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Balconi Red Tomato Plant advice

mark.odaremark.odare Posts: 6
in Problem solving
Hello, This is the first time, I have tried to grow Balconi red tomatoes. Although they are described as small bush cherry plants, reaching 12-18 inches max, both the plant and more importantly, the tomatoes appear far bigger.  Am I doing anything wrong?  I water daily and feed weekly with the recommended amount of feed.  Feedback appreciated.

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited July 2020
    This particular type is bred to be grown in hanging baskets where the root restriction will produce a smaller plant.  When grown in larger containers like yours, you get a larger plant.  You would be better growing varieties such as 'Suncherry Premium F1" (a really flavoursome variety I can personally recommend) if you want cherry-sized fruit next year.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • mark.odaremark.odare Posts: 6
    Many thanks for the replies both, much appreciated Here is the pack and information. The pot is 12 inches as advised on the rear of the packet.

    I also have tumbling Toms and F1 profusion that are going well and as expected.
  • mark.odaremark.odare Posts: 6
    edited July 2020
    Oops, also the brief description.  The plant is deterministic, i.e. stopped growing past set height, but it closer to 24 inches.  I did grow beefsteaks last year and they were a more classical leaf shape.  Very happy to get the feedback, as I am not very experienced, last year was the first I had grown in about 15 years.  Thanks again.
  • mark.odaremark.odare Posts: 6
    philippasmith2 said:
    I haven't heard of this particular variety but from the pics, obviously not Cherry.
    They look more like one of the "Beefsteak" varieties given the shape and size.
    Were the seeds purchased from a reputable seed supplier ?  If so, I'd contact them and send a photo and see what they say.  Seed mix ups can happen even with the best supplier.
    As you have them and they appear to be growing well, perhaps removing some of the leaves to allow better air flow and continue as you are.
    Will try removing some leaves and see how they turn out, certainly not complaining about the size, but a little confused as to why they appear to be the right plant based on leaf pattern with such large, as you say, beefsteak looking toms.
  • mark.odaremark.odare Posts: 6
    BobTheGardener said:
    This particular type is bred to be grown in hanging baskets where the root restriction will produce a smaller plant.  When grown in larger containers like yours, you get a larger plant.  You would be better growing varieties such as 'Suncherry Premium F1" (a really flavoursome variety I can personally recommend) if you want cherry-sized fruit next year.
    Thanks for the recommendation Bob.  As you will see above, I followed the instructions on container choice, but may try smaller pots or baskets next time.
  • mark.odaremark.odare Posts: 6
    philippasmith2 said:
    I haven't heard of this particular variety but from the pics, obviously not Cherry.
    They look more like one of the "Beefsteak" varieties given the shape and size.
    Were the seeds purchased from a reputable seed supplier ?  If so, I'd contact them and send a photo and see what they say.  Seed mix ups can happen even with the best supplier.
    As you have them and they appear to be growing well, perhaps removing some of the leaves to allow better air flow and continue as you are.
    Hi Philippa,

    i followed your advice, thanks:

    The response from the supplier, you were correct, still have no idea what I am actually growing though :).  Thought you may be interested in the outcome.

    Dear Sir/Madam
    Thank you for your email.
    I have had a look at the photo and I can only conclude that the incorrect variety has been packed instead of the Balconi Red. I sincerely apologise for the error.
    If you can please provide your name, address and postcode, we will be more than happy to send you a replacement packet.
    Hope to hear from you shortly. 
     
    With best regards,
  • david.harriman4david.harriman4 Posts: 1
    Hello Mark, I don't really think you did anything wrong, but sometimes you can get a natural variation in plants. I grew some Berry Tomatoes last year from the same batch of seeds which I had saved from the year before, and one plant was dwarf and bushy, whilst another grew to be about 5ft tall, they both produced tomatoes as expected, and I am growing seed from both plants this year to see what happens.
    How are things progressing so far this year for you? Personally I would never buy anything which is an F1 or hybrid because they are massively overpriced for a just few seeds, and you can't save the seeds from them to grow the same variety next year because they won't reproduce true. Always go for open-pollinated or heirloom types which will produce true, and you can grow them for ever and a day, and they will adapt very well to be more reliable in your own local growing conditions.
    I've just planted a dozen Balconi Reds through 2" holes in a flat growbag to see how they fair, mainly because more of them grew than I was expecting! These are from a couple of  plants that I grew very successfully a couple of years ago on opposite sides of the same hanging basket.
    Anyway, good luck with everything you grow this year!
    Kind regards,
    David.
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