Is there any justice....Totem Toms

[TrulyGreen]

I recently rescued a totem tom plant from Home Base.....in a disgraceful half dead state I guess HB can't get the staff.....nevertheless the poor thing was loaded with tomatoes that are now turning red and a bit of feed and water and the plant looks very healthy.

My question is....how come this poor neglected thing is doing so well, when my own carefully nurtured Garten Perle look yellow and are only producing a few grape like toms I don't think I have overwatered and have been careful to follow all advice from here and books etc. Any ideas folks??

This is my first year growing tomatoes and although my greenhouse toms are doing well, I certainly won't be growing the Garten outdoors again, but will definitely give Totem a go.....any advice much appreciated.

[smallblueplanet]

...when my own carefully nurtured Garten Perle look yellow and are only producing a few grape like toms I don't think I have overwatered...

We grow Garden Pearl (aka garten perle) in a bucket every year, and most years it looks a shabby specimen with a few grape/pea sized toms on it. This year I've made a concerted effort to ensure its well watered every day - the difference is quite noticeable, both in the plant itself and the number and size of its toms.

[TrulyGreen]

Thanks Manda....I have watered every day so wonder if maybe not enough water....when they were small I watered them from the bottom on a bed of gravel and they looked OK then. Actually I do have one garden pearl that looks really good.....no more tomatoes than the others though. The best one now, was the runt of five plants when they were small....but turned out the best. Next year I'm thinking of ring culture for the greenhouse.....but that won't help the outdoor bush toms.....ahhh it certainly isn't a precise science is it???

[gojiberry]

I always think that tomatoes outdoors are always a bit hit and miss. You never really know for sure if the position and conditions are really ideal, i.e. is it in a draft or was that shower last night cold rain that upset the plant? I also have the blight to contend with so all my toms are under cover. Ring culture is a great way to grow.

Ian

[poshiesplot]

Tomatoes unpredictable!

Hi I found your thread on tomato plants very interesting, although I have been growing toms quite successfully for a few years I noticed a distinct difference in them this year and last year - last year they succombed to blight even though they were in a greenhouse and this year they have taken much longer to ripen. As you say its not an exact science! By the way has any one heard of the 3 leaves method of growing them?

[zazen999]

I've heard of the 3 leaves. I often do it but this year we have so many plants I only chop them back when I can.