comparing tom varieties - quality, taste and yield

Lotus-eater

Gardeners Delight is a cherry tomato, MM is full sized like you buy in the shops.
MM is described by somebody* as bland and tasteless, you might as well go and buy tomatoes from shops.
GD are beautiful.


* me

Smeg77

I'm new to growing Tom's and was just wondering how big these plants get, as currently I have four plants and they're getting quite big, they must be coming up to 3' by now, if not a little higher.

One of them is stretching out quite a lot too, and I was wondering what the best way of handling them was. I've removed some of the little trusses from inside the main one's, and I've also tied the main Trunk (if that's right) to a Bamboo pole, should I do the same to some of the larger branches?

mardatha

Mine are 5ft high and a bit of a disappointment this year. I seemed to get more actual tomatoes last year when I wasn't really trying. Some plants have only 1-3 fruits and some had none at all, I chucked those ones out.

Lotus-eater

No flowers no nothing? Bit early to throw any plants out I would have thought, plenty of time for them to grow and set trusses.

mardatha

Nope no nothing... I thought maybe the problem was they were too crowded, cos I have a lot on one windowsill. Threw out 2 that were nekkid and spaced out the others a bit. Last year was my first try and they were terrific. This year not so well... not sure why.

rhiwfield

Smeg77 wrote: »

I'm new to growing Tom's and was just wondering how big these plants get, as currently I have four plants and they're getting quite big, they must be coming up to 3' by now, if not a little higher.

One of them is stretching out quite a lot too, and I was wondering what the best way of handling them was. I've removed some of the little trusses from inside the main one's, and I've also tied the main Trunk (if that's right) to a Bamboo pole, should I do the same to some of the larger branches?

They can grow quite tall but if outside most people pinch out the main shoot when 3-4 flower trusses have set to allow for ripening. If in greenhouse pinch out when shoot reaches eaves height (say 5') Shoots which grow out from the leaf axils are removed in vine/indeterminate tomatoes but not in bush tomatoes. Other side shoots should not need to be tied, indeed many people remove some of these as well to concentrate the plant on the fruit and to create better air circulation/ease of maintenance.

Vine types need the main stem tieing in as it grows.

Melonade

Sorry to sound clueless but what does pinch out mean? My tomato plants are about 5ft now and have loads of flowers and loads of green tomato's. They are quite bunched together and I'm going to make more room for them this weekend. They are kept outside in pots and tied to stakes and are Gardener's Delight. I was just letting them do their thing

foreign_correspondent

Melonade wrote: »

Sorry to sound clueless but what does pinch out mean? My tomato plants are about 5ft now and have loads of flowers and loads of green tomato's. They are quite bunched together and I'm going to make more room for them this weekend. They are kept outside in pots and tied to stakes and are Gardener's Delight. I was just letting them do their thing

I just let gardeners delight do their own thing - just nip out the sideshoots.

atticgirl2003

atticgirl2003 wrote: »

I bought the plants in Tesco, they were reduced as two of the plants had been broken off.
They were in a tray of six and it said on the tray what variety the plants were, three of each, however I did not keep the box after planting.
Thank goodness it was the large leaf ones missing as it is taking over the grow bag.
Dear knows what I am growing, will report back when the fruit or veg shows.
I am having fun waiting, first time I have grown tomatoes.
Made up my own little plastic greenhouse.

I can now confirm what I bought as tomato plants, one of them is indeed a courgette.
Looks like I am going to have plenty of courgettes.
Just sorry this plant is keeping the sun off my tomato plants.

Lotus-eater

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

I just let gardeners delight do their own thing - just nip out the sideshoots.

I don't understand this, how can you let it do it's own thing if you take out the sideshoots? What else is there to let it do?