Are my tomatoes going to ripen?

~Chameleon~

I've had a few ripe ones off mine over the last few weeks, enough to keep me going in salads but this week they've all suddenly decided to start ripening at once :rolleyes:

Here's just a selection of the ones I picked this morning, including the gigantic Russian Blacks ... they are soooooo delicious too :drool:

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/chameleon.photos/HarvestTime/photo#5237326883007249474

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/chameleon.photos/HarvestTime/photo#5237326887435947650

I also picked a couple of aubergines, a pepper and a cucumber this morning too

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/chameleon.photos/HarvestTime/photo#5237326892376910242

Lotus-eater

I love the look of that russian black one, how much did it weigh?

~Chameleon~

Lotus-eater wrote: »

I love the look of that russian black one, how much did it weigh?

It weighs 496g and that's not the biggest one on the plant! :eek:

I reckon I've got another 20 or so of those to pick, some slightly smaller and several larger ones. I sliced one up for sandwiches yesterday and you only need one slice in each one they're so big :rotfl:

Lotus-eater

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

It weighs 496g and that's not the biggest one on the plant! :eek:

I reckon I've got another 20 or so of those to pick, some slightly smaller and several larger ones. I sliced one up for sandwiches yesterday and you only need one slice in each one they're so big :rotfl:

Awww did you weigh it just for me

That is an awfully big tomato. How many plants was the 20 off? I really like the look of those. Was reading about Amish paste (I think) on grow your own site and they sound really good as well.

What I really need of course, is one of those industrial sized greenhouses

Davesnave

Great photos Chameleon, and lovely crops too, but when I saw what those carrots were up to, I almost fell off the chair laughing!:rotfl:

~Chameleon~

Davesnave wrote: »

Great photos Chameleon, and lovely crops too, but when I saw what those carrots were up to, I almost fell off the chair laughing!:rotfl:

But surely that's how all the baby carrots are produced, aren't they? :rotfl:

~Chameleon~

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Awww did you weigh it just for me

Yes, I did

That is an awfully big tomato. How many plants was the 20 off? I really like the look of those.

Just two plants germinated out of six but they grow really weird, not like normal cordon tomatoes, and the leaves are different too. They seem to have a double stem which branches off into two seperate stems half way up and the trusses also have leaves on the end of them.

I'll certainly grow them again next year but this time I think I'll erect scaffolding to support them :rotfl: With toms that size they geat extremely heavy, as you can imagine, and both mine ended up collapsing under the weight with branches splitting but thankfully it doesn't appear to have affected the fruit.

Was reading about Amish paste (I think) on grow your own site and they sound really good as well.

Never heard of those so will have to check it out.

What I really need of course, is one of those industrial sized greenhouses

Don't we all!

It's true what they say that the one you buy will never be big enough Mine is only 6'x8' and I could have filled that 3 times over this summer and still need more space!

I've got mostly toms in there (18 plants) and a few peppers. I moved the aubergines outside in the hope they might start fruiting a bit more as I've only had two so far from 3 plants and lots of flowers dropped off earlier in the season. Last time I grew them a couple of years ago they were outside and I got 4-5 off each plant

ETA: Just remembered where I got them from now (the Black Russians) in case you're trying to find some. They were from Alan Romans and I bought them 2 years ago but for some reason they didn't germinate last year. As I said earlier I only got 2 out of 6 this year so it seems they're not the easiest of seeds to grow.

Actually, I've just looked on his website and he doesn't appear to have them listed this year. I do like the look of those Brandywine ones though, they look just like a yellow version of mine

Maz

I'm in Devon and my toms still have lots of flowers and also lots of tiny new fruits, which I'm dutifully feeding regularly and keeping my fingers crossed. Good advice about placing bananas amongst them though, thanks for that. I'm hoping they're going to suddenly take off and produce loads of luvverly ripe toms! I can dream can't I?

MRSMCAWBER

Hi Chameleon

I have some yellow brandywine growing..and possibly some pink brandywine (not sure until they ripen as i got confused :rotfl: ) and the plants are just as you described the black russian ones...the flavour is stunning -even if the tomatoes are ugly Im allready planning on saving some seeds for next season;) ..im in search of some more of the old heirloom/heritage tomatoes for next year..just trying to decide which- i get carried away

I fetched these off today (you need to click on the pic to get a good pic).. still mostly the yellow pear and other tiny ones but the biggies are on their way :j im averaging 12ox -1lb a day at the moment and they are all outdoors and its not even very warm

~Chameleon~

Hi MrsM - just clicked on your pic of brandywine toms and they look exactly like my black ones - the stems, leaves and fruit shape is identical, just different colour fruit!

I can't wait to have a go at growing brandywines next year too. To be honest I' getting a bit bored with the likes of moneymaker and gardeners delight so want to try some different varieties.

Despite the Romas getting off to a bad start with blossom end rot, the rest are coming along a treat now and I picked the first ripe one today. I shall have that one for breakfast tomorrow but will probably make pasta sauce with the rest