Determinate tomatoes.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Earlier in the season I was discussing with another member about the growing season of Tumbler a determinate bush tomato.

Information says that this type of tomato grows all its fruit at once and as a harvest period of about a fortnight. I explained this was not my experience and promised to let folks know about this years season.

Well harvest began late this year as we all know and I picked my first tom 05/08 (Photo on Vine show). This 9 weeks on is todays harvest with more to come if the weather holds. There is an odd Sungold in there too which I know eagled eyed grapes will spot

Seems Tumbler doesn't run true to form.

[Thelma Sanders]

I agree they don't all fruit at once.

Red Alert tends to, but Peardrop is still fruiting now, also a forgotten Garden Pearl over in the far corner of the greenhouse *blush* and the GP started fruiting in June!

Nowadays I just take it to mean a bush variety rather than a cane variety......

[Elfeda]

I wonder if we do have tumbler tomato seeds in VSP..

[Potstubsdustbins]

If not they are readily available but do remember they are not Tumbling Tom just Tumbler.

[Penellype]

I grew 4 bush type tomato varieties this year:
Balconi red and yellow started fruiting mid June (indoors) and continued to produce fruit sporadically until I cut them down today as they were getting botrytis. The yellow variety still had about 20 green fruit.
Garden Pearl fruited continuously late August to early October.
Totem fruited from late August until mid September when the plants started looking unwell. Loads of green fruit was picked at that point and is turning red in storage. I have grown Totem before and it does tend to behave like this.
Roma started fruiting late September and is still going although many of the fruit in my friend's greenhouse are starting to turn at the same time.

So a mixed bag with these 4 varieties, the first 2 fruiting over a much longer period than the others.

[maverick451]

I really like Tumbler, my only complaint it is seems a late-ish tomato but very good.

I read there is an improved Tumbler called, Terenzo, anyone tried it?

[Jungle Jane]

Information says that this type of tomato grows all its fruit at once and as a harvest period of about a fortnight.
Well harvest began late this year as we all know and I picked my first tom 05/08 (Photo on Vine show). This 9 weeks on is todays harvest with more to come if the weather holds.

I wonder,if we'd had constant warm weather throughout the summer,the plants wouldn't have stopped,started with their growth. If it's below 14 degrees or something they won't set fruit & they're not pollinated continuously,the pollinators disappear when it's cold,the stop start growth occurance could have delayed the plants & made fruiting take longer than it would normally maybe?

[Thelma Sanders]

I wonder,if we'd had constant warm weather throughout the summer,the plants wouldn't have stopped,started with their growth. If it's below 14 degrees or something they won't set fruit & they're not pollinated continuously,the pollinators disappear when it's cold,the stop start growth occurance could have delayed the plants & made fruiting take longer than it would normally maybe?

The growth I've noted for my greenhouse toms is their normal growth pattern - nothing to do with the weather

[Potstubsdustbins]

All my tom's were late but once the started they behaved as per normal except that I seem to have had a larger harvest than usual. We have given loads away to those not so fortunate and the freezers are full of home made tomato soup and puree.

[Jungle Jane]

Most of my tomato plants were outside in the open,I had less trusses set fruit this year,which is noticeable more with cordon varieties. I did pinch some flowers off at the end of august,from both bush & cordon varieties,I didn't think they had time to fruit. They wouldn't of,I think? It's been an ok year though,my kitchen's half full of tomatoes (I had 40 plants) so I don't mind losing the odd 5. I'm the only one who eats them here so I give lots away,when you know your family & friends will be eating clean chemical free food it's a great feeling.

[PMW]

I grew two tumbler plants for the first time this year in large hanging baskets. No one told me or them about a two week harvest though. I picked the first tomatoes on 13th July and carried on harvesting regularly until a couple of weeks ago. The plants are now looking a bit worse for wear but each still has at least 20 green tomatoes on.

Unfortunately they don't seem to be ripening anymore. Should I just pick them all now and ripen indoors?

[Jungle Jane]

Depending what stage of green the tomato is in,they might not ripen indoors. Some of mine have but some certainly won't. Have you tried removing as much foliage as you can including new shoots they seem to keep sending out no matter how many you remove? Also you could uproot the plants & hang them by their roots indoors for the warmth,this works with the greener tomato,I did it with gardeners delight one year,they were 6ft plants with sideshoots,quite awkward to carry but worth it depending how many green ones you have.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Well today saw the last of the ripe Tumbler so that's well plus of 10 weeks harvesting.

The remaining green ones will go for chutney.