Gourmandia tomato

Chris314

Ive had nothing but trouble. First the seed packet had only 1 seed in it. Replacement seeds took ages to germinate and now they're growing strangely with multiple branches even though i keep removing side shoots. Finally a flower has opened but its double!
Is that normal
.? 

Pete.8

Sorry to hear of your troubles.
Double flowers are normal for beefsteak tomatoes.
As far as I can tell it is an indeterminate variety, so removing side shoots is correct.
I don't know why yours seems to be growing more like a determinate (bush) variety.
Were the seeds from a reputable supplier?

Sheps

Same problem for me too, two of my indeterminates have turned out to be determinate and possible a third, seems to be a strange year for tomato plants. especially GC bought ones.

floralies

I grow f1 super mama, they also have double flowers and you have to keep on top of the side branches as well as the small shoots. If you want extra tomatoes keep the side branches and train and support them as they will be heavy!

Chris314

(seeds were from T&M. I dont usually grow beefsteaks. Sounds like mine are normal for their) type

Chris314

Just a final update:
Finally managed to germinate a couple of seeds, planted into grobags in the greenhouse.
Everything looking OK but then every one of the fruits had bad end rot. In the end not a single plant yielded any edible fruit. Other tomatoes (honeycomb/cherrola/etc) doing perfectly well.
Needless to say I won't be going near gourmandia again   

Pete.8

How disappointing for you Chris.
I know I've had problems with BER occasionally when growing the larger type of tomato.
I grow Rose de Berne which is quite a big tomato (and by far the best tasting tomato I've ever grown) and usually only get 1 or 2 fruits with BER.
It's often a case of trial and error.
If your gourmandia plants are still growing there's still time for some more fruits 

Dovefromabove

I've found that some of the beefsteak and oxheart varieties are prone to a more determinate style of growth ... I just put plenty of support in and leave them to it.  I've not really had a problem with BER with them, but I always grow the big ones in the open ground, not in pots indoors.  

lizmmacaulay17189

I was searching for reviews of this tomato and found this thread. I’ve grown this variety this year for the first time and have had really good crops with lots of lovely sized large fruit, they’ve been delicious in soup and roast veg. My plants are outside and developed into a jungle about 5’ high in a raised bed- I can’t reach to top or debranch as I am disabled. I think because of this overcrowding and recent rain I noticed some blight and picked off all the fruit (lots) which are now ripening well. 

Very pleased with the result and will try it again next year. 

diggersjo

Our previous place we grew Cuore Di Bue (locally known as Pera) as did almost everyone of our neighbours. We did grow others, but these were the main crop large tomato. Invariably the bulk had some sort of blossom rot (if indeed that’s what it was), 99.9% it did not impact the quality of the tomato and could be simply cut out. Not grown toms in this country for some years now, so perhaps I forget what an impact BER could be. What I do recall is the fact they did not taste anything like those you get abroad, but again perhaps with our warmer summer days here that has changed? I still doubt very much you could grow them outside here in Yorkshire and get the quality to make a decent Caprese Salad.

war garden 572

diggersjo
you know  Cuore Di Bue  translates  as ox heart in
Italian.