Forum home› Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Tomato Varieties for outdoors in Scotland

m02098975ANocN3Am02098975ANocN3A Posts: 22
in Fruit & veg
I managed to grow Moneymaker, Marmande and Plum tomatoes outdoors last year.  Not sure if I was lucky because of the weather, but was looking to try again this year and looking for varieties that ripen quicker. Can anyone recommend any? Thanks 
«13

Posts

  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Which part of Scotland are you @m02098975ANocN3A ? I ask because even with the lovely weather we had last year I couldn't grow those outside here. Ferline is said to be a good doer outside in the SW of Scotland.
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Last year was a serious aberration, so don't judge by that. I grew a couple outside too, but only because I had a few extra and couldn't fit them inside, and it was a case of that or just chucking them  :)

    I don't know of anyone who bothers trying to grow outside up here. Certainly not up in the west - far too wet and cold.  The climate isn't reliably consistent enough - especially the overnight temps.
    Further south is a bit easier. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    I agree.
    Here in the SE of Scotland I only grow toms. in the greenhouse.
    I have had too many years when they were not worth the effort outside, so I don't bother now.

    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • m02098975ANocN3Am02098975ANocN3A Posts: 22
    Glasgow area. 

    I only have a tiny ,  mini greenhouse. Could fit 2 in there they did okay but outside ones were better. The flavour was that good compared to supermarket ones id like to try again. Got a sunny spot in the garden and quite sheltered. There was a woman on Beechgrove Garden last year who said she had been growing them outside for years.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I wouldn't bother trying to grow outdoors then, if you're Glasgow area. How protected your garden is will be a factor in that.   
    The plastic growhouses aren't great, but they at least provide shelter from rain, as long as they're well tethered. They aren't warm enough though. Toms need reasonable figures overnight -double figures consistently, to thrive and grow well, and you have to be careful when you start putting them out there in spring too. If you're at any altitude, even fairly small, that alters it too. 
    That's the problem with the climate here. I've seen many summers where it's struggled to get to double figs through the day, never mind overnight. I learned very early on that it's pointless in this part of the country to grow outside. 
    The climate is certainly changing - but it isn't changing that rapidly.  ;)

    It would also depend on where that woman you mention was. The east side and further south have vastly different climates from the west and north.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • m02098975ANocN3Am02098975ANocN3A Posts: 22
    Fairygirl said:
    I wouldn't bother trying to grow outdoors then, if you're Glasgow area. How protected your garden is will be a factor in that.   
    The plastic growhouses aren't great, but they at least provide shelter from rain, as long as they're well tethered. They aren't warm enough though. Toms need reasonable figures overnight -double figures consistently, to thrive and grow well, and you have to be careful when you start putting them out there in spring too. If you're at any altitude, even fairly small, that alters it too. 
    That's the problem with the climate here. I've seen many summers where it's struggled to get to double figs through the day, never mind overnight. I learned very early on that it's pointless in this part of the country to grow outside. 
    The climate is certainly changing - but it isn't changing that rapidly.  ;)

    It would also depend on where that woman you mention was. The east side and further south have vastly different climates from the west and north.  :)
    I'm definitely going to do it again. Last year was my first time trying.  I got lucky with the weather but who is to say it won't be a good summer  again this year.
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    I have a friend who lived in a flat in the Toll Cross area of Glasgow who grew Gardeners Delight successfully (at times) in the close which was surrounded by buildings. I guess the stone walls helped to keep the area warm, a little micro-climate if you like.  
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Well - don't say we didn't warn you  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • m02098975ANocN3Am02098975ANocN3A Posts: 22
    Fairygirl said:
    Well - don't say we didn't warn you  ;)

    Is there anywhere you would recommend to get a greenhouse from? Do any places install it for you?

  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    Your best chance is to use a south facing wall, one under an overhang would be even better as it would keep the rain off, and therefore the chance of blight. I have managed outside tomatoes where I am, but only under those conditions. out in the field they get blight just as they start to ripen anything.
    Pick cherry tomatoes for a more reliable crop, the bigger the tomato the longer it takes to ripen and the more chance you have of either blight or simply running out of time.

Sign In or Register to comment.