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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Jill on August 04, 2006, 17:25:43

Title: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: Jill on August 04, 2006, 17:25:43
I'm growing these for the first time this year and thought they'd produce sort of average sized fruits.  Noticed this morning that some of them are now just turning red but they're no bigger than my Gartenperle.  Is this the size they're meant to be? :-\
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: sarah on August 04, 2006, 17:32:21
yes, they are a cherry tomato. a very tasty one.
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: Emagggie on August 04, 2006, 18:16:24
Ah that explains all. Was given GD seeds and planted on plot. Looked despairingly at them today thinking how small the toms are !

Now I know better I shall love them all the more.

(usually only grow baby plum toms)
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: Curryandchips on August 04, 2006, 18:20:25
Strange how conditioning works. I used to have a dislike for cherry toms, regarding them as a pathetic attempt at a 'cute' tomato with no taste. This is of course is what we get in the supermarkets, so perhaps my aversion was founded. However, my own gardener's delight, I must confess, have dispelled that vision  :)
Wayhay for home grown toms !!!
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: angle shades on August 04, 2006, 19:15:49
I've never grown GD before , I didn't know they where cherry toms, I thought they hadn't grown very well ::)/shades x
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: RobinOfTheHood on August 04, 2006, 21:42:47
Mine seem bigger this year than last.

According to 'Real Seeds', lots of different varieties are sold as GD, maybe I have a different one to last year?

Hope not, cos last year's were gorgeous, and I hope to test them against the 'sungold' I'm growing.

I've had a few sungold ripened, but no GD as yet, so no comparison.

The sungold are good, though........
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: greyhound on August 04, 2006, 22:11:59
Quote from: RobinOfTheHood on August 04, 2006, 21:42:47

According to 'Real Seeds', lots of different varieties are sold as GD


Really?  Oh.
My GDs are often bigger than I would wish in a cherry tomato.

The sungold are sensational, much nicer than the GDs.  First time I've grown them - sensational.
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: RobinOfTheHood on August 04, 2006, 22:20:22
I wouldn't yet say that mine were better than the gd's, but I may be tasting them through rose-tinted, er, glasses  ???

Last years gd were marvellous. As are this years sungold.

Watch this space!

ps I didn't feed the gds last year. Supposed to help flavour.
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: Jill on August 05, 2006, 00:21:38
Well, if they're actually meant to be cherry toms then why oh why aren't they marked up as such...Now got noffink but cherry upon cherry tom :'(
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: Curryandchips on August 05, 2006, 08:43:33
I don;t believe they are a 'cherry' tom, just a small one. Having said that, I accused my wife of having put cherry toms on my salad last night!
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: saddad on August 05, 2006, 10:30:23
I agree sungold are great... they are the only F1 I will grow.. I have about 30 heritage varieties that I save seed from... in all shapes and sizes and colours...
Supermarket varieties are grown to withstand handling/shipping and cosmetic appearance... taste sadly doesn't get a look in...
:o
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: dicky on August 07, 2006, 12:49:24
It's been a funny year for these, last year they were all about 1 inch across and the skins were very soft

This year they are ripening small and the skins are quite tough

Can only put it down to the heat.
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: Barnowl on August 07, 2006, 13:47:52
Told my Mum that I like the GD's flavour but found the skins tough. She's been growing them for a while and reckoned it varies with the season. Mine are a bit larger than cherries like cerise.
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: Cat on August 07, 2006, 14:50:25
I have grown GD's in pots succesfully for a couple of years.  This years definetely are smaller but still the same yield. 

Never tried Sungold but will do next year.

Cat
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: RobinOfTheHood on August 15, 2006, 11:24:27
Right, I've had a couple of GD ripened, along with about a dozen Sungold, and here's the verdict:

The GD's are slightly larger than last years, they have a wonderful balance of sweetness and acidity, and I'm really glad I'm growing them. Gorgeous.

As for the Sungold, well...they're




















Better!  ;D ;D ;D

Definitely growing them next year.
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: Hyacinth on August 15, 2006, 13:44:49
I'm munching my way through a bowl of Sungold as I'm reading this. Much better than GD for me 8)
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: Jill on August 15, 2006, 17:24:22
and bigger too?
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: greyhound on August 15, 2006, 18:47:05
No, and that's another reason I like them.  Very consistent in size too.
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: katynewbie on August 15, 2006, 22:04:18
 :-\

Hmm, my Gd are ripening in dribs and drabs. Not very impressed with the flavour, but at least I do have toms, and as a tomato virgin that seems to me a result!

;)
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: Hyacinth on August 15, 2006, 23:01:22
KT! I've just sent off a few seeds of a few varieties to Mrs.KP for next year - do you want a few of the same? I'm sensing a bit of a trial coming on and hey! of we could 'borrow' Lorna's rel's choc fountain, we could do the Trial to End all Trials ;D
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: Curryandchips on August 15, 2006, 23:02:28
Something I have found with these is that it is possible to throw them into pasta etc whole, once they are warmed through they are exquisite !
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: Jill on August 15, 2006, 23:15:24
Except when you have an obnoxious teenager who likes toms raw, but not cooked, but objects to seriously chewy ones as ours are turning out to be.  Will never grow them again.  Gartenperle have the thumbs up in terms of flavour and skin in comparison, since I only have cherries to compare :'(
Title: Re: Gardeners Delight Toms
Post by: pauline on August 16, 2006, 07:14:45
Never mind the size, taste the quality!