Dear Brits: Pay no attention to gridgardener. He posts on several American garden sites using many nicknames but always the worst English and never a friendly or civil thing to say. Please accept my apologies for what we here in the States refer to as white trash.
last year toms not very good only thing ive ever grown. this year ive grown sweetcorn cucumber carrots curly cale and raspberrys and buffalo all in pots in me garden from seed and very pleased. i water 3 to 4 times a day add the growmore food and tomarite liqiud evry so offten.i read up on tomatoes on the net i found the secret was keeping 3 branch leaves on it at all times choose the right 1s to remove producing between 8 to 12 in a bunch very pleased
We grew Super Marmande - which I guess are classed as beefsteak tomatoes - and unfortunately they don't have a lot of flavour, nor are there many to a plant. Two plants are in Growbags, one in a pot in the greenhouse and one in the garden - all have similar results. Gardeners Delight are doing well and taste good - ditto Tigerella, which have an excellent flavour - all in the greenhouse. I was advised to remove most of the leaves once the flowers were showing on all the tomato plants - is this a good idea, and if so when is the best time to defoliate?
Perhaps Nick could let us have the recipe for green tomato chutney as I have loads of beef tomatoes, perfect size and shape, just will not ripen. Any suggestions, have tried putting ripe banana skins close to them but with no success. They are all either in pots or in the ground outside, would they do better in a greenhouse? I'd be grateful for suggestions.
Hi Jeangenie I too would love the green tomato chutney recipe 'cos like you I have loads of beef tomatoes, perfect but not ripening. All mine are growing outside but will try some inside my greenhouse next year (just hung them up in greenhouse to see if that'll ripen them off!) I've also Gardeners Delight inside and out that are delicious (even when split!).
Hi Obelixx Shame about your tomatoes but like you I had great salad greens (red and green cut-and-come again), soft fruit (eaten off the bush but now in the freezer)and the best ever broad beans.
Hi Gridgardener Thanks for making me laugh but your talents are wasted on this site. Your acerbic nature obviously needs vital ingestion of manure - but just make sure it's organic.
What would cause super beefsteak tomatoes (Burpee) to produce copious small fruit instead of fewer large fruits? My beefsteaks have produced up to 20 tomatoes per truss with 5 or 6 trusses on each plant. All of the fruit is the size of a cherry tomatoe.
Beefsteak tomatoes are more for eating in sandwiches such as the ubiquitous BLT (bacon, lettuce and tomato with mayo). For salads and sauces it's best to go for a smaller fruit with more concentrated flavours. Sandwich tomatoes are supported by the flavours of other fillings. Size does seem to mean less concentrated taste.
If you can get hold of seeds for Buffalo Tomatoes you will not be disappointed with the crop, flavour, size or disease resistance. I have grown them for the last several years. The problem is now that Suttons have stopped selling the seeds, but will let you order plants (which are a darn sight more expensive) I haven't tried the plants because I cannot afford them. I haven't found another supplier yet.
I don't like the Beefeater, Marmande or any of the other large tomatoes either.
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I too would love the green tomato chutney recipe 'cos like you I have loads of beef tomatoes, perfect but not ripening. All mine are growing outside but will try some inside my greenhouse next year (just hung them up in greenhouse to see if that'll ripen them off!) I've also Gardeners Delight inside and out that are delicious (even when split!).
Hi Obelixx
Shame about your tomatoes but like you I had great salad greens (red and green cut-and-come again), soft fruit (eaten off the bush but now in the freezer)and the best ever broad beans.
Hi Gridgardener
Thanks for making me laugh but your talents are wasted on this site. Your acerbic nature obviously needs vital ingestion of manure - but just make sure it's organic.
I don't like the Beefeater, Marmande or any of the other large tomatoes either.