Outdoor beefsteak toms???

[JimmerG]

Here's a question for you.....

I'm about to start planting a host of different tomatoes - and really fancy some huge beefsteaky sorts. However having sifted through 100's of seed packets it would seem that these whopper toms are only suitable for greenhouse growing, and you've guessed it, I am not blessed with such a structure.

Marmande seems to be the biggest I can find that grows well outdoors - does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks

James

[janeyo]

I grew marmandes outside and they were HUGE. As big as some beefsteaks I'm sure. They were against a sunny wall with lots of support and they did fine.

[vicky]

Legend are big, slightly unruly but with blight resistance - so fine outdoors

[shaymen]

If you are lucky enough to not have a blight problem then Marmande seems a good choice - done ok for me last year

[Mcbee]

Ive got these for this year:- Coer de boeuf

Tomato : Pomodoro Cuore di Bue (Seeds)

Never grown them b4 - but worth giving a go. I ate them in france and they are really meaty.

[Nicos]

Well I'm going to try to grow them outdoors here this summer!
They did appallingly in the greenhouse in the UK last year...and I'm just hoping for a better summer over here

Well...no harm in trying I suppose!

[bramble]

Have grown marmande and had good results.
Have grown other beefsteak toms in the greenhouse. While they did produce I was disappointed with the crop as I expected a better return.

[kernowyon]

I'm trying 'Legend' this year outside to see if in the fourth year of trying i might actually get one fruit to ripen outside before the '#%$*#&' blight gets them

[JimmerG]

Thanks for your advice guys - I'm looking forward some HUGE Marmandes, I did wonder about Legend, have lost my entire crop 2 years in a row to flippin' blight.... can anyone confirm if they taste as good as 'normal' toms, or is there a compromise??

[vicky]

They taste great!
If you're after blight resistance Ferline are even better, the fruits are large but more uniform than Legend, the plants are better behaved(!) plus I get a greater crop from them. The only downside is that they are F1's and they are expensive seeds

[JimmerG]

Thanks Vicky,

I'll give them a go - VERY bored of losing plants to blight. So maybe if this year I fork out for some blight resistant plants..... we'll get a blightless long hot summer!

[fran]

I've just done the same thing. Looked through my packs of tom seeds and some are only for indoors - but I'm going to try them outside. I've just got a mini plastic greenhouse - if I take out the shelves there may be room for one or two - but I think I may try and make some outdoor protection instead as I'll need greenhouse for lots of other things!

Fran

[Paulottie]

Quite the reverse I'd say....I think beefsteak toms are so much better flavoured outside...I might grow a couple indoors because of the '#%$*&*' blight.

I grow French ones (Rose de berne and a saved strain)...Marmande fine though.

I did grow Ferline one year and I agree they were a good medium to large tasty tom that were slow to get blight....not really a true beefsteak though.

I had some success by building a sort of awning on a green house one year....kept the rain off... but quite a lot of palaver. To be fair nothing has worked the last couple of years.