Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: zaz283 on February 05, 2011, 08:03:19

Title: Tomato encyclopaedia
Post by: zaz283 on February 05, 2011, 08:03:19: Just about to start planting my tomato seeds for the new season. Referred to my tomato encyclopaedia to read not only how to grow but also why to grow, origins, health benefits, varieties, problems... oh, and of course delicious recipes!

If you want more information on tomatoes than just the straightforward basic stuff have a read by clicking the link below.

Hope you find it interesting. Thanks, John

http://allotmentheaven.blogspot.com/2010/01/tomato-solanum-lycopersicum.html
Title: Re: Tomato encyclopaedia
Post by: Debs on February 05, 2011, 18:47:15: Hi JohnMac,

Very interesting read :)
Title: Re: Tomato encyclopaedia
Post by: Larkshall on February 06, 2011, 16:31:50: I've given up raising from seed, it's not worth the heat necessary to raise them. I wait until the plants appear in the garden centres, then buy two of the best (I like Shirley's). I then grow them on taking the sideshoots off and planting them in their own pots to root. They are usually within a fortnight of the original plants in cropping. From two plants I can get 14 cuttings + the original two =16 plants, for £2.
Title: Re: Tomato encyclopaedia
Post by: saddad on February 06, 2011, 16:37:31: Good site... if that suits you Larkshall that's fine... but some of us are just tomato addicts and prefer a wider choice of weird varieties.. :)
Title: Re: Tomato encyclopaedia
Post by: valmarg on February 06, 2011, 17:03:38: Quote from: saddad on February 06, 2011, 16:37:31
... if that suits you Larkshall that's fine... but some of us are just tomato addicts and prefer a wider choice of weird varieties.. :)
I couldn't agree more saddad. There are just sooo many varieties out there these days. I find it extremely difficult to show restraint when ordering seed. ;D

valmarg
Title: Re: Tomato encyclopaedia
Post by: Debs on February 06, 2011, 20:46:17: i am always amazed that such a small seed produces a bountiful plant - don't think I will ever buy plugplants.

Personally speaking, nothing can beat the reward of producing a plant from seed

Debs :)
Title: Re: Tomato encyclopaedia
Post by: valmarg on February 06, 2011, 21:26:47: I agree Debs.

OH has sown the first seeds for this year. The beefsteak varieties.

There is nothing nicer than going into the greenhouse and picking a homegrown, sunripened tomato.

Roll on
Title: Re: Tomato encyclopaedia
Post by: lottie lou on February 06, 2011, 21:54:20: Wish I could show restraint in sowing. Only want a couple of plants of each variety but end up sowing at least 6 or seven seeds of each. End up struggling to give them away.
Title: Re: Tomato encyclopaedia
Post by: saddad on February 06, 2011, 22:03:15: Your local infants school/nuresry will take them off your hands... :)
Title: Re: Tomato encyclopaedia
Post by: valmarg on February 07, 2011, 21:10:22: Spring is not far off sprunging. It's been such a long lousy winter, and we want to be up and growing asap. ;D

valmarg
Title: Re: Tomato encyclopaedia
Post by: marcitos on February 07, 2011, 22:42:08: Hi

I like growing lots of unusual fruit & veg. Any examples of unusual toms to look out for?

Last year grew the following:
Wapsipinicon (the peach tom), Wild Pear, Gallapagos, Reisetomate ..... among others

This year trying:
Wild Tomato, Wild Peruvian & Orange Fleshed Purple Smudge.

Marcitos
Title: Re: Tomato encyclopaedia
Post by: saddad on February 07, 2011, 23:36:25: Green sausage? :)
Title: Re: Tomato encyclopaedia
Post by: antipodes on February 08, 2011, 15:36:03: Debs that is so true. I now rarely buy any plug plants, I find beans a delight too - the way they push up through the soil and from one little bean you get such a huge plant. then let a few pods dry and you will have 10 plants the next year and so on.

I find tomatoes so easy to grow, I give them no heat so I don't really understand Larkshall's comment - I start them off on the windowsill, then slowly plant in bigger and bigger pots and outside beginning of may. No special treatment at all.