[lizby1]

I'm having a competition with my dad this year to see who can grow the best tomatoes.
I am a beginner really - first year this year with a certain amount of success, but all the tomatoes were very late and I didn't get a huge quantity of fruit. My raised beds are south facing, but do get shade in the moring from the shed, which I thought would be ok, being in the South of France! Now I'm not so sure.
Any tips would be gratefully received - I enjoy browsing this site immensely, even though I hardly post.
Any varieties you would particularly recommend? Tips on how much to water etc and improving the soil. I think my soil is slightly acid.

[Yorkie]

Good luck!

I'm not a tremendous tomato grower, but it occurs to me that if you're in the south of France, it might be worth exploring complanies such as Seeds of Italy, whose varieties (I imagine) would be more tried and tested in a mediterranean climate?  

I'm not saying the successful UK varieties won't work for you, but I would guess that many are successful because they have characteristics which our climate can make the most of.

[pushrod]

Try cristal (T&M), large, good looking and amazing taste. Should be ok outside in south of france. LINK

[lizby1]

Thankyou for the advice - I can get T&M here, although they don't do all the same varieties.
I also have a fantastic, French seed catalogue from a company called Graines Baumaux - but it has so many varieties that I've got confused!

[buckie]

Hello Lizby1,  I have grown tomatoes for more than 50 years and the best way to get perfect tasty tomatoes is to manure heavilly.  Tomatoes are great feeders, I would double dig your plot now putting at least 15/20 cms of well rotted manure on the bottom of the trench giving you about the same depth of soil on top. About a week prior to planting, I would give the area a very good soaking, almost flooding, leave for a few days then scatter a good amount of lime on the surface and lightly fork in.  Give the area a good tramping before planting, the plants should be 7/10 cms when planted. I do not water my plants for at least three weeks making the roots get down in to the soil to look for water.  I grow all my tomatoes on the cordon system, with strings tied to the roof trusses in the greenhouse. You may wish to try some bush varieties.  This may be different as you are outside an have to contend with the local weather. I have always grown my tomatoes in a greenhouse as I live in Scotlend and there is no way we can get a successful crop of good tomatoes growing outside.  As for varieties, I grow Ailsa Craig, Shirley and the best/sweetest mini tomato I find is Piccilo.  I hope this gives you something to work on.

[alfman]

Interesting question Lizby, why not try a few different varieties, both french and english but whatever you grow you've got to try the local huge knobbly/warty varieties that taste absolutely fantastic. Where abouts are you down there? I know the coastal areas quite well.

[Val H]

A link again Tomatoes. Plum Roma should do well for you, especially in raised beds. San Marzano is said to have a better taste but we have difficulty with it here - you should not have the same problem.

[lizby1]

Thankyou buckie - if you can grow good tomatoes in Scotland, then I must be able to do it in the South of France!
I reckon I need to add some lime, from what's been said.
I'll try both English and French varieties and report back - last year the 'Noir de Crimée' were good, as were the yellow mirabelle, cherry tomatoes and the green zebra. I have yet tp grow  'normal' size red tomato.
I think the nobbly ones are Marmande, which grow near here. I'm in the Lot et Garonne area.

[lizby1]

Oh and Val - I think I will try some Roma - I'd like some for tomato sauce. This year I just made a few jars of chutney, when all the tomatoes ripened at the same time.

[alfman]

Val H is right. Roma is a good choice, I've grown them myself and MOH makes fantastic  ratatouille with them.

[Trillium]

I know that all the different areas of France have very different soil and water conditions and the people have developed specific varieties that do best in their own areas. So, it's worth a bit of effort to contact home gardeners in your immediate area to learn which varieties they grow and add ones like Roma to top your list.

Buckie is right, toms need lots of old manure to do well, and regular watering to eliminate the blossom end rot on the tom bottoms. I even mulch mine heavily with shredded leaves to keep moisture consistent and provide strong stakes to hold them up. check out my personal gallery for some pix.

[lizby1]

Thanks trillium - I am very jealous of your parsnips! I ended up with ONE parsnip this year!
The French are very much into mulching. I think I'll look for the varieties I see sold on the market here and try a couple of English ones too for fun.
I'm actually going to get round to testing my soil too!