Outdoor tomatoes

[Smuff]

Hi folks,
For a number of reasons I'm not growing toms in my greenhouse this year; I will try to grow some in big pots in a sunny part of the garden and protect them from wind and cooler night temperatures.
Question is which varieties are suitable for this type of cultivation? Am I stuck with tumbling types or can I successfully grow bush and determinate varieties?

Any suggestions and top-tips gratefully received.

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi Smuff. I grew tomatoes for the first time last year so don't have a lot of experience. However, I ran out of space in my little plastic greenhouse and had to move a Moneymaker tomato plant (in a 10 litre bucket) outside. I stood it in the doorway of our old shed (door missing) just so it had a bit of shelter. It grew absolutely fine. Hope you are sucessful with yours and sure some of the experts will be along shortly with more sound advice.

[supersam]

Hi
I grew Alicante outside in tubs and got loads of toms from them. The only mistake I made was sowing them a bit late and had to pick them from green and ripen them on the window sill but they were gorgeous.
Im sowing them again this year with some Tumblers in the green house in gro bags.

Sam

[Biscombe]

I´m not the best person to offer advice living in Spain, but why dont you grow early varieties like Early Girl or Clear Pink Early, or even sub artic like 42 days, zomock or sub artic plenty? I sowed some Early Girl in my greenhouse in the middle of october and we´ve been picking them for a few weeks now! Not bad tasting either! I think Sungold crop early too........

[Birdie Wife]

There are lots of tomatoes that can be grown outside but perhaps not so many that will do well as far north as you or me! I feel a bit of a fraud giving advice about this as I'm very new to tomato growing and made some mistakes last year which meant my toms were far too late to fruit in our climate, and then the plants all got munched by sheep but I have at least done some homework, although much of what I'm trying this year is still experimentation.

Gardeners delight should do fine and sub-arctic plenty is a variety that's bred for cooler climes. I'm also trying gartenperle in a log planter, Alicante and Brandywine (well staked) in the raised beds.

Good plan to be ready with the fleece for those late frosts! Last year I couldn't plant anything directly into the ground until late July because of leatherjacket infestation, this year I'm more prepared!

[SueA]

Hi Smuff, Moneymaker & Gardener's Delight always do well outdoors for me but then you are a lot further north. Maybe you could get one of those cheap plastic grow bag greenhouses to give them some protection when you first put them outside?

[smallblueplanet]

Stupice has a shortish growing season and is good in cooler climes, tastes good too.

[Biscombe]

OOOhhh!! I forgot Matina is a good early one too!

[Smuff]

Thanks for the response chaps! I've been on the T&M website and ordered up: gardeners delight, gartenpearl, green sausage (great name and they look wicked) and brandywine. That should be enough to be getting on with I think.

Birdie Wife - I thought I had it rough, but at least I don't have to contend with sheep
I'll need to buy some wind screen/protection type stuff and a bundle of fleece as my night time temperatures will easily go below the magic 10-11 degrees C mark. I'll be interested to know how you get on with your toms this year.
The things you have to do to make plants grow....

[sewer rat]

Hi Smuff
Don't usually grow toms outside - between the weather and the jackdaws they don't usually have a chance, but I have to second the choice of Gartenperle - this performed brilliantly in hanging baskets in the garden for me last year - so much so that I am growing it on a much larger scale this year !

[serenity]

I am going to grow marmande and tumbling tom red outdoors this year. Marmande is suposed to be grown as an outdoor tomato. I would also recommend real seeds. I would have bought my toms from them if I had looked there first
As my old dad says, "you live an' learn"

[Nicos]

If you can get hold of Red Alert (small bush and very tasty) and one of LJ's favourites is Ferline.
Both have some blight resistance too into the bargain!
Last years free seeds of Garten Pearle were great too ( tumblers)
Remember to keep them awayfrom your spuds though to reduce the risk of blight!

[borage]

I had a really good crop with Moneymaker last year, also put Ailsa Craig in but not a very good crop with those.

They were planted out in pots and I am ashamed to say a bit neglected.

This year I have Moneymaker and Tornado.

[Smuff]

I am going to grow marmande and tumbling tom red outdoors this year. Marmande is suposed to be grown as an outdoor tomato. I would also recommend real seeds. I would have bought my toms from them if I had looked there first
As my old dad says, "you live an' learn"

Bum
I bought my seed and thentook your advice and looked at real seeds.
I'll certainly be going there next year.

[nick the grief]

I grew Ferline last year ( two indoors & 1 out) and it perfored really well. The others I grow are Gardeners Delight & Garden pearl as already mentioned.