Tomatoes

[snakeshack]

I always grow 2 of these from a January sowing - it means I have lots of early cherry toms before the others are even thinking about turning red.
Not the best in flavour IMO but wouldn't be without them, even so

These are great in hanging baskets , up to 15 pounds of toms from one basket over a season!


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[Snailfox]

I'm growing Gardener's delight, Black cherry, Black Russian, Black Zebra, Black Krim, Brandywine (out of curiosity more than expectation), plum lemon, and black sea man.

although none of them have yet ripened, the black cherry, Gardeners delight and black russian, are all really healthy plants with lots of toms developing.

[Bill HH]

Gardeners delight, Shirley, Sungold, three baskets of tumblers and the 4 bad boys Bearded bloke gave me.
The tumblers have been a surprise, just covered in Toms and two weeks ahead of everything else, we have been eating them for two weeks. Next year if they have so many I will pull half of them off to get larger ones because I think the bigger ones taste best. Sungold are a first for me and I have had a handful they taste superb.
Everyone seems to knock the supermarket toms but we buy some dark red vine tomatoes, medium size and they are absolutely gorgeous, wish I knew the variety. Where red tomatoes are concerned I think the flavour is far better in deep red coloured tomatoes.

[teakdesk]

Everyone seems to knock the supermarket toms but we buy some dark red vine tomatoes, medium size and they are absolutely gorgeous, wish I knew the variety.

You are quite right Bill, most supermarket toms are knocked... quite rightly in my opinion!

But yes, there are some cherry and small Roma types that at CERTAIN times of the year are very nice... I think it depends on sun. Tomatoes grown by constantly feeding nutrients and gases in the atmosphere seem to produce tough skins and dry tasteless fruit unless there is enough sun as well.

[dim]

You are quite right Bill, most supermarket toms are knocked... quite rightly in my opinion!

But yes, there are some cherry and small Roma types that at CERTAIN times of the year are very nice... I think it depends on sun. Tomatoes grown by constantly feeding nutrients and gases in the atmosphere seem to produce tough skins and dry tasteless fruit unless there is enough sun as well.

the majority of supermarket tomatoes come from holland where they are grown hydroponically .... I recall reading an article that stated that more than 80% of tomatoes in UK supermarkets are grown this way

[teakdesk]

the majority of supermarket tomatoes come from holland where they are grown hydroponically .... I recall reading an article that stated that more than 80% of tomatoes in UK supermarkets are grown this way

The British Tomato Growers Association makes the following claim to justify using fossil fuels to grow Britain...

"Over three quarters of current UK tomato consumption is of imported fruit. Most is from southern Spain and the Canary Islands and increasingly from Morocco. These involve lengthy transport by road or sea. There are also imports from Holland, Belgium, Israel, Italy, Poland, and Portugal, to name but a few. "

[poly]

I think I may be a bit obsessed with tomatoes and way over my head. But I want to plant different kinds of tomatoes next year.

So I was just wondering what is the best tomatoes to grow and what ones do you lot like to grow?

Go for it Are you going to be growing your toms inside or out?

Some of my fave's and a mixture of types, colours and shapes include;
Cherry toms, Sungold, Black Opal, Ambrosia Gold, Green Tiger, Green Pear, Coyote, Dancing With Smurfs, Green Doctors, Florididty.

Slicing/salad/beefsteak/hearts; Kosovo, Black Icicle, Brandywine, Marmande, Black Seaman, Silver Fir Tree, Pink Berkeley Tie Dye, Black and Brown Boar, Latah, Rambling Gold Stripe , Grubs Mystery Green

If you fancy any of these and would like seeds pm me.

[cariann88]

Go for it Are you going to be growing your toms inside or out?

I will be growing my tomatoes outside

[Philthy]

Agree about Sungold (delicious) and Moneymaker (bland)... Am also trying... Green Zebra and Belle this year, so will report back.

I grew an obscure novelty variety called Green Sausage awhile back. Maybe another name for Green Zebra? They were awful! But they looked nice

My recommendation is for Black Cherry, and Rosada. Both cherries, and delicious.

[poly]

Green Sausage and Green Zebra are different tomato varieties though both bred in the US by breeder Tom Wagner, Green Zebra has just had it's 40th Birthday! I like them both and agree with Philthy they do look nice. Green Sausage is a paste type so better for cooking with than eating fresh and Green Zebra does have a tang to it but in a good way.
Agree Rosada is lovely

[cariann88]

Green Sausage and Green Zebra

I am not even thinking of the tomato seed when you say that haha

[Moopmoop]

This year I am growing moneymaker, but yet to taste them. I'd wish they would hurry up.

I usually grow moneymaker every year, I think they are reliable and tasty. I also normally grow gardeners delight but this is the first year I haven't got them. I've no room as I am experimenting myself and growing Indigo Rose, Sweet Aperitif, and Flamingo Pink. I did have a Sungold but it died through to negligence on my part.

Last year I tried a few unusual varieties but don't think we had the weather for a decent crop without a greenhouse. This year I'm keeping my fingers crossed, another month of this and I'll have my best crop ever.

[Martin H]

I've just been picking my first tomatoes from my new greenhouse. They are Moneymaker, simply because I had the seed and started them off before I knew I was getting the greenhouse. Also my dad used to grow this variety.

I have to say they have a lot less flavour than I remember. Firm and very juicy but very mild. I'm wondering if it's because I'm growing them in pots of MPC rather than proper soil?

It'll be interesting to see what the other varieties taste like (Alicante and Red Pear).

[cariann88]

I am growing Moneymaker this year. Not gone red yet

[Potstubsdustbins]

IMO Moneymaker are not tasty at all. They were bred for commercial growers to produce lots of toms (hence the name) without regard to taste.