Heritage tomatoes

[MarkPelican]

I've cut back on my tomato growing this year, I'm only growing 34 (or 35) varieties, most from last year's seed swap, like Chris I've got too many cultivars that I've collected up over the years.

If you want to see what you've let yourself in for try looking at Tatiana's website there are several thousand heritage cultivars listed (she sells seeds if you want and I think ships to the UK despite being based in Canada). There are US sites as well and in the UK, Nicky's seeds does a good selection.

I've been trying for years to identify my "ten must grow tomatoes" looking for a mixture of Beefsteak, Standard and Cherry tomatoes across the range of colours. Still trying.

[robbra]

Thanks Mark.
Cut back to 35, if I did that I'd only have one plant of each, Have you got a farm?
Mine about 30 are all in pots mostly from Poundland or black buckets and they do well most years. Filled with either growbags or now found a large bag of compost at B&Q. Very cheap. Some are 2 or 3 to a pot and they do thrive.
Had a look at Titanias, lots on there but few from UK, can't order anything until October and will see what's available then.
Time to get out there now and remove some sideshoots.
Rob

[MarkPelican]

I have only one of each variety this year because I’ve given up my allotment and have turned the polytunnel over to growing veg. If you want to see a farm, look at Delectation of Tomatoes, the las I saw he had sown 8,000+ seeds for this years planting.

[robbra]

Hi Mark,
An interesting concept, Delectation of Tomatoes, sounds like a bit of a fly by the seat of your pants affair but wouldn't we all like a life like that. If I had space a poly tunnel would be on order and loads of toms growing.
About one of each variety, I've got trouble identifying which is which of mine. All labelled to start but planting on they just got muddled. Never been organised even when self employed. I'll know when the ripen but all good fun. Some flowers starting to form.

[veggiechicken]

You can't offer seeds in the Tomato circle if you don't know what they are!!

[robbra]

VC, they are common or garden so no real value to anyone but they are all very different so when they fruit I'll know, red, black, yellow, striped and 2x very different biguns.

[veggiechicken]

The big question is - do you know which are bush and which are vine so you know how to prune and train them?

[robbra]

They are all vine, no bush, haven't got around to doing bushes until next year.
I did think Ildi was a bush mistakenly so put some in a hanging basket and they are heading towards the space station.

[veggiechicken]

Red Robin is a bush tom.

[robbra]

Ah, I see.
The list in my first post is what I have and what I had already and what I was ordering then.
For clarification I'm growing
AIlsa Craig
Tigerella
Cour di Boue
Black Cherry
Ildi
Ananas
The rest I have just received as seeds and planning for next year.
I have just planted some seeds for viability testing but don't expect anything from them.
Sorry for not making it clear.
Rob