Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Mark's Sussex Allotment on May 06, 2013, 10:15

Title: Outdoor Tomatoes.....
Post by: Mark's Sussex Allotment on May 06, 2013, 10:15
Do people have much success and decent yields?

Any major tips?

I've never had much luck on the allotment. They usually get stripped by the wind....
Title: Re: Outdoor Tomatoes.....
Post by: DD. on May 06, 2013, 12:19
My best tomatoes are grown outdoors, they have a much better flavour than the greenhouse ones.

You have to take blight precautions though.

Whatever you do, don't plant outside too early, or they will sit there and sulk and never recover properly.
Title: Re: Outdoor Tomatoes.....
Post by: willp on May 06, 2013, 13:26
I have no greenhouse so mine are always outside. Yield is generally less than  under glass but you can always plant more. They need a bit more nurturing - mine are at present in frames, closed at night and I`ll be hardening them off over the next couple of weeks. When they go from the garden to the plot they`ll spend some time under a polythene cloche overnight too.

Flavour is generally good.

Blight can be a problem - last year was the first time that I did anything more than pick off the odd leaf ( I watch them like a hawk) - with all the rain I used the Bayer disease control spray which kept them safe until harvest.

As the cooler weather draws in, I lay the vines down on mulch and cover again with a cloche to get the last few.

Will
Title: Re: Outdoor Tomatoes.....
Post by: Auntiemogs on May 06, 2013, 13:36
Mine usually do well.   Even last year, when I was convinced they were a gonner after finally planting out, they rallied and I had a reasonable crop.   :)

Mags
Title: Re: Outdoor Tomatoes.....
Post by: madcat on May 06, 2013, 14:09
I have given up on outdoor toms at the allotment due to the level of blight blown in from other plots (given up on main crop spuds for the same reason) but they generally do well at the house with a careful eye for any early signs.  Last year was the exception - they just didn't ripen.   :(

I'm not too ambitious in my varieties - no big fat italian beef tomatoes - and I pick ones that tolerate growing outside.  So Roma for cooking, Gardeners delight, sungold, Idli as cherries, Tigerella for sandwitches ....  still havent found the right one for hanging baskets.   :unsure:
Title: Re: Outdoor Tomatoes.....
Post by: Ema on May 06, 2013, 14:10
Grew 8 plants outside last year in pots was quite happy with them didn't put them out til late
Title: Re: Outdoor Tomatoes.....
Post by: GrannieAnnie on May 06, 2013, 14:12
I have given up on outdoor toms at the allotment due to the level of blight blown in from other plots (given up on main crop spuds for the same reason) but they generally do well at the house with a careful eye for any early signs.  Last year was the exception - they just didn't ripen.   :(

I'm not too ambitious in my varieties - no big fat italian beef tomatoes - and I pick ones that tolerate growing outside.  So Roma for cooking, Gardeners delight, sungold, Idli as cherries, Tigerella for sandwitches ....  still havent found the right one for hanging baskets.   :unsure:

I grow garten perle or tumbling toms in baskets.
Title: Re: Outdoor Tomatoes.....
Post by: samfan on May 06, 2013, 14:28
I grew Latah outside last year in Glasgow, they were the best tomatoes I have ever had.  :)
Title: Re: Outdoor Tomatoes.....
Post by: polly nator on May 06, 2013, 15:11
I have frequently grown all kinds of tomatoes outdoors successfully even last year and even though I am up north. Its true the flavour and growth are much better. I do however use a trick.

I put up those cheap poly growhouses over them. You can get tall ones sufficient for cordons and smaller ones that are good for plum bush tomatoes. You can fit about three plants in each one and the frames are also useful as supports. You do need to weight down the frames (I use rocks) otherwise strong winds spell disaster.  I roll up the fronts/doors when whether is good and zip up tight in advance of blighty conditions. 

In other words, you get the best of both worlds and the cropping season is longer than toms which are purely out doors