Perennial Tomato Experiment!

[VolesAteMyPeas]

No no no Penellype. My fault, I didn't really explain. The blighted ones are long gone! You are absolutely right. The minute I saw blight they were out and burnt. No way do I want anything blighted anywhere near my plot!

[Penellype]

No no no Penellype. My fault, I didn't really explain. The blighted ones are long gone! You are absolutely right. The minute I saw blight they were out and burnt. No way do I want anything blighted anywhere near my plot!

Thank goodness for that

[Snadger]

Unless you live in an area with a very warm climate, I see nothing to be gained by a costly overwintering! (apart from being able to say you've done it!)


I know, I know I'm turning frumpy, but you get more sense as you get older! (Apart from VC that is!)

[veggiechicken]

You are a Frumpy Grump, or is it a Grumpy Frump?
It doesn't have to be costly, you just bring them under cover/indoors, and hope for the best - so there

[Bill HH]

I suppose what is to be gained is a very early start. If the ones i have chopped down come to life again they will have the benefit of a fully developed root system. I am in a mostly frost free area (with notable exceptions) so i am hopeful.

[VolesAteMyPeas]

It's not costly at all! They're sat on my windowsill. If they look like this in March, they'll have a headstart on any seedlings. Which I will also grow. If you don't try, you won't ever know!

[Bigmallly]

I see nothing to be gained by a costly overwintering!

Sorry Snadge but I see nothing costly by covering plants with a mulch/fleece/newspaper etc.

[Snadger]

I suppose what is to be gained is a very early start. If the ones i have chopped down come to life again they will have the benefit of a fully developed root system. I am in a mostly frost free area (with notable exceptions) so i am hopeful.

A fully developed root system and no nutrients or organic matter left in the compost which has a growing seasons worth of pests and diseases in it!

There's no more growth left in mine now and we haven't even had a frost.

Deffo a costly business to try in this area as grow lights and heating would be a necessity.

[Snadger]

Sorry Snadge but I see nothing costly by covering plants with a mulch/fleece/newspaper etc.

Fair enough if you think they will survive, but that's deffo not enough protection in this neck of the woods!
Damp,cold,low light, winter weather is a perfect breeding ground for fungal problems to thrive, if nothing else.

[Snadger]

It's not costly at all! They're sat on my windowsill. If they look like this in March, they'll have a headstart on any seedlings. Which I will also grow. If you don't try, you won't ever know!

I salute your enthusiasm and wish you well.

[Snadger]

You are a Frumpy Grump, or is it a Grumpy Frump?
It doesn't have to be costly, you just bring them under cover/indoors, and hope for the best - so there

Mine are spent and as dead as Monty pythons parrot! Hope you don't keep flogging a dead parrot!

[veggiechicken]

You're just baiting us, Snadger Wait until spring, when we're picking luvly tomaties and yours are still little seedlings


Hope I don't have to eat my words, I'd rather eat tomaties

[Penellype]

This is my family of perennial Shirley tomatoes as of today - I've just given them a trim and a feed:


There are 9 in all, the 3 on the left were grown from side shoots from plants from this year's seeds. These have had one lot of fruit so far. Not sure what is up with the one on the far left - not looking great, but I'm giving it a chance. The one 4th from the left is grown from a seed this year. This has fruited twice and has some flower buds and one flower opened today. The 2 in the centre were side shoots from last year's plants, these have no sideshoots showing at the bottom (yet) but are responsible for all of the red fruit in the background - their 2nd crop so far.

The 2 just right of centre were last year's seeds, these have already overwintered once. They are getting a bit straggly, but have a couple of green fruit on them which I will allow to ripen. I was going to throw these out, but there are some healthy looking shoots showing at the bottom, so they are having a stay of execution.

Close up of the bottom of one of the old plants showing the cut stems and a new shoot. The old stems become covered in root buds - this is normal:


The one on the right is a sideshoot from last year's plants that I rooted very early in the year. This one is on its 3rd flush of stems. Its not easy to see but it has reached the top of its cane and has some flower buds. The plant on the far right is basil, which will be gone soon.

[Shadylane]

I think I overwintered a cutting once. I don't think it did any better and the others caught it up. In fact I think it was a bit more rubbish than the others so maybe Snadger is right. Having said that one of our black cherries has some volunteers seedlings - well plants actually - around its base and it has fresh armpit growth which has started to flower. It's ever so confused. I may try and overwinter the small plants and take the armpit as a cutting. Just for the crack.

[Bigmallly]

Just to confirm, this is merely an experiment for me, if they don't show any signs of growth in the spring they will be pulled up, I have plenty of seed.