Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: swaine on October 06, 2021, 13:57

Title: Tomatoes with dull (non shiny) skins
Post by: swaine on October 06, 2021, 13:57

I've grown Gardeners Delight in grow bags in the greenhouse for several years.

In previous years I've had the occasional tomato with a dull (non shiny) skin. The colour is dull as well, not the bright coloured skin of a normal tomato.

This year I've used the same seed as last year. Quite a lot of the tomatoes are dull this year (about 25%).

Any ideas why this is happening this year?

Swaine

Title: Re: Tomatoes with dull (non shiny) skins
Post by: Enfield Glen on October 07, 2021, 09:35

I suspect its the weather as I have had the same on some of my tomatoes in the greenhouse. I had a lot of green growth with few tomatoes setting and the lack of sunshine seems to be the reason.

Title: Re: Tomatoes with dull (non shiny) skins
Post by: Subversive_plot on October 07, 2021, 13:50

I suspect E G is right about the weather being a factor.

It seems counter-intuitive, but I think when you have a lot of cool/cloudy or damp weather, the roots and vascular tissue of plants can suffer, and plants can experience a "drought", even when there is plenty of water, because less water is reaching the leaves and fruits. I think this can happen even in a greenhouse because the plant health is not optimal, due to weather.

I see dull fruits on my tomatoes, including Gardener's Delight, when the plants are declining in health. I'm seeing that now, late in the season, and with too much rain.

Title: Re: Tomatoes with dull (non shiny) skins
Post by: swaine on October 08, 2021, 08:23

Thanks Enfield Glen and Submersive Plot.

Like Enfield Glen I'm getting a lot of green growth too. I think I'll just put the dull skins down to the weather this year!