Great weather for tomatoes.

[esbo]

For the last few years I have successfully grow tomatoes outdoors, which got me wondering, why bother with a greenhouse for tomatoes?

[Martin H]

Well done! Mine always get struck down by blight just as the first ones are ripening.

[Thelma Sanders]

Well done! Mine always get struck down by blight just as the first ones are ripening.

and that's why I grow mine in the greenhouse

[Scarlet]

Me too! I've given up on outside ones due to the dreaded blight!

[solway cropper]

You are very limited as to the varieties you can successfully grow outside in the UK....even in Nottingham. One reason we have greenhouses is to grow stuff that you CAN'T grow outside.

[esbo]

Well done! Mine always get struck down by blight just as the first ones are ripening.

Really? I had that problem the first year, but I started earlier in subsequent years, ie on window sills in the house.

What you can do is pick them and let them ripen off the vine.

The main problem I have is having too many to eat, and eventually they go rotten before I can eat them.

At the first sign of blight get picking the big ones.

Also get tomato which ripen earlier, ie cherry tomatoes, I try and get a spread of early to late ripening ones to kind of spread out the ripe season.

[Scarlet]

Ifyou pick toms off a blighted plant they often go bad during the ripening process. Outside toms can be a gamble so I prefer to use the outside growing space for something else.

[Scarlet]

Really? I had that problem the first year, but I started earlier in subsequent years, ie on window sills in the house.

That's why I have a green house no need to use windowsills

[esbo]

Me too! I've given up on outside ones due to the dreaded blight!

Well I haven't, I was thinking of a green house, but as I have so much success growing out doors I though why bother?

Indeed I would not get a greenhouse big enough to grow the number of plants I have been growing.

Main problem is I end up throwing away bucketfuls of tomatoes as they ripen faster than I can eat or give away.

I am growing less plants this year to avoid that waste.

[esbo]

That's why I have a green house no need to use windowsills

I like them on the window sill they look nice, and as I say I do great without a greenhouse so no need to me, also they get heat from the house, so no need for heating a green house.

[esbo]

Ifyou pick toms off a blighted plant they often go bad during the ripening process. Outside toms can be a gamble so I prefer to use the outside growing space for something else.

Well some might, but I have plenty of great tomatoes from the first ripe one picked until basically they start rotting due to 'old age'.

[Scarlet]

Main problem is I end up throwing away bucketfuls of tomatoes as they ripen faster than I can eat or give away.

I am growing less plants this year to avoid that waste.

There's no waste or rotten toms in this house! I grow for food throughout the year. I use the tomatoes for pasta sauces, chutneys, casseroles etc. I haven't bought a tin of toms in years and cook with the preserved ones every week.

[Nicos]

Gosh...I wish I had a greenhouse or Polytunnel!...we get much warmer summers than in the UK, but still get blight.
For the last couple of years we've ended up having to rip up blighted outdoor toms just as the first fruit is setting!
Such a waste of time, effort and watering.
Thing is, we'll still probably buy a few plants anyway....just incase

We also preserve our products, and I especially like the Kilner type sterilising in a huge bucket, up to12 x 1 litre jars at a time
We have one 1/2 litre jar of tomatoes left from3 years ago! As you say Scarlet...nothing is ever wasted in this household either!

[the big lebowski]

hi, is it bad to eat toms that have had blight on the plant ? last year i grew some small/cherry plum types,gave most of them to family i didnt get any complaints of anyone

[Alison]

I haven't had (quickly touches wood) too many blight problems but still grow my toms in the polytunnel. They crop for longer (more protection) and I can grow many more varieties than I could outside in the UK. I also use the same space for salads, brassicas etc in the winter so need the space all year. Don't understand the concept of wasting fruit / veg. If I really couldn't use it all then I'd give it away but with toms I bottle loads as passata and store loads as fresh into the following year by choosing appropriate varieties, the long storing ones just don't grow outdoors round here.