Topic: Toms

[Gadfium]

Multiveg - got my Riesentraube from the 'Simply Vegetables' catalogue, they have an amazing 13 pages of tomato varieties, and a lot of them seem to be heirloom. I think you may be right about the nipple shape... The catalogue's description goes along the lines of:

Riesentraube - German heirloom since 1856. The name means 'bunches of grapes' and certainly the fruit is produced in vast quantities, 1" round, and a very distinct shape (?). Excellent flavour. Cordon. 80 days from transplanting.

That sound like yours? I picked it mainly because of the 'excellent flavour' description, and the fact thats it's an old heirloom. How did your riesentraube fare? Do you go along with the flavour description?

If they survive, I'll take a picture of their aesthetic statistics  ;)

Thanks Tim and Wardy for answering my 'greenhouse shift' dilemma. I'm running out of windowsill space, so have compromised. The greenhouse heater has gone on; half of each tomato variey has stayed on the windowsill, and half has gone into the greenhouse.... which allows me to keep the peppers, aubergines, melons and cucumbers inside.

[tim]

Riesentraube is very prolific. Grew it once only.

[supernan]

 8) Mine are in a heated greenhouse. Growing:-

Gardeners Delight - grows in or out very tasty.
Marmande - huge beefsteak - Grew these last year some inside and some out, all cropped really well. Had to support trusses toms were so big!!
Allicante - my stepdad used to grow these. So hark back to childhood.
Roma - Italian plum cos I like tomato sauce on on my vegetable spagetti squash. Will grow outside.

Got about 30 of each going. Postman Pete has already ordered some.

I start mine off in takeaway trays, those plastic jobs you get from the local curry house. Heres as pic. after 5 days. South facing window radiator assisted.



As soon as they are about 1 1/2 inches tall put into 3 1/2 " growing pot. Plant with ordinary compost right up to the leaves. Into greenhouse and away they go.

I have some self sown seeds from the outdoor ones growing in one of my pots that has been outside all winter!!

[RobinOfTheHood]

I've got Marmande and Gardener's Delight growing, about 60-70 of each! Nowhere to put so many of course, that's just what I got from a packet of each.
Had some GD given last year, beautiful sweet flavour, but the Marmande is a first for me. Good flavour perchance?
And where are you in the country i.e. any chance of me growing them in the garden in Yorkshire?

[skypilot]

Since the Greenhouse temperatures are begining to rise, I have just sown

Gardeners Delight,

Ailsa Craig 

Garten Perle


 Sowed fourteen of each. :)

[tim]

Interesting, Nan - Marmande is not supposed to cope indoors.

Greenhouse temp? 39F last night!

[kitty]

anyone know anything about 'jolly' and' st pierre?'
are they in or outdoor toms?
to pinch or not to pinch?

[ruud]

St.pierre is a very old french heirloom.I have grown him last year outside on the allotment,gave me a great grop of middle sized tommies.

[kitty]

thanks ruud-did you pinch out the side shoots or leave them to it?

[sandersj89]

Interesting, Nan - Marmande is not supposed to cope indoors.

Greenhouse temp? 39F last night!

Tim

I have grown Marmande for the last two years in a plastic greenhouse, not heat but can get very hot in the sun. Temps drop at night though. It did suffer a little from Greenback but very meaty toms about the size of a Tennis ball. Good flavour too,

We oven dried loads and they have kept very well.

Jerry

[kitty]

sanders-could you tell us what temp and for how long-do all toamtoes dry well-and how do you keep them and rehydrate...sorry to be dense but i've never done it before!
thanks kitty

[ruud]

Yes i did pinch out the side shoots,i always do only with cherries i didnot

[supernan]

 :D Top of the morn!

I grew Marmande in and out. In ones did have a bit of greenback, I just chop it off they were so big there was still plenty left. Not an expert here sort of try it and see.

I have more room this year, 175x30 ft lottie to fill. Garden last year only 30x40!!!

I always intend to pinch but some always get away from me..............

[SueK]

Like Robin.... I too am growing GD and Marmande this year this year, plus Sungella (thanks to our own Terri), Matina and Aurora, and in Yorkshire too. 

I do have a mini-greenhouse (and relatives' greenhouses) to fall back on for the Sungella and Marmande, but does anyone have an opinion on growing these types outside in the garden "oop north"?

[wattapain]

Hi Sue  ;D ;D 8)
Terri

[sandersj89]

sanders-could you tell us what temp and for how long-do all toamtoes dry well-and how do you keep them and rehydrate...sorry to be dense but i've never done it before!
thanks kitty

I dry loads of excess toms, last year we dried Marmande, Tiggerella, Gardeners Delight, Tumbler, Garden Pearl, Big Boy and a couple of others.

I slice them in half or quarters and place on a rack in a baking tray. Sprinkle with mixed herbs and so good Maldon Sea Salt.

They go into a low oven, 70 to 100 degrees for a couple of hours.

These then get put in glass jars and covered with olive oil. Put in a dark cool place until needed. They will last for upto 8 or 9 months if you sterilize the jars well.

We use them in pasta dishes mainly.

Jerry

[kitty]

right thanks for that sanders!
my dad used to bottle toms-but i was a kid and have no idea how he did it-apart from knowing he used kilner jars.....
do you buy your oliveoil in bulk then?
kitty

[sandersj89]

right thanks for that sanders!
my dad used to bottle toms-but i was a kid and have no idea how he did it-apart from knowing he used kilner jars.....
do you buy your oliveoil in bulk then?
kitty

Yes, we buy olive oil in 5 litre cans, far better quality than in the supermarket and about half the cost. If you have an asian supermarket nearby you might find it there, or a good farmers shop.

Jerry

[supernan]

I have given in to temptation on eBay!! Bid on some heirloom tomatoes, 10 varieties for £4.99 plus £1.25 postage from France. Won the auction and they arrived the next day!! Hows that for service. If you want to order they are under Talourd Gourment Vegetable Seeds.

I have now planted eight of the varieties, AMISH PASTE, BLACK PRINCE, BRANDYWINE, GREEN ZEBRA, MR STRIPY, NEBRASKA WEDDING, PRUDENS PURPLE AND THESSALONIKI  :D

Two varieties Roma and Marmande I already had but with 20 seeds in each packet they were such a good bargain I could not resist. They are in my mushroom hot box upstairs on the south facing window sill with bottom heat from the rad. Will let you all know how I get on. Anyone else grown these would welcome any advice re in/out etc. Thanks

SuPeRnAn

[kitty]

o nan-i'd love to try brandywine-i read about them a few years ago-i think they should taste wonderful from reports i hear!
sanders-thanks-we are short on asian supermarkets here...i wonder if i can get it from a wholesalers........
anyway-i shall follow you(not literally of course! :o)
thats how i shall bottle me surplus(counting chickens tim would say!)