San Marzano specialists, per-leeeze!

[Cutecumber]

I'm growing San Marzano plum tomatoes. They in their second pots (5 inch) and ready to go somewhere.

My question is...

is it normal for them only to bear the first flower truss at about three foot high! There are plenty of leaves, it's not just etiolation, but I've only just got flowers. This is the most developed I have ever seen a tomato plant before it produced the first truss. They are fed regularly and they appear healthy.

So, are they (or am I) freaks?

[davefromthechipie]

iv grown them before some years back . I think the problem is you planted them abit soon but it shouldnt be a problem with Marzanos just means you will have big plants to keep in order

[Alison]

No worries, mine aren't flowering at all yet but I'm guessing they should start in the next week or two.

[Cutecumber]

I haven't planted them yet. They are in 5 inch pots.

Alison - Thanks.

[OverWyreGrower]

Mine are still in 5 inch pots too

They don't seem to be growing as vigourously as my other varieties, so I may re-pot them tonight

[tattiefritter]

My first flower truss is about 18" high, I was beginning to wonder if they were ever going to have flowers! I've put 4 of mine in growbags in the greenhouse about a week and a half ago. I planted the first 4 in March I think, they seem quite vigourous considering I think I left them in small pots for too long.

[Cutecumber]

That's interesting, tattie.

They are probably the strongest growing tomato I have ever had - extremely vigorous - but I am surprised at the fairly delayed flowering considering their size.

[sewer rat]

My San Marzano plants are not near flowering yet but are the most vigourous of the twenty or so varieties I have this year. Should be planted in next fortnight - as soon as I get the tunnel cleared!! I am going to plant all my tunnel toms in a 6" layer of 3 year old well rotted FYM, in the hope that this will give them a boost as well as cut down on the water requirements.

[wellie]

San Marzano Plum Tomato

I have found what everyone's posted on this subject really very interesting. This variety of tomato is supposed to be The Chef's Choice of tomato for the working kitchen, and I'm finding myself at a loss to know why. I think the growth habit of it is dreadful, and I really don't mean to offend anyone, but I'm growing San Marzano and Romano 'alongside' each other, and Romano wins completely hands down.....

All of the Romano ripened fruits last year I semi-dried in the Rayburn, bottled in Olive Oil, and can vouch for their quality of taste. Absolutely 'Top Banana'.

Let me explain.... San Marzano's growth habit started just as good, then it seemed to just give up when it had reached the first truss, whereas the cordon Romano, also an excellent plum tom, has gone from strength to strength. San Marzano has completely run out of steam. I'm even considering the drastic action of giving the Romano's extra elbow room and scrubbing out the San Marzano's at first truss ripening. Which is drastic action for me to admit to!

I grew Costoluto a few years back, and they do warn with certain varieties, that if their growth-habit 'ends in a truss' that you should let a 'side-shoot' develop, to take over the upward growth in order to take the plant forward. San Marzano, I'm pretty sure, is of the same ilk? And I'm growing a few other 'heritage' varieties this year, that are certainly showing signs of that too. That's perfectly brilliant, as long as you know what you're dealing with before the event.

Anyway, I'm sorry to dampen the thread, but I'm hugely disappointed by it.
Oh, I feel 'awful' now!! But I really think it's worth mentioning. And who said Gardening was always a Bed of Roses!

I'm not a gardener of closed mind, obviously, and whilst my own experience this year has led me to voice the above, I shall continue to watch and read with interest. I'm also a gardener that readily votes with her feet though?

I wish you all lots of luck,

[SarzWix]

I'm trying San Marzano this year, and also Rio Grande, alongside my usual Roma. I know the Roma will produce ok from previous experience, so the others are just experimental for this year. The Rio Grande are a determinate/bushy variety, as are the Roma, so I might try one of the San Marzano as a bush (not removing sideshoots) and see what happens?

Although all sown at around the same time, the only variety of tomato (out of 8) which is flowering is the Sungold ...

[Hazel at the Hill]

All of the Romano ripened fruits last year I semi-dried in the Rayburn, bottled in Olive Oil, and can vouch for their quality of taste. Absolutely 'Top Banana'.

Yep - so can I, thank you Wellie!

With regard to varieties, I am fascinated by this thread - as a newbie we have some titchy tom plants which are sitting and sulking, I'm hoping that they will really 'get going' with either the warmer weather, or by being planted out this weekend!

End of term report is likely to be 'could do better, next year', but I may be pleasantly surprised!

Good fun this gardening!

[Kimbo]

My san marzano are the only ones even showing signs of flowering at the moment I am also growing auriga, sun baby (one less since the b****y slugs got one last night inspite of the vaseline - must have missed a bit) and tigerella. Have also got some gardeners delight going but these were planted much later.

They are also the hardiest of all the ones I have planted early. I planted 8 of each variety and have more san marzano thanany of the others

[raine]

hi, my tom plants are also small- about 5 inches and i was really impressed with them until I read about all those monsters! Plaese can you tell me if you grow san marzano outside as my labels faded ( classic school boy error - too lazy to get real pen ) and now I have all different plants and no idea (nothing new there then )

[momol]

[QUOTE=wellie;103929]I have found what everyone's posted on this subject really very interesting. This variety of tomato is supposed to be The Chef's Choice of tomato for the working kitchen, and I'm finding myself at a loss to know why. I think the growth habit of it is dreadful, and I really don't mean to offend anyone, but I'm growing San Marzano and Romano 'alongside' each other, and Romano wins completely hands down.....

Thanks Wellie,

I grow san marzano this year, they have been planted out since last month ( we are in south Netherland ) they are currently about 2 months old, 1 foot and flower buds begin to appears, I let them grow as bush ( I read it somewhere that they can be treated as semi bush ) they are growing well, stocky, compact and sturdy. Thanks for sharing your experience... now I know, I haven't mess up with it

Momol

[Cutecumber]

Lots more interesting stuff since yesterday...

At least if mine fail, I now know to try Romano

I am aware of the strange habits of these plants - they are (from what I have read) similar to the beefsteak tomatoes which I have grown several times. You encourage some sideshoots rather than removing them - I'm prepared for that (more or less). I expect them to be meaty rather than juicy and I'm growing them with a view to cooking and making sauce rather than eating fresh.

I shall be really interested to see what happens when I plant them up to their final places - with lots of support!

My advice to anyone who has not grown a semi-indeterminate variety (like some plums or beefsteaks) is that you will need a lot of space, several canes and ideally a cross-piece. Tie a cane horizontally across two verticals, say two foot apart, by lashing it with garden twine. By tying in your weird plant to this structure, it is much better supported.