Favorite tomatoes
John Reynolds
Posts: 65
in Fruit & veg
I am starting to think about which Tomatoes to sow this year, has anybody got any preferences on which to recommend ?
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John Reynolds
Posts: 65
John Reynolds
Posts: 65
John Reynolds
Posts: 65
Posts
I'd always go for some cherry tomatoes - gardener's delight or sungold. Brandywine are great for a beefsteak, though can be tricky. I haven't found a 'regular' sized tomato that I'm ecstatic about, but have had good results from an Italian plum variety...San Daniele maybe?
I'm having a go at some "black" ones this year, also Tumbling Tom in hanging basket. Trial and error for me!
Sungold, and tumbling tom are the types I have lots of success with. The last couple of years we have had poor sunshine so larger toms have a hard time ripening. With this in mind I'm trying 'sungella' which is a cross of sungold, but the toms are the size of golfballs so I'm trying to find the happy medium of size but still ripen. I shall post my results throughout summer. I grew a Heritage variety last year 'black russian', they were nice, but more difficult to grow mainly because they got as large as your fist, and needed major support, they then took an eternity to ripen!
Because of the poor sunshine levels the last few years, I'm put off from growing beefstake varieties, whereas the sungold and sungella gave me literally 10 carrier bags full of fruit.
Be aware I grow in a large 10x12 greenhouse, lots of my friends with allotments who grow outside have been decimated by blight the last few years.
Sungella sounds interesting.
The coming summer is uncertain - hot? cold? wet? dry? whatever, I recommend that all tomatoes are grown in a greenhouse. Nothing is so upsetting as to see yur lovely thriving outdoor tomato plants decimated by blight. (well, almost nothing).
I have grown loads of different varieties but the one I like the most is Alicante - the best sandwich tomato.
Have had success outside with tomatoes, except last year of course. Have been growing them outside for years. Most years had good results. Just took last year with a pinch of salt and will be getting on again this year.
We grow gardeners delight for salad, nice and sweet, just big enough to pop into your mouth whole, always had good results, so tend to return to them each year.. We will also be growing piccolo tiny toms this year, got some already through this year, very sweet.
We also grow something like. Alicante, Shirley or Money Maker for cooking and chutney making. All very good croppers. We do grow them all in the greenhouse, never been very lucky growing outside, but I suppose it depends on where you live and if you have a sheltered, sunny spot in your garden.
Chris.