Tomato advice

[NickG]

Hi. This is our second year with an allotment, although this year we have moved to a larger one, all be it still classed as a half plot.

We now have 2 poly tunnels, a 5x2 and a 4x2, I wanted to ask for your advice so we do a little better this year. Last year we had just the 4x2 and got the tomatoes to the green fruit stage before blight wiped everything out.

Both poly tunnels have inner borders where I was thinking of using old flower buckets with their bases cut out sat on the raised borders. I am also tempted to try and do some outdoors as well as in hanging baskets around our allotment.

I was hoping that I could get some suggestions from other more experienced members on which types would be a good suggestion for us to grow this year if possible. I have seen the crimson crush and mountain magic but wanted some other good starter suggestions if you could spare the time?

My wife does favour the cherry style of tomatoes although the rest of us like most types.

Thanks in advance

[Chris11]

There are a number of F1 hybrids available with varying blight resistance claims.
Mountain Magic, Fandango, Crimson Crush, Ferline, Lizzano, Losetto, Fantasio etc.

For a non-F1, you could consider:
Legend (which I've seen at Real Seeds and Plants of Distinction)
Skykomish (seen at Real Seeds)
Koralik (the Organic Gardening Catalogue, or Plant-World-Seeds, or Jungle Seeds)
Matt's Wild Cherry (Victoriana Nursery)

Another approach is to choose early varieties that might ripen and produce fruit for you before the dreaded blight arrives.

[Baldy]

In addition, when watering try to do so at the base rather than through the foliage.

My non-scientific experience suggests to me that cherry toms are generally less troubled by blight - though that could be due to quicker growing times so are ready before blight hits.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I grow Sungold as my green house cordon and the old fashioned Tumbler in hanging baskets, both are cherry and to me taste good with Sungold being one of the sweetest toms.

touch wood I have never been hit by blight but that could be just luck.

[jackarmy]

On the plot this year i will be mainly planting the blight free f1s like crimson crush and mountain majic.
The site tends to get blight every year apparently( only my 2nd growing season there ) so ill concentrate on the highest yield possible although i will be trying to get a few of the early ( apparently) siberian/russian types to see how they go.

All my heritage toms will be grown at home.

[Jammers27]

Pots Size

Hi,
I wonder if someone could help, what size terracotta pot is best for growing tomatoes in?
do different plants need different size pots?

Thanks

[Jungle Jane]

12 inches diameter would be sufficient for a tomato plant & about 18 inches deep. There would be space for a French marigold in the pot too,to help keep whiteflies away or a sweet pepper plant or basil they're good companion plants & can share the root space & live happily together in the same pot. If you look at square foot gardening it shows plant distances quite well so you can imagine how many plants in a square foot would be the same for a 12 inch pot.

[MarkPelican]

I grew both Crimson Crush and Mountain Magic at the allotment outdoors last year. Whilst they both were more resistant to blight than the others I grew (Alicante, Black Plum, Ailsa Craig), I got no blight free fruit from Crimson Crush and the Mountain Magic didn't ripen on the plant. (I did get lots of green fruit and most ripened at home but the taste is never as good when they're not ripened on the plant).

There are lots of different cherry tomatoes and I try to grow a range of colours (Black Cherry, Green Grapes, Snow White, Orange Berry to name but a few). My favourite tomato last year was Blush Tiger which is a stripey pointed tomato with a fantastic flavour.

Look at this list http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...sts_92072.html and see what's available.