Tomato reviews likes & dislikes 2015 - 2020

[annie8]

Of my plum toms, not sure if they are SM, one is just turning and I'm 450 miles south of you. Seems a slow year to me, think it was to do with the heatwave.

Yes just seems odd as all my other types are ripening well. They are pretty big though.

[bario1]

Has anyone got any ripe san marzano yet? I am getting a decent crop from my gardeners delight, Shirley and red cherry but no sign of the san marzano ripening at all.

I don't bother with anything but cherry tomatoes up here, the season's just too short to ripen bigger toms.

[Scarlet]

As a lot of our photos have disappeared I thought I'd add some here for some eye candy - you may fancy trying something new next year


Dancing with Smurfs


Black Russian


Orange Banana


Buffalo Horn

[bramble]

They all look great Scarlet.

Don know if anybody else is growing Black Mauri but I got a fantastic crop from it this year.
Oval shape with dark shoulders and a lovely flavour
I will definitely grow this one again.

[Scarlet]

Thanks Bramble, a couple of those photos are old ones - but my Black Russian toms have been fabulous this year - just picked one and its 8oz!
The black Mauri Looke great, I've never grown it.


Yellow Pear

[Greenleaves]

Saw these at thought of you tomato growers

Tomato Super Mama F1 From D.T. Brown Seeds &mxmroi=2386-127843-153384-0

[MarkPelican]

Saw these at thought of you tomato growers

Tomato Super Mama F1 From D.T. Brown Seeds &mxmroi=2386-127843-153384-0

Can somebody explain to me why we grow F1 Hybrids? There are an (almost) infinite number of Heritage & Open Pollinated varieties which (IMHO) tend to be tastier and equally well cropping to the expensive F1 Hybrids that tend to come and go annually.

[Scarlet]

I must admit I grow mostly heritage and open pollinated because I love the story behind the variety and I can save seed and don't need to buy it again. For lots of people though, they aren't interested in saving seed, and some of the F1 hybrids offer resistance to blight, blossom end rot etc and for some that is a real bonus. I always grow F1 cucumbers inthe greenhouse - I had a nasty experience with an OP variety that produced hundred of male flowers and every cucumber was bitter. - they were disgusting - I even tricked my kids into eating them - they had to wash their mouths out in the sink.

[veggiechicken]

Here are a few tomatoes in the GH today - to add to the photo collection.

Halina - seeds from Nellie-m and some sent to the Seed Circle 2017.
This is a lovely, big, juicy tomato - early ripening for such a large one. I've grown it for a couple of years now and will continue to do so.
It won't win any prizes for being perfectly formed but taste matters, not looks.

[veggiechicken]

Rosella
Large trusses of small, dark, pinky-purple fruits. Great flavour but tendency to split if not picked under ripe.

May not grow again.

[veggiechicken]

Black Icicle

I've grown these every year since Scarlet introduced me to them. Thanks.

Tall, sprawling plants with limp, drooping leaves - always look as if they need watering.
Good flavour, keep cropping until late in the season.
These toms aren't fully ripe yet, the colour deepens to a conker colour!
Suffered with Blossom End Rot this year.

[veggiechicken]

Gardener's Delight

The first tomato I ever grew and I've grown it every year since. This is what a tomato should taste like, in my opinion. Bit of a tang, full flavoured - not watery or sweet. My favourite.

[Scarlet]

Black icicle are one of my favourite toms - delicious!

[veggiechicken]

Homosa

Seeds from HSL who describe it as:-

Indeterminate. Cordon. Bears medium-sized round, red fruits. Seed Guardian Karen Skeates says, “Well behaved plants produce a plentiful yield”. Fruits are of average size and appearance, but she adds, “taste vastly better than any supermarket tomato...A great variety with a delicious tomatoey flavour.”

Haven't tasted this one yet. Hoping to save seeds for the Seed Circle.

[Tripmeup]

Thanks Bramble, a couple of those photos are old ones - but my Black Russian toms have been fabulous this year - just picked one and its 8oz!
The black Mauri Looke great, I've never grown it.


Yellow Pear
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All of my tomatoes this year have been great but agree on Black Russian.
Try to grow these every year.