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Tips for growing Tomatoes

Cliecost
Cliecost Posts: 633 Forumite
Hi,

Does anyone have any good tips for growing tomatoes?

I'm growing cherry tomatoes outside in a well fertilised pot.
Really they are my little boy's tomatoes but I imagine I will be doing most of the work as he's 4.

Thanks for any help.

Also, look at this. It's the BBC Gardening section referring to tomatoes as 'Vegetables'...
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Comments

  • Linda32
    Linda32 Posts: 4,385 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    There is quite a debate as to whether a tomato is a vegetable or a fruit. There is an exact science as work here I beleive which states it is one or the other. I've read the reasons many times but still can't remember which one it is :o:D

    Anyway, that link seems to give you everything you need. Do you happen to know the name of the tomatoes, this might help a little further :)
  • I thought that tomatoes were fruit because they contained seeds, and by that same token, cucumbers and squash should be thought of as fruit too. I think the confusion comes because of the culinary definition of fruit and vegetables, because we generally perceive a veg to be something that we would include in a savoury dish, but then that is also frought with ambiguity.

    As far as growing your tomatoes go, good luck! I haven't had a decent crop of tommys since 2009 because of the dreadful summers we've been getting. I've tried ferline this year which has been bred specifically for tolerating the downpours. I hope you have more luck!
  • Leif
    Leif Posts: 3,727 Forumite
    As said, tomatoes and courgettes are fruit, but we consider them to be vegetables when we eat them. Peppers are a fruit too, and in the winter and spring I seek out Spanish grown ones as they are very sweet and I eat them as a snack. Dutch and English ones are tasteless.

    The only advice I can give is use a large pot, preferably 12" or more. You don't have to water as often, and the plant has room to grow. Last year I grew Maskotka bush tomatoes outdoors, and I did get a modest crop, unlike many people, despite the months of gales and torrential rain. Real Seeds claim that their varieties are better suited to our climate.
    Warning: This forum may contain nuts.
  • Cliecost
    Cliecost Posts: 633 Forumite
    Linda32 wrote: »
    ...Do you happen to know the name of the tomatoes, this might help a little further :)

    I have 'Pick-a-tom' and 'Gardeners Delight'.
  • Cliecost
    Cliecost Posts: 633 Forumite
    This shows what American's class the Tomato as...
  • wallbash
    wallbash Posts: 17,775 Forumite
    Cliecost wrote: »
    I have 'Pick-a-tom' and 'Gardeners Delight'.

    GD my favorite but it can grow vigorously and would be thinking of some support.
  • A._Badger
    A._Badger Posts: 5,881 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    GD is my favourite too - in fact the only variety I grow these days.

    Some of the keys to success:

    1/ If your variety needs sideshoots removing (GD does) remove them

    2/ Use a very good compost. John Innes 3 is better than soilless for final planting. Tomatoes can split and suffer cultural problems if watering is erratic. JI composts hold better buffers of water and nutrients.

    3/ Don't waste you money on growbags - they are the very devil to keep properly watered. Use large pots instead.

    4/ Feed with a high potash fertiliser containing trace elements (Chempak tomato feed is my choice - much cheaper than pre-made liquids) following the instructions. Don't over-feed.

    5/ A seaweed spray every now and then seems to help with flavour and plant health

    5/ You are unlikely to ripen more than four or five trusses outside, so stop the plants at that stage

    6/ Avoid windy spots and support the plants well if growing outdoors

    That's off the top of my head... sure I'll think of more later but that should get you started. They're really very easy to grow providing you follow a few simple rules.
  • Cliecost
    Cliecost Posts: 633 Forumite
    It came with two bamboo sticks that I've tied the plant to for support.

    It came with two ripe tomatoes on it, very nice :)
  • Pixiechic
    Pixiechic Posts: 801 Forumite
    I grew tomatoes last year in the grow bags but with pots in too. They did well but they are a real pain to keep watered. As advised a big pot would be better.

    As A Badger says, removing the side shoots was great advice although it took a phone conversation with Dad to understand what I was picking out :D

    Also avoiding dampening off

    They do need attention but its worth it.
  • casperlarue
    casperlarue Posts: 647 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    One tip I'm going to try this year is to put crumbled up used egg shells in the bottom of the hole where the tommy plant will go, apparently the extra calcium from the shells helps to form lovely red tomatoes.

    I'm going for beef steak and cherry toms this year, in the poly tunnel
    "Put the kettle on Turkish, lets have a nice cup of tea.....no sugars for me.....I'm sweet enough"
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