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Not a Tomato Problem?

OldcompostOldcompost Posts: 191
in Problem solving
I grew 32 varieties of tomatoes in the greenhouse this year (one of each) in large pots or in the ground with varying success and disappointments.  As an experiment I let the Super Sweet 100 grow without pinching out early side shoots and it has produced 27 healthy trusses.  The general idea is to aim for 5/6 trusses but if you have the space maybe let nature just do its own thing.  This was also the case last year so I don't think the extra warm July made any difference.  Any comments? 
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  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Bob Flowerdew doesn’t pick out either, he just sows one plant then let’s it go across ways. 
    Personally, I wouldn’t want that many tomatoes of one variety, unless I was running a market garden. 
    Ive got bowls of the things everywhere at the moment and the freezers full with those made into sauces, they’ll have to go in there whole when I get room or in the bin. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • OldcompostOldcompost Posts: 191
    Lyn:  Trays of sun dried also uses up excess amounts in a nice way.  You're in West Dartmoor, we were walking near Lydford a couple of weeks ago.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I have grown far too many tomatoes this year, all new varieties to me, and trimmed none as they all behaved like bush tomatoes.  We have now got to the point of cutting off stems with immature green tomatoes or flowers on to reduce the crop.   OH has been making gazpacho and I have been bottling passata in jars and also drying toms to store in jars with olive oil to seal them.  

    Loads more still to process and they're also being used in salads and cooked dishes.  Over-ripe ones we've missed get put out for the birds and wasps.  Next year I shall plant fewer and also further apart as every single one has grown like a triffid this year and it's been difficult to get to the back rows.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Oldcompost said:
    Lyn:  Trays of sun dried also uses up excess amounts in a nice way.  You're in West Dartmoor, we were walking near Lydford a couple of weeks ago.
    Wish I’d have know we are minutes away from Lydford we see the mist in the gorge from the window. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Loraine3Loraine3 Posts: 579
    Tomatoes freeze well whole. When using, remove from Freezer put in boiling water to skin and use as tinned tomatoes. I use in chilli-con-carne.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    No room in my freezer so passata or dried toms for me but I shall try and make sure I have more space for next year's crops as I'll have soft fruit by then if all goes to plan.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • OldcompostOldcompost Posts: 191
    Loraine3:  I'd have to buy a second freezer as like Obelixx mine's full already.
  • OldcompostOldcompost Posts: 191
    Coming back to this Super Sweet 100, I just came back from counting after losing track at about 600 (and that's not including the one's eaten already) - surely this is a case for not pulling off the side shoots?
  • OldcompostOldcompost Posts: 191
    Lyn:  I hope The Lydford Arm's food is good, the walkers who have chickened out of the long walk are there for lunch tomorrow (I'm one of the chickens!)
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Never eaten there, but I would think it’s good. Lots of people pass through there.  We only go there for work, never time to stop for food. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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