Tomatoes long to ripen

tui34 · July 2023

Slowly, very slowly, but for this time of year down here in the deep south, the tomatoes are really taking their time. Other fruits such as peppers and aubergines are coming along nicely. Here are a couple of photos:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/rt/7zkx4diyqumj.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/hx/67nlzh3m9f39.jpg

I notice that there are less flowers than in previous years.

Joyce Goldenlily · July 2023

My toms are just beginning to turn colour.
I have removed the ones with blossom end rot. Looked it up on the RHS site. The cause is lack of calcium linked to irregular watering which ties in with me being pole axed for several weeks earlier in the season. Some of the damage looks more like tough skins splitting when eventually watered. I have left those fruits on the vines but will keep an eye on them, no sign of rotting at the moment.

Obelixx · July 2023

Same here @tui34. Tomatoes taking ages to get going and not flowering or fruiting as heavily as usual but the lemon cucumber and the chillies, also in the polytunnel, are cropping well already and have many more to come.

Normally by now I'd be into using the best in salads, panzanellas, tomato tarts and so on, bottling the big 'uns and drying small ones.

Fairygirl · July 2023

Mine are no further forward than that, but it's not particularly unusual for here. I don't normally get ripe toms before the end of July. Mine are mostly inside as it's not really reliable enough here most years anyway. They're probably a couple of weeks later because I had to start again though - the first sowings in mid March never germinated.

I expect your weather has been too hit and miss for them to be as early as you would normally get them @tui34 . Fingers crossed they get going soon though, and they're changing colour so shouldn't be long. Looks like you have a decent enough crop

tui34 · July 2023

I just took a photo of the best ones @Fairygirl !! I have some other rather strange plants. Will try and remember to snap them later this evening.

The crop is a poor show this year.

floralies · July 2023

My usual ones are super mama but they didn't germinate in the spring so I panicked and bought some Roma, Oh my what piddly things they are turning out to be, they are ripening but so small! Not much use for soups and sauces.

Simone_in_Wiltshire · July 2023

I took my ones out this morning. Too wet and cold. They started to get blight, and the two that were orange the skin was damaged by the rain.

Joyce Goldenlily · July 2023

My plants are in a greenhouse. My daughter only lives 6 miles away from me and her 4 plants have only just started flowering. I have always understood tomatoes do not like dry blistering heat which is why it is best to give them some shade. I cannot grow them outside because potato blight is endemic down here.

tui34 · July 2023

As you can see mine are outside. I have taken some photos of some spindly plants which I will post later .... time for a siesta first. It's very very hot!

Lovely meal of tomato salad, seiche à la se toise - which is squid in a sauce, melon, coffee and a piece of dark chocolate. Oh yes - the odd glass of chilled white!!

war garden 572 · July 2023

tui34 your being to impatient. which variety are you
growing.

tui34 · July 2023

Hello @war garden 572

This year I sowed: Kotlas, Noir de Crimée, Beef/Super Steak, San Marzano, Bloody Butcher, Prince de Borghese, Heinz and Mystère de la Nature. I had a good result and planted out around 20th May. A few seeds of each - in all about 48/50 plants.

Bad year this year and there are probably no more than a dozen healthy plants.

Tomatoes long to ripen

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