Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: jambop on June 28, 2020, 12:25
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I grow my Roma tomatoes as bushes to max the crop and save time pinching side shoots. Anyway here is a photo for a plant that four days back was covered with flower trusses but no actual fruit... then suddenly the plant says enough flowers time to amke fruit an voila ! Going to be a huge harvest that is only a bit of one plant from ten planted out.
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That's a great looking plant! I also don't do much to pinch side shoots.
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That's a great looking plant! I also don't do much to pinch side shoots.
That is only a section of it there are nine San Marzano (right)and ten roma growing in the one bed net to catch giant hail should it appear!
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That's a great looking plant! I also don't do much to pinch side shoots.
Roma is a determinant bush variety, so should not be pinched out anyway.
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That's a great looking plant! I also don't do much to pinch side shoots.
Roma is a determinant bush variety, so should not be pinched out anyway.
No it can be treated either way its Bi :lol: many people grow the indeterminate because of the growth habit I grow it bush stylee because it produces a lot of tomatoes but if you do not have the space it is a problem because it can be rambling. Some cats describe it a semi determinate whatever that is?
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A matter of personal choice I guess, jambop, and what suits your growing conditions and style.
I don’t grow determinants as my space better suits cordon grown plants.
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Roma is the only variety I am growing this year. I prefer the smaller fruit for salad, etc. and IMO Roma has the best flavor and texture for cooking.
I need to post the recipe for a tomato and egg stir fry; I know, sounds odd, but it is one of the best uses for good fresh Roma type tomatoes!
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A matter of personal choice I guess, jambop, and what suits your growing conditions and style.
I don’t grow determinants as my space better suits cordon grown plants.
I have always grown it as a bush because space is not limiting but I think this is why people try it as a cordon because of use of space like yourself. Premier a seeds list it as semi determinate... what does that mean?
edit out of curiosity I just went to PS website and looked at their listing for Roma and they have changed it but the growing tips they give are really for a cordon type plant. I find their tips to be a bit strange really. I also do not regard them as the king... San Marzano will always be the king :)
Tomato Roma Vf
Tomato Roma Vf. The king of Italian tomatoes, most commonly used for sauces and canning, but equally delicious in summer salads. It is the ultimate mid season Tomato, perfect flavour, perfect pear shaped 3″ fruits, all beautifully red. Plants grow on vigorous determinate vines producing a heavy mid-season crop. Fusarium and Verticilium resistant.
Cultivation advice Tomato Roma Vf
Sow in spring 1/16 inch deep. Germination takes around 6-14 days at 65-75F.
Transplant the seedlings when large enough to handle into 3 inch pots. Grow on under cooler conditions and when about 8 inches tall, either plant in their growing position in the greenhouse or gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions and plant out 18 inches apart in a warm and sunny spot in moist, fertile well drained soil and keep watered.
Provide support and tie in regularly. Remove side shoots and restrict the plant to one main stem. In late summer remove the growing tip to hasten ripening.
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Jambop/John
Many of these cultivation techniques are specific to growing Roma in the UK where tomatoes are often grown in a greenhouse and the season is much shorter than ours. I ignore it when they recommend pinching growing tips or restricting growth by training as a cordon. we know from experience that out growing season it extremely different here so much of the above is irrelevant.
Wishing you a great growing season
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I used to grow Roma as a cordon in our greenhouse, but the result wasn't the best yield, although clearly, they're fab toms when allowed to do their bits.
I suppose the regional differences play a big part in their maturity, so maybe next year, I'll try a determinate version, and consider a new place in the Growster-Micro-Garden-Extemporate (Whaaaaaat)...
((Growster, your tablets are on the table, and here is your tincture to wash them down....;0)
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It's my third year attempting Roma outside up here in yorkshire, I got a lovely crop out of flower buckets in year one but nothing but broken stems due to poor support and blight last year. I'm in 25 litre buckets with diy cages this year so the blight has no chance :D
Mine are about half the size of Jambops!
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Jambop/John
Many of these cultivation techniques are specific to growing Roma in the UK where tomatoes are often grown in a greenhouse and the season is much shorter than ours. I ignore it when they recommend pinching growing tips or restricting growth by training as a cordon. we know from experience that out growing season it extremely different here so much of the above is irrelevant.
Wishing you a great growing season
Yes I see what you mean these seeds are sold to people in the UK so it make sense to give tips on how to get the best results there.
Weather has been good so far and we are now heading into summer so I am hoping that storms are less likely. Hope that all goes well in your potager this year
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I used to grow Roma as a cordon in our greenhouse, but the result wasn't the best yield, although clearly, they're fab toms when allowed to do their bits.
I suppose the regional differences play a big part in their maturity, so maybe next year, I'll try a determinate version, and consider a new place in the Growster-Micro-Garden-Extemporate (Whaaaaaat)...
((Growster, your tablets are on the table, and here is your tincture to wash them down....;0)
They are a great tomato when grown as a bush very productive but I do agree they need the continual warmth that is available down here. You seem a very resourceful type Growster make some sort of poly tent for just a couple of plants grown bush stylee :lol: I cannot remember exactly but I think I grew 5 plants last year and they produce about 30kg or more. I still prefer my San Marzano though I just think they are such a lovely tomato although the have a much firmer flesh they sweat down to a lovely rich tomato sauce. I am going to have a bash at sun drying some of the Roma's this year, never tried it before but it is said to be quite simple provided you pick a long'ish warm dry spell to do it.
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I used to grow Roma as a cordon in our greenhouse, but the result wasn't the best yield, although clearly, they're fab toms when allowed to do their bits.
I suppose the regional differences play a big part in their maturity, so maybe next year, I'll try a determinate version, and consider a new place in the Growster-Micro-Garden-Extemporate (Whaaaaaat)...
((Growster, your tablets are on the table, and here is your tincture to wash them down....;0)
They are a great tomato when grown as a bush very productive but I do agree they need the continual warmth that is available down here. You seem a very resourceful type Growster make some sort of poly tent for just a couple of plants grown bush stylee :lol: I cannot remember exactly but I think I grew 5 plants last year and they produce about 30kg or more. I still prefer my San Marzano though I just think they are such a lovely tomato although the have a much firmer flesh they sweat down to a lovely rich tomato sauce. I am going to have a bash at sun drying some of the Roma's this year, never tried it before but it is said to be quite simple provided you pick a long'ish warm dry spell to do it.
I seem to remember that there's a post on outside sun-drying here somewhere, JB!
...may be an Aga though...
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You've got a good memory Growster :D
How I used to dry mine in Greece....
https://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=121540.msg1432473#msg1432473
oh how I miss those long hot summers, specially when we get grey days like today *sigh* ::)
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You've got a good memory Growster :D
How I used to dry mine in Greece....
https://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=121540.msg1432473#msg1432473
oh how I miss those long hot summers, specially when we get grey days like today *sigh* ::)
Yes nice warm days are nice but I am sure you remember days in Greece when the heat was so fierce a cool day was welcomed? Where we stay it does not get as hot as Greece , I don't think, but there are times when we get a heatwave that takes normal summer days that should be 30C and blasts them up to 45C have a few weeks like that over the last few summers. We are having a similar dip in temperature to what you seem to be having it was 37C last week and yesterday was only 21C it is about to start to climb again though. Personally I would rather have 25C than 35C .
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You've got a good memory Growster :D
How I used to dry mine in Greece....
https://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=121540.msg1432473#msg1432473
oh how I miss those long hot summers, specially when we get grey days like today *sigh* ::)
A very interesting thread that lots of good ideas. Last year we had a lot of Aubergines at the end of the season and I made some marinated and preserved in good olive oil with lots of different additions one was sun dried tomato... I have to say all were really good but the jars I added the tomato to really were amazing... we are just using the last couple of jars now. Easy to make no heat treatment needed and they keep for months.
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I was interested to read this thread because this is my first year at growing tomatoes in a greenhouse. I have two Roma plants and growing them as bushes with no pinching out - because that is how I understood they were supposed to be grown. They are fruiting just fine, although pretty unruly as they are in growbags alongside cordon tomatoes and trying to take over! I just gently move and redirect the stems where necessary.
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You've got a good memory Growster :D
How I used to dry mine in Greece....
https://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=121540.msg1432473#msg1432473
oh how I miss those long hot summers, specially when we get grey days like today *sigh* ::)
A very interesting thread that lots of good ideas. Last year we had a lot of Aubergines at the end of the season and I made some marinated and preserved in good olive oil with lots of different additions one was sun dried tomato... I have to say all were really good but the jars I added the tomato to really were amazing... we are just using the last couple of jars now. Easy to make no heat treatment needed and they keep for months.
A recipe would be greatly appreciated (especially the version with sundried tomatoes!). Could you post here please? I think there is a recipe section. Thank you!
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Val has a method of sun drying and storing in oil here, S-P.
https://www.allotment-garden.org/recipe/drying-dehydrating/sun-dried-tomatoes/
https://www.allotment-garden.org/recipe/oils-vinegar/storing-in-oil/
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I am trying a new plum tommy this year. Seeds Direct's Amish Paste and they are looking really good, massive plums, far bigger than the owd San Marzano, just hope they taste good.
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Do you have any problems ripening ‘up north’, Aidy ?
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Do you have any problems ripening ‘up north’, Aidy ?
Nah, we have lots of sun Aunty ;)
Seriously its rare we have any problems, in fact in decades gone by Blackpool tomatoes were famous on the markets etc, sadly very few growers are around now.
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Are you sure your north is the same north that I’ve been to, Aidy ? :lol: :lol: :lol:
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I am trying a new plum tommy this year. Seeds Direct's Amish Paste and they are looking really good, massive plums, far bigger than the owd San Marzano, just hope they taste good.
When I tried them, they were tasty and huge, but there weren't that many of them :( So I've not grown them again, hope you have better luck ;)
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I am trying a new plum tommy this year. Seeds Direct's Amish Paste and they are looking really good, massive plums, far bigger than the owd San Marzano, just hope they taste good.
The problems you face growing tomatoes like San Marzano, is that they are a variety that is at home growing on the slopes around the foothills of Vesuvius near the bay of Naples , not around the bay of Blackpool. I am at an advantage to you when it comes to growing these tomatoes ... and I cannot get the conditions that they grow best in, and therefore they are not as good as those grown in Italy... that is before you even bring the effect of terroir into the equation. For that reason I think you will struggle to grow a good owd San Marzano tomato anywhere in the UK.
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You are probably right Jambop... but we Brits do love a challenge.
Let’s us know how the do, Aidy :D
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I'm very happy watching our 'San Marzano' thrive in Kent conditions, in pots of soil and compost, fed every other day, and the only reference to Italy we have is a chat I had with Mrs Growster an hour ago, over a lunchtime embrocation, was how much we enjoyed our Italian hols all those years ago!
We have a very special area here, which is South-facing, enclosed by an ancient brick wall, and sheltered from the wind.
The toms just love it! ...I wonder if they know where they are...
;0~
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For the avoidance of doubt I am not saying you cannot grow them... I am saying they will not be as good as the tomatoes grown in their homeland in the soil in which the have affinity and the dry med conditions. I grow them here quite well, but they are not as good because we just do not get the consistent warmth and sunshine that they get in the fields in Italy. If it was not for BM I doubt I would get a good crop at all it is far too wet here and they would be blighted. I just like someone in the north of the UK suffer badly from the influence Atlantic ocean, maybe even more so we get 30% greater rainfall than Blackpool for example, but I definitely do usually have the advantage of a long warm summer.
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Well my opinion, for what it is worth, is that life is too short to be splitting tomato pips. Even if what you grow is not quite as good as it would be grown in its homeland, if it crops, it tastes good and you are happy with it, that is what matters.
My toms are from all over - 1 from the Ukraine, another an American variety. They are still way, way better than anything I can buy, are never sprayed with anything and freshly picked as needed :)
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Well my opinion, for what it is worth, is that life is too short to be splitting tomato pips. Even if what you grow is not quite as good as it would be grown in its homeland, if it crops, it tastes good and you are happy with it, that is what matters.
My toms are from all over - 1 from the Ukraine, another an American variety. They are still way, way better than anything I can buy, are never sprayed with anything and freshly picked as needed :)
Here here!!
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I suppose it's like Jersey New Royal potatoes - aka International Kidney. Best grown in the conditions in Jersey, but growable elsewhere.
It's horses for courses! We each do our best with the conditions we have :)
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I suppose it's like Jersey New Royal potatoes - aka International Kidney. Best grown in the conditions in Jersey, but growable elsewhere.
It's horses for courses! We each do our best with the conditions we have :)
Definitely applies to garlic too!
(Jerseys in the shops have been very poor this year - well, around here they have...! Have you tried the Kent ones, probably from New Romney, Mum/Aunt? They've been fabulous)!
(Growster, the topic is ROMA TOMS, try and keep up..:0(
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I suppose it's like Jersey New Royal potatoes - aka International Kidney. Best grown in the conditions in Jersey, but growable elsewhere.
It's horses for courses! We each do our best with the conditions we have :)
No disagreement at all, but when you have a short and unpredictable growing season I would always try to match a variety with that... for that reason Roma is probably a much better choice that San Marzano to grow in the UK. Needs no looking after at all other than a spray with BM now and then and it give a very good crop of tomatoes about two weeks earlier than San Marzano in my experience. Roma flavor maybe not as good as SM but when you are going to struggle to get them properly ripened anyway earlier would be better... IMO . One other point. Just because a tomato is red does not mean it is properly ripened :nowink:
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We are not permitted to use Bordeaux Mixture in the UK as you’ve been told before, jambop.
Please try to remember this so that I don’t have to keep reminding you.
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I am trying a new plum tommy this year. Seeds Direct's Amish Paste and they are looking really good, massive plums, far bigger than the owd San Marzano, just hope they taste good.
The problems you face growing tomatoes like San Marzano, is that they are a variety that is at home growing on the slopes around the foothills of Vesuvius near the bay of Naples , not around the bay of Blackpool. I am at an advantage to you when it comes to growing these tomatoes ... and I cannot get the conditions that they grow best in, and therefore they are not as good as those grown in Italy... that is before you even bring the effect of terroir into the equation. For that reason I think you will struggle to grow a good owd San Marzano tomato anywhere in the UK.
To be honest over the years we have always had a great crop from the San Marzano's, in fact I still have about a dozen bags of passata in the freezer from last year, just fancied something different this year.
Looking like a decent crop, most trusses have 4 or 5 tommys on with the odd one with 3.
Photo below shows the rough size
Yes Aunty it probably is the same North as you visited unless you was on the East Side of North which is normally very dark :lol: :lol: :lol:
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I am trying a new plum tommy this year. Seeds Direct's Amish Paste and they are looking really good, massive plums, far bigger than the owd San Marzano, just hope they taste good.
The problems you face growing tomatoes like San Marzano, is that they are a variety that is at home growing on the slopes around the foothills of Vesuvius near the bay of Naples , not around the bay of Blackpool. I am at an advantage to you when it comes to growing these tomatoes ... and I cannot get the conditions that they grow best in, and therefore they are not as good as those grown in Italy... that is before you even bring the effect of terroir into the equation. For that reason I think you will struggle to grow a good owd San Marzano tomato anywhere in the UK.
To be honest over the years we have always had a great crop from the San Marzano's, in fact I still have about a dozen bags of passata in the freezer from last year, just fancied something different this year.
Looking like a decent crop, most trusses have 4 or 5 tommys on with the odd one with 3.
Photo below shows the rough size
Yes Aunty it probably is the same North as you visited unless you was on the East Side of North which is normally very dark :lol: :lol: :lol:
Nothing wrong in that Aidy. I tend to stick to tomatoes I know work in my situation, probably the same as you do, but even with the good long summers we get down here San Marzano is a tomato that tends to be a late ripen-er in my garden. This is, or has not been, a problem for me since I started growing them here about ten years ago. We can and very often do get amazing weather right into late October. The only thing then is we do start to get a bit of rain from time to time which does cause problems with the plants and they do need treatments.
Re your passata have you thought about bottling ? What you can do is collect a load of 500ml beer bottles, the crown cap type... which in its self is a great pleasure having to empty them :lol:. You then can wash and fill them with your passata whack in a crown cap and heat treat them in a boiler, decent sized galv dustbin works well, for about 90 mins at a constant rolling boil. I use a gas ring and butane but you can even do this on a fire made from scrap wood in the garden, you only need to keep the water boiling, to keep it really cheap. After the heating once cooled they will keep for over a year in a beer crate or cupboard saves valuable space in the freezer. I use la Parfait jars but the are expensive and decent beer bottles do just as well provided you do not over fill they need about a good inch or so empty at the top.
My try out for this year is to sun dry some of the Roma's I am growing. Principe de Borghese are the favoured tom but I only have Roma so Roma it is! Only need our usual late summer sun as you need a couple weeks dry weather.
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Yes Aunty it probably is the same North as you visited unless you was on the East Side of North which is normally very dark :lol: :lol: :lol:
I spotted you there, Aidy :tongue2: :tongue2: :tongue2: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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I’ve been to both, Aidy. They were both cold, wet and windy. :lol:
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I’ve been to both, Aidy. They were both cold, wet and windy. :lol:
:lol: :lol: :lol: