Has anyone grown tomato 'Costoluto Pantano'?

[FoxHillGardener]

Hello all

It's taken me a while, but I've finally spotted the 'new thread' button. You'll have to forgive me, I'm new to this forum lark.

Anyway, to get to the point, has anyone grown 'costoluto pantano tomatoes? I got them from Homebase and they're doing fine but the packet doesn't say if I should grow them as cordons or not. They're beefsteaks, but I'm not sure if this means they're definitely cordons, or if they might be a bush variety. Would it affect the yield if I did them as cordons and they weren't?

Can't find them in any of my books and I've tried google and not got very far, but I'm sure you lovely people will have some advice.

Thanks in advance

[Lesley Jay]

I have had a look and there are two varieties Costoluto Florentino and Pantano Romanesco which are both to be grown as cordons. Maybe the plants were labelled wrong? My guess would be to grow them as cordons.

[FoxHillGardener]

Thanks for your reply. Those varieites were all I could find too. I did wonder if it was some cross or if maybe Homebase are just making it up!

They shall be cordons - though on one of them I might try the multi stemmed thing I read in a magazine recently (Amateur Gardening I think). You train a second stem from low down and are meant to get bigger yield. Anyone tried that?

[Lesley Jay]

Have a look at the tomato side shoot thread. Slug has tried it. I think you want reply #5.

[FoxHillGardener]

ah yes. and there I was thinking I'd found something new. Will give it a go and report back on progress.

Will also be rooting the sideshoots I take off - good idea that. can never have too many tomatoes...