The great tomato race

[co-op]

Got my first tomato off an outdoor plant yesterday evening - a "Gardeners Delight" cherry tomato. I think I would have got one about a week earlier but it mysteriously disappeared (the plants are in communal space where my neighbour's kids play, I'm making no direct allegations you understand, I'm just telling you what happened...). Lots more coming through...

Is this the first outdoor one?

I planted the seeds really early, gambling on how it's usually pretty mild here in London, then we had that very cold late spring and the house was full of seedlings I couldn't put outside but the result is the earliest toms I have ever had.

 

[fractionMan]

I've got two little green ones now

 

[co-op]

I picked 8 utterly juicy ripe 'uns this evening.

 

[spirals]

I've got 6 mini plum tomatoes growing and still more flowers on the plant. It's the first time I've grown anything and I am ridiculously excited about it.

 

[ScallyWag II]

I picked 8 utterly juicy ripe 'uns this evening.

8?

Already? Where are you based? Are they in a greenhouse? Am jealous!!

Although I was well happy last night when I got home and spotted a decidedly reddish tinge on one of my cherry tomatoes Only one though, but some of the larger plants' fruits are really growing well so hopefully won't be too long before I get some more.

 

[sojourner]

I have 7 little green ones now - some bigger than others was starting to think they'd never arrive

 

[hiccup]

My tomatoes are flowering!!!

 

[Callie]

I am waiting patiently for my toms to ripen now. Theres quite a few of them all green though

 

[co-op]

8?

Already? Where are you based? Are they in a greenhouse? Am jealous!!
.

No greenhouse, a walkway on an estate about 30 feet up in the air - but I'm in south London, so obviously basking in sunlight while oop north in E17 you will be that much later....

I planted from seed, but really early (Feb), gambling on a mild spring. That sure didn't happen (remember how cold it was in March/April?) - but I kept the seedlings inside, repotted into yoghurt pots (the big Yeo valley sized ones so quite roomy) and they just kept growing even though our windows here are not sunny. By the time I put them out they were already a couple of foot high.

Biggest problems I have had are wind damage and *ahem* over-enthusiastic neighbours children who have decided that since they once tipped a couple of cups of water in to "help with the watering" they are now fully entitled to equal shares...I've now given them one plant for their own personal use and netted off the other 12 for meself....*crosses fingers*

 

[seeformiles]

Ate first half-dozen ripe cherry tomatoes at the weekend! tasty little beasts they were too.

 

[pennimania]

Got 4 ripe ones today

 

[felixthecat]

Had half a dozen ripe ones so far and have absolutely loads in varying stages of ripening. My cherry tomato plants (bush ones) have needed staking becuase of the weight of the fruit

 

[ScallyWag II]

No greenhouse, a walkway on an estate about 30 feet up in the air - but I'm in south London, so obviously basking in sunlight while oop north in E17 you will be that much later....

heh

Had half a dozen ripe ones so far and have absolutely loads in varying stages of ripening. My cherry tomato plants (bush ones) have needed staking becuase of the weight of the fruit

So far so good innit i've got 2 cherry tomato plants in a hanging basket and apart from the colours it looks as big as a hanging basket you'd find in a pub with award winning gardens. And the normal size ones are taller than my back door, and full of fruits with flowers still coming*. Fantastic!

* i've never been one for cutting off truses (sp?), always want to see how many will grow

 

[mr steev]

We've just got back from a weekend camping to find loads of green fruits and flowers and one red tomato.

 

[hiccup]

I have green fruit, repeat, I have green fruit.

I just hope to God it's not too late.

 

[scifisam]

We have about 8 on the tomato plant in the window box, and have done for a couple of weeks. Really should eat them!

 

[corporate whore]

Mine are fucked - flowers come and go, not a fruit in site.

So what's up with that, tomato-fans? Not pollinating, or what?

 

[fractionMan]

I have one red one and a bunch of tiny green ones still

cw: are the plants indoors? Could be they're not getting pollinated.

 

[Termite Man]

I have a few green but turning red and a few more green tomatos . My plants didn't even flower though so I don't know if that means I'lkl be getting killer tomatos

 

[corporate whore]

I have one red one and a bunch of tiny green ones still

cw: are the plants indoors? Could be they're not getting pollinated.

Nope, they're out on the balcony just where last year's successful crop were. Am miffed. Got no toms.

 

[Idaho]

Had about 20 or so ripe red tomatoes so far. Got another 20 or so within a week of being ready and another 40 or so green/yellow.

All off 3 plants.

 

[seeformiles]

Despite the rain, the outdoor tomato plants (in Leeds) are giving up about 10 ripe cherry toms every day. I've moved my chillis indoors though - the force of the rain was knocking the unripe fruits off them

 

[hiccup]

I have two green tomatoes. I thought I saw a hint of a blush on them this morning, but it was probably wishful thinking.

Ingredients:
4 to 6 green tomatoes
salt and pepper
cornmeal
bacon grease or vegetable oil
Preparation:
Slice the tomatoes into 1/4 - 1/2-inch slices. Salt and pepper them to taste. Dip in meal and fry in hot grease or oil about 3 minutes or until golden on bottom. Gently turn and fry the other side. Serve as a side dish - delicious with breakfast!

Hmph

 

[mr steev]

And here comes the blight!!!

Been up my allotment this afternoon to hear that several plot holders have got blighted tomatoes.

Ours look ok at the moment. Actually, they look quite good tbh, loads of green fruits, a handfull ripening and healthy looking plants. Although a few of the stems do look a little brown, but not obvioulsy so) But the weather at the moment (warm and wet) is ideal for this fungus. Last year everyone on the plot's crops were affected.

Fingers crossed!

We have another 4 plants on the yard at home, so hopefully we'll have a back up if it all goes wrong again

 

[co-op]

And here comes the blight!!!

Terrible year for it last year I lost everything, I've only planted in pots this year which kind of guarantees no blight. It's a lot of hassle watering them though so I'm planning a watering system next year...

 

[Termite Man]

I picked the first batch of tomatos yesterday and they are well nice . Once the sweetcorn is ready for eating I will be very happy

 

[mr steev]

And here comes the blight!!!

Where's the crying smilie when you need one

Just been up to the plot and it's not looking good. 12 plants, 4 different varieties, all were fruiting nicely, now all fucked. I'm gutted!

 

[co-op]

This may not be a good moment to say I've just come back from a w/e away and gone out and picked 2lbs of cherry toms - god knows how many, about 100?

Dee-licious....

Growing in pots = a lot of hassle with watering (and I'm really going to sort that out next year) but NO BLIGHT!

 

[ScallyWag II]

Terrible year for it last year I lost everything, I've only planted in pots this year which kind of guarantees no blight. It's a lot of hassle watering them though so I'm planning a watering system next year...

Same here, although i was using the same soil i had used for the previous two years so don't think that helped matters at all.

Where's the crying smilie when you need one

Just been up to the plot and it's not looking good. 12 plants, 4 different varieties, all were fruiting nicely, now all fucked. I'm gutted!

Oh no, absoultely all fucked? One of my plants last year sort of came good again after i pulled off loads of foliage.

This may not be a good moment to say I've just come back from a w/e away and gone out and picked 2lbs of cherry toms - god knows how many, about 100?

Dee-licious....

Growing in pots = a lot of hassle with watering (and I'm really going to sort that out next year) but NO BLIGHT!

i grow mine in an old recycling box, fill with 2 grow bags and 3 plants. Have planted 4 before but i think 3 are better. and 2 cherry tomato plants in a hanging basket. They do dry out though, need watering pretty much daily. Will you post your solution up for next year?

 

[trashpony]

I suspect winter will have arrived by the time mine grow to larger than pea-sized