Tips for growing Tomatoes

macma

You only pinch out side shoots on the intermediate, cordon, upright varieties. Not the tumbling bush types.When I've tried to explain I say look at the tom like a person with body neck and arms, any shoots growing between arm and neck , pinch out

Linda32

Leif wrote: »

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.

I grew these as well. Slow to get going I found but all ripend in the end, perhaps that makes them a good doer after last years season.

Kathy535

Don't do what a work colleague did when I gave some tomato plants. Here's how the conversation went in the September.
Colleague 'you know, I never got any tomatoes off those plants you gave me'
Me 'really, I got loads. I wonder why'
Colleague 'I picked off every flower just like you are supposed to and still no tomatoes'
Me '.........'

Leif

Linda32 wrote: »

I grew these as well. Slow to get going I found but all ripend in the end, perhaps that makes them a good doer after last years season.

Yes, I found that too. They tended to swell and burst until the rains ended, and then they ripened. Not a huge crop, but honestly most people were reporting little or no crop. Except my neighour, as usual, who had masses, the plant I gave him was enormous and he was picking tomatoes in January no less. It was of course in a greenhouse.

I guess it might be worth mentioning a few tricks, especially if you buy only one plant from a garden centre. The side shoots can be allowed to grow larger, and then removed and rooted to create new plants. Or you can put one plant on its side, and allow 4 side shoots to grow. The main stem will root, and the side shoots will grow upwards, and be very productive, but they will require supporting. Obviously these tricks apply to cordon varieties only. But they allow you to get more tomatoes from one plant, saving money.

Mollymoonlight

Leif wrote: »

Yes, I found that too. They tended to swell and burst until the rains ended, and then they ripened. Not a huge crop, but honestly most people were reporting little or no crop. Except my neighour, as usual, who had masses, the plant I gave him was enormous and he was picking tomatoes in January no less. It was of course in a greenhouse.

Maskotka is a brilliant variety. I grew them a few years ago and had masses of toms and no greenhouse (it was our last reasonable summer however). I couldn't remember the name, so didn't buy them again, but this year I found the seed packet in an old journal (obviously for safekeeping ) so I have some planted, along with Ferline which has been bred for its wet weather tolerance. Wonder how it will fair in gales? lol

southerly

I grew Ferline last year for it's blight tolerance, they got blight!
The seeds were expensive and I don't think I got a single tomato from them.

wallbash

southerly wrote: »

I grew Ferline last year for it's blight tolerance, they got blight!
The seeds were expensive and I don't think I got a single tomato from them.

Most of us got Blight last year. Lets hope for better luck this year.