Tomatoes - getting that flavour

[Cutecumber]

Every book, every magazine and every gardener that I have ever heard talk about tomatoes say the same thing...

Once you have grown your own tomatoes, you will realise how much better they taste than anything you can buy.

So, having experimented with something like 20 varieties now, over seven years, in pots and in the ground, how come I haven't had that experience?

I am always disappointed with my tomatoes - always. I get good crops, and I have no problems with disease, just a few odd ones get blossom end rot. Some taste "reasonable", but have tough skins or an unpleasant texture; some types that other people find very nice, like Sungold for example, are just too sweet for me.

I have read as widely as I can about tomato culture and understand about how flavour is affected by a number of factors including watering, feeding and the variety itself... but I don't seem to be able to apply that knowledge to improve my crops.

What would you suggest I try doing or not doing?

Your thoughts and ideas would be most welcome.

[Cutecumber]

Thanks - I'll make a note of the first two which I haven't tried yet.

I have grown pink brandywine for a couple of years and ... well ... they're OK, but not as good as I expected.

Are my Great Expectations too great???????

[Cutecumber]

I think that texture is also a big issue for me - I remember trying to eat some very unpleasant "mealy" tomatoes when I was little, and it totally put me off them until I was in my twenties.

Another confession is that I once had a tomato salad in France (only in Calais, I think ) which was so good that I am still looking for something that compares.

Is it possible for anyone in the UK to reproduce the flavour of the large mediterranean tomatoes?

[smallblueplanet]

Depends on the type of variety used in your French salad - from what you suggest it was a beef-steak variety rather than a 'round salad' type?

Try Super Marmande - a french variety! Maybe checkout some French seed sites or ebay 'graines de tomate' for French varieties? LOL! why not, I do. We're trying St Pierre this year.

But as for growing conditions for tomatoes - hmmmm I don't know what is most important, or what combination of conditions, but I bet lots of sunshine would be near the top of any list?

[Cutecumber]

Thanks

Yes, you're right about that salad. It was slices of beef tomato, ripe, but with a lovely green tinge. Spectacular!

Thanks for your suggestions, but, guess what - I've also been growing Super Marmande for a few years, and, well ... they're OK, but nothing special!

[Paulottie]

Hi cuteC, I often get my tomato seeds in France but more specifically from my wifes French grandmum who has a portugese gardenener. They grow 2 sorts a plum and a Marmande (beefsteak type) I have never found anything to compare to his toms. I also have some called 'Rose de berne (Beefsteak again) and 'Tomate des Andes(1st try)

Toms generally taste better if grown outside (But never a huge crop.) To avoid blight I stretch some clear plastic (but corregated stuff better to support- if you can find some instead) just to keep the rain off.

if you want some seed PM me amd i'll post you a few.

[Cutecumber]

Thanks Paul, that's a kind offer.

I can trade you some weird and wonderful ones in return, if you like (untried until this year)

German Red Strawberry - said to resemble a strawberry inside
Garden Peach - with a fuzzy skin!!

Interestingly, blight has not been a massive problem to me, as long as the tomatoes are in pots rather than in the soil - must be a "splashback" issue! - but I am sure that they would taste better if I could grow them in the ground. Sadly, there's too much competition for too little space - the sweetcorn take precedence in the ground over the tomatoes!

I am also going to try protecting the pots more from the heat of the sun, this year. I may wrap newspaper around them or something. It can't be good for their roots to be in hot plastic!!

[muckdiva]

Did anyone see the hour long Gardeners world (think it was Friday) which amongst other things, featured Raymond Blanc's kitchen garden. He did a taste test on tomatos in his kitchen, including Marmande, Russian Black, Brandywine, and I forget most of the others, but.... the one which came out on top was a Japanse variety the name escapes me, I think it was Japanese Trifele, or somesuch. I may have the programme on tape and if so, will check and post the name. Anyway, he really raved about the flavour of this variety..... Marmande was his second choice, but he said it was OK, rather than great. Of Brandywine he praised it, but said there was an aftertaste he didn't like.... A very interesting programme.

[Paulottie]

No Worries, I would definately like to try garden peach and maybe red straw would find a spot!? Always a struggle to fit it all in! Just expand to fill the space each year!!!

I have to say that it it really difficult to grow good toms in pots tho as they dry out so easily. this will cause both the blossom end rot and the tough skins -a drip resevoir helps.

Must go, In a play in Leytonstone this evening and work to do on the way. HA! but will put a parcel in post tomorrow.

[smallblueplanet]

Not sure Marmande has a 'green tinge' or green shoulders - time to check my catalogues to see what I can find (note to self: I will not buy any more tomato seeds, I am looking for cutecuke, not me! )

ps I think tomate de andes are what Monty grows aka Andine Cornue. We grew them last year, good for cooking, but preferred Teton de Venus.

[Headfry]

Hi Muckdiva, I saw the program too, and am trying to find that japanse Trifele- was it called something like Japanse Noir Trifele....? I would love to try this one!

[smallblueplanet]

Japanese Trifele Black

More piccies

[Headfry]

Where can we get this one....any ideas or is it far to late now!
Thanks again!

[smallblueplanet]

You've not bothered clicking on the link in my post then?

[smallblueplanet]

Here's another - http://www.seeds-by-size.co.uk/tomat...varieties.html