[comic_muse]

Hi, I'm new to the list, so just finding my way around.  Have just got an Allotment plot into production after a number of years, due to work, away from growing.  Don't yet have formal access to 'glass', but when I last did I "discovered" .....& I think that is an appropriate term to use, "Britains Breakfast".  I think the seed is still available, albeit from a small number of suppliers.  It was an incredible variety, early to produce, "fanning" trusses of thin skinned, bright red 'small-(semi)plum' tomatoes.  I won't try to estimate the number of fruits per truss, but as the first flowers were fruiting, & the middle ones would be 'swelling' & they just kept, extending & flowering & producing.  In my absence from gardening, I have often checked to see if they have 'caught on' but they don't seem to have (yet).
Three/four trusses per plant, seemed ample, due to the volume of fruit produced.  As the name implies, perfect for all manner of culinary uses.
I grew them under glass, ring culture on 12" deep gravel beds.  They're 'determinate' & quite spreading & definately need support due to the weight of the crop.  If I'd planned better, I be trying them outdoors this year !

[John]

Welcome, Comic_muse. I've not heard of the variety but it sounds interesting.  Where did you get the seeds from?

[comic_muse]

I'm pretty sure it was either Edwin Tucker....or possibly Chilterns.  It's not a Heritage variety per se, I don't think, just 'obscure' ? but was listed by a couple of companies then....I'll 'Google it'....yes, still available, in the UK.....first result on listing says "60"....yes 60 fruits per truss, & I don't think that is an exageration.  It sounds ridiculous, but one / two trusses, would probably be enough for a season's 'production, although I used to run them to four for the sake of leaf production.  The trusses are very spreading though, so spacing needs to be considered.  Probably too late to start seed this year, but I will definately be giving them a go next year.

[John]

Cheers, I'll have to try that next year myself.  Sounds worth a go at the very least. I'm always amazed at the continuing popularity of MoneyMaker or tasteless red bags of water as I think of them.

Who knows, if we keep pushing on places like this, these unusual varieties may become popular.

[green.goddess]

My OH definately prefers Gardners Delight. Personally I cant stand tomatoes but have to grow them to keep him quiet!

[mellowmick]

1) Gardeners Delight.
Doing really well; 6 plants, about 2' high, just potted up into my biggest plots and in flower. About the same number again, coming through in heights between 1" and 3".
2) Moneymaker.
Single plant, about 10" high, planted out by my shed door. A bit taken aback by the negative comments I've since read about this variety; no flavour etc. Oh well, my first year. Will have ability to look further afield next time.

[Celtic Eagle]

I'm growing Moneymaker this year 3 plants in pots in the greenhouse at home, nothing on the allotment this year can't get organised enough.  still clearing the ground. I must say I was a bit surprised about the adverse comments on Moneymaker . I do intend to grow some differnt vartieties next year,MMMMM... Gardner's delight, Roma for bottling and some nice little cherry toms for salads. I'll grow some in the GH and some outdoor Guess what I like tomatoes !!!!!  Tee Hee

[John]

Sorry Mr Eagle - I tell 'em as I find 'em. Having said I don't think much of Moneymaker, lots of people do like them. I suppose when you grow your own you get really fussy. We got some 'finest taste the difference vine ripened' from the supermarket a while back (Val got them for 10p!) and I thought they weren't a patch on what I grow.
I'd rather have a moneymaker  absolutely fresh that the best the supermarkets have to offer.

[Phoenix]

ok now i have 23 ailsa craig tomatos, 12 gardeners delight, 6 golden sunshine (never tried them) and 6 ummm some beefsteak variety

[John]

ok now i have 23 ailsa craig tomatos, 12 gardeners delight, 6 golden sunshine (never tried them) and 6 ummm some beefsteak variety

Either you really love tomatoes or you're showing off now ]

[Phoenix]

I hate tomatos lol i grow them for work aswell

[lentil987]

I have just planted 30 tomato plants into my lottie - 10 Red Pear, 10 Rio Grande,  10 Redorta. I also planted three bush cherry toms and have another 20 or so in the greenhouse!

I didnt start off planning to plant so many but it sort of happened!
Once you grow from seed it sort of evolved - I planted loads incase they didnt germinate then I didnt like to chuck them so they got planted on etc etc and now I have a mound of healthy great looking tomato plants...
We do use lots of tomatoes in the summer and we do make passata and tomato soup but .... I think I over did it!!!!

[John]

That's the problem growing from seed - you don't like to waste seedlings and spares so you end up with far too many of things.

Our favourite tomato for salads is Sungold and the plant is very prolific. This year I have :-
The one plant we want
One spare in case of disaster
One backup for the the spare

But it keeps  friends and relatives happy when we give the produce away

[Oliver]

I have a polytunnel on my allotment and have grown all sorts of tomato varieties in it with mixed success. I grow 5 or 6 varieties each year, two of which I grow every year because they 'work' - in case the others fail!  I always try something new. (Grown in growbags or pots). Over the years:
INSIDE:
Gardener's Delight - common, but prolific and tasty.
Balconi - Red and Yellow, Flavour OK, but a lot of trouble for not much gain. Not grown again. It did win the taste class at the Show though!
Black Russian - Heritage variety - Large irregular shaped ('beefsteak'-like) fruits. Light maroon coloured skin, reddy-green flesh. Makes good soup. Also good to eat raw. Late August. Not very prolific, but very nice.
Garden Peach - Heritage variety - Fruit lemon yellow, downy skin, about 50cm diameter. Late August. Talking point when served with other coloured varieties. Nice flavour
"Large Yellow" bought this at local plant sale, so its title is rather strange! Doubleday seed. Big chrome yellow fruits. Not much flavour, few fruits on the plant. Late August.
Sub-artic plenty Taste and look like Gardeners Delight, but not nearly as prolific. Waste of time.
Brandywine (Supposedly a favourite with 'the americans'). Very big pinky coloured beefsteak type. Taste a bit wishy washy. OK for soup. About 8 fruits per plant. Stake and support well!
Tigerella Mr Stripey Not many fruits on the plant, totally tasteless. Not grown again!
OUTSIDE:
Italia plum tomato for soup and sauces. Prolific. I grow this on straw to protect them from the ground and try to keep the slugs at bay.
Roma plum tomato for soup and sauces. Prolific
Green Grape Small green cherry tomatoes, ripen to a greeny yellow. Nice taste, look good served with other varieties
THIS YEAR:In poly: 3 of each
Alicante instead of MoneyMaker, Ildi, Incas, Sewet Olive, Gardener's Delight, and outside
Super Roma. The 'spare' plants will be sold on Saturday at our HortSoc/CAPA plant sale. Lots of alicante spare.
Hope this is of interest!

[Celtic Eagle]

John said
Sorry Mr Eagle - I tell 'em as I find 'em. Having said I don't think much of Moneymaker, lots of people do like them. I suppose when you grow your own you get really fussy

That's fair comment John you are certainly right about getting fussy if you grow your own. It wouldn't do for us all to like the same antway it would be boring. I'm always open to ideas so I,m going to try difrferent toms next year. It's great being back veg gardening it's umm *&(^ years since I did any so it's a new adventure really .

Cheers