Outdoor Tomatoes

[Mothy]

Has anyone any experience of growing tomatoes outside? I have grown successfully in the past in a greenhouse but am thinking of putting some in the Lottie this year depending what others think?

[Mothy]

[sandersj89]

Yes, grow som eoutside every year. Last year was Super Marmande, Garden Girl, Tumbler plus one other that escapes me now.

I start mine under cover and then plant out about may.

Outside toms are more prone to Blight if it is a bad year and crops are slightly reduced but they are less work on the watering front and if it is a hot summer I think the taste is better.

I will be trying Ferline this year as it is meant to have some blight resistance.

Jerry

[Mrs Ava]

Grow in and out at home and on the plot.  The garden was fine, but I lost the lot to blight on the plot!  At home, good crop, altho slow to ripen.

[Kerry]

from memory have tried gardener's delight outside and managed a ripened crop. i usually grow under glass, but that's to do with me using my limited outdoor space for other stuff.
i think that most catalogues will tell you if the variety is best for inside or outside growing. good luck!

[tim]

Viva Verde & Simpsons offer EARLY varieties - the key to success?? = Tim

[ina]

Tomato talk has started, whoopeeee! Spring is on the way.

Choose an early tomato so there is plenty time to ripen outdoors. Like Kerry wrote, most types will tell you if they are suitable for outdoor growing.

If potatoes are grown in your area, your chances of blight are increased. Year after year my tomato plants collapsed from blight and just as I was considering not growing tomatoes anymore, Ferline, blight resistant tomatoes came on the market. A very nice tomato, indeed blight resistant and good for outdoor growing as well.

[Peter Charles Fagg]

Every year I grow "Black Russians", "Gardeners Delight" and "Moneymaker" in Gro-bags around my house because they are likely to be stolen from the allotment, 2 years ago I lost everything to blight but usually I have few problems.  Blossom end rot does claim a few but nothing to write home about.

[Mothy]

Thanks for the advice, I have just purchased some Suttons F1 Tornado specifically for growing outside, supposed to be very early and ideally suited to the British summer  ;) I guess I'll be able to let you know come August!!

[Derekthefox]

I am growing Tornado this year as well, so I will be interested in your progress. I suffer from blight too, but always try planting outdoors because I have plenty of space (600 sq yds). I had some small success last year with Radar, missed most of the blight because they are so early.

[Mothy]

I'll keep you posted Derek, this year will be my 1st try at Lottie toms, I've always grown them in a greenhouse before!

Good luck with yours.

Tim

[aquilegia]

I've only ever grown tomatoes outside as I haven't got a greenhouse. I've had good results with Roma (plum tomatoes) - especially when grown direct in the ground rather than pots. Huge crops last year, despite the blight. Beefsteaks do not do well as they need a longer season and more heat. There's a variety called first in the field, which I think I'm going to try this year (I hope I ordered it anyway - I was umming and erring for so long, I can't remember now!) Other early varieties or ones for colder climates are especially suitable.

Oh and I found bush varieties are better than cordons, unless you have a wall or fence to protect them. Mine suffered some wind damage last year.

[mike6174]

I usually grow one or two varieties outdoors - Alicante always seems to do well for me - or maybe Gardener's Delight.  By the way - nebie here glad I found you.  Been on a Lottie for nearly 4 years now - great time.

[Doris_Pinks]

My outdoor toms have always succumbed to blight in a big way :'(  The best sucess I have ever had was Ferline as advised by Ina! (thank you Ina!) Last year I actually managed to get huge green fruits on my toms before the blight hit, so will be giving them another try this year! (If I don't get any red ones this year I will give up and use the space for something more productive!!)

[ina]

Doris, did you have them in growbags? If not, make sure you plant them in a different spot.
Such a shame that you just can't beat the blight, I know the feeling.

[ruud]

I have some siberian short season toms,from a trade with a russian tom lover.The will be very early,so mayby the could be succesful against blight.Last year i had also some blight,but i could save my crop by spraying with sulfiet,ugly green stuff,but it will do the trick

[Doris_Pinks]

No Ina, they were in the ground!
I think one of the biggest problems for me is that the communial compost heap is next to my plot, so anything nasty plonked on there wafts my way! There is talk though of removing it and turning it into another plot, for which I would be very grateful  :D

[ina]

You may be right about that. If that is the case, growbags won't solve the problem either. Hopefully they will turn the site into another plot, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

I think it's criminal to toss blighted plants on a communal compost heap instead of taking it home and disposing of it properly.

[Doris_Pinks]

I now take all my stuff home with me, but the others are up in arms because if they do turn it into a plot as it is supposed to be, they will have nowhere to dump their rubbish! It is on the deeds as a plot so go for it I say!! We have green bins in our area so it is not too much trouble to take the stuff home.......but there is ALWAYS someone who has to object!