato, see if you can feel them under the soil and decide if they're big enough.
with main crop you let the tops (haulms) die back before harvesting (unless they're sarpo mira which doesn't have a built in senescence - you can leave them in the ground and harvest them until the first frost).

[Herbidacious]

G's D are ones you need to support. A good tried and tested cherry variety, tasty and well worth growing.

Since I lost all my plants to blight two years ago, I have been growing blight resistant ones along with others, just in case! (I also disinfected all my pots and bought new canes post blight disaster. Hmm but did the canes get thrown away? I have a nasty feeling that new gardener kindly gathered them all together in one big pot )

Pat, the complication re the tomatoes is that they are (or will be) on the Quadgrow system, so raised a good 8 inches off the ground. (This also makes them falling over more of an issue.)

I will look into your support system though. It might be adaptable. I bought some frames that go around the whole quadgrow thing, at considerable expense. (Could only afford three, so need ideas for the other two.) I am not at all confident that these will work, so intend I to weigh them down with 'sand' bags too. The best option would be if I were growing them on soil/grass. I could then peg them down with some sort of homemade thing, but alas they are on (uneven) concrete slabs on my patio (best place for sun.) I may also put terracotta balls on the top of the plants (not sure I have enough) to help prevent evaporation and weigh down a bit more. (Although that will make a mess if they do fall over!)
OI suppose the quadgrow system might be more stable if it were configured as a square rather than a rectangle, but that might encourage disease, I suppose...?

I can't comment on side shoots I know what you are supposed to do and I do remove them, but not assiduously. Nor can I bring myself to remove growth after the formation of the fifth truss... Maybe I should experiment this year. Would I get more fruit with fewer leaves? I was struck by an image of someone's tomatoes on the GW forum (can't find it now) of a tomato plant heavily laden with fruit, but not my foilage.

Meanwhile, some of the fruit on my early Gardener's Delight plant (the one above with bleached leaves, are finally beginning to ripen.

The potatoes I tried to grow in bags last year are still in them I got fed up. Slugs kept eating all the leaves. I might get a crop?!

[Herbidacious]

re pruning, I've never had sun scalding though

https://www.farmersalmanac.com/common-t ... lems-28544

[PatsyMFagan]

thanks for all your very helpful responses … so I will leave the flowering side shoot on my tomato plant ..

The Potatoes are Carlingford … the outer package says they are 'Second Early' - plant from March onwards and Harvest July/September - so seems they are harvested while top growth is still green and that I need to have a feel around