bland tastless tomatoes

[carolineholding]

I've noticed that the first tomatoes on my plants are quite bland and watery in flavour, thankfully the later ones seemed to improve in flavour last year. does any one know why this is and if there is anything i can do to improve matters (in the future)? quite worried this year as they've only just started ripening and at this rate the season will be over before I get a decent crop of tasty ones.

[vikkib]

What variety are you growing?

I find mine get a bit sweeter later in the season... it may just be that they get sweeter as the season goes on and they get more warmth or that I get bored with watering!

[Potstubsdustbins]

I used to suffer with the same problem with my Sungold until I realised it was my own fault.

I was picking before they were truly ripe early in the season, then found one that had gone a really deep golden colour the difference was very noticeable.

Potty

[BUFFS]

we are growing the "olympe" tom this year,on recommendation,and we tried one so far ,and it was very good,i was told they got to a good size,they are bl***y enormous,real beefsteak size, a good bit bigger than a cricket ball,about the size of a decent grapefruit,but after a count today,each plant is carrying an average of 17 fruit,and still the top trusses on some to set,i put it down to the heatwave,yes it reached us as well this year,and what a difference,isnt it good to have a year where we all shoud get a decent crop of whatever we grow...eating our own peaches at the moment,so happy days and great crops for everyone...

[Two_Sheds]

the first tomatoes on my plants are quite bland and watery in flavour, ...does any one know why this is

Variety, and lack of sunshine?

[RedThorn]

How are you growing them? Pots? In ground? You feeding them?

[carolineholding]

They're growing in the ground, there is plenty of sun and yes i am feeding them. it could be that i am impatient to eat them and picking them too early, trying very hard not to but they are literally the first few. also they are near the bottom of the plants so maybe they are shaded because of their position. So far I've been eating sungold and tigerilla. I will try to hold out for longer, I actually bought some tomatoes from the market this morning in a bid to distract myself from the ripening ones. As ever thank you for your prompt and helpful replies!

[solway cropper]

Agree that it's largely down to variety and maturity. My earliest this year were 'Bloody Butcher' with the first picked about a month ago. No great flavour but it's just nice to have your own tomatoes. The pic shows a sliced 'Black Russian'. A month later but sublime taste.

[Alison]

I find over watering is a big problem. I'm quite lazy so my indoor ones are fine but I know lots of people had tasteless ones outdoors last year as it was so wet

[taff]

I found tigerella to be a bit tasteless when I gre it before.

Try some of the black and green varieties....

[carolineholding]

quick update: after a stream of visitors and slightly cooler weather i've eased off on the watering and the taste has improved! yay!

[BUFFS]

we are growing the "olympe" tom this year,on recommendation,and we tried one so far ,and it was very good,i was told they got to a good size,they are bl***y enormous,real beefsteak size, a good bit bigger than a cricket ball,about the size of a decent grapefruit,but after a count today,each plant is carrying an average of 17 fruit,and still the top trusses on some to set,i put it down to the heatwave,yes it reached us as well this year,and what a difference,isnt it good to have a year where we all shoud get a decent crop of whatever we grow...eating our own peaches at the moment,so happy days and great crops for everyone...

picked the biggest toms yesterday (olympe) and the heaviest was 2lb 7oz,i am still trying to recall who told me they were a "good" sized tomato,some comedian eh?....

[Bill HH]

I used to suffer with the same problem with my Sungold until I realised it was my own fault.

I was picking before they were truly ripe early in the season, then found one that had gone a really deep golden colour the difference was very noticeable.

Potty

Funnily enough i was going to ask the same question, the little tomato I had salivated over for two weeks turned out to be tasteless mush! I also think Potty is spot on with his diagnosis. Now i am getting more I can leave them longer and they taste superb.

[Lazy Gardener]

My cherry tomatoes are supersweet. Even the unripe orange ones.

Probably a lack of water for 2 weeks whilst we were away and our housesitter couldnt
be bothered to water them.