I live in Glasgow and am always told I cant grow tomatoes outside. Who grows tomatoes the farthest north and whats your secret?
I was born on Millport & one year my dad brought a load of seaweed from the beach to put around the garden. Obviously their sewage treatment wasn't great, and a load of tomato plants popped up. They grew & were eaten! I think that was 1978 (when I was 3) but the tale lives on in family anecdotes!
I have grown tomatoes outside in Glasgow but the big problem is blight.
I never pay any attention to what people say can't be done. Give it a go and see. Warmth loving plants grown in black plastic pots on a patio area against a wall will grow better than in the ground.
I grow all manner of crops in the open, in the ground, that many souces say will not flourish.
Give it a go, be a pioneer.
I have some early season toms,they are origanelly from siberia and belarus.i have grown them outside without any problem.
Give it a go. It would be no problem at all in Birmingham if it wasn't for blight. That's the big problem, but I think outbreaks tend to centre on allotment sites, so if you're a safe distance away you may be OK. If we do get a good summer, that will eliminate a lot of the blight left over from last year.
I'm in Perth so similar latitude to you. Although i personally do not grow toms outside, my plotty neighbour does. He usually has some success before the blight strikes.
As mentioned by other posters, give it a go - whats the worst that can happen?
One to recommend is Black Krim, as Polish beefsteak (of sorts)...it's purplish-brown wehen ready to harvest, if it goes dark red it's over-ripe and only good for sauces but has a good flavour if picked at the right time.... down south it beats cherry tomatoes to ripe fruit if grown iun the same regime....
THe seemingly obvious choice is Sub-Arctic Plenty but it was actually bred to grown in poly-tunnels further north than you...
chrisc
Manitoba would be first choice or anyone of the four Polar series.XX Jeannine