[codheadred]

Hi there

I picked up a couple or 3 packets of seeds whilst on holiday in Guernsey from a pretty good garden centre called the Le Friquet plant centre.

The varieties are Cuor Di Bue and Marmande the seed company is Franchi. I have seen Franchi seeds before but havent grown any.

I have grown Marmande previously in the greenhouse with good results and have read they can be grown outdoors. 

So the question is has anyone got experience of growing either these varieties outside? 

Am I too far north to do so? Or should I stick to the greenhouse?

Any feedback welcome even if its the default stick em in and see how they do...

Steven

 

 

 

[Jabberwock]

Hi Codheadred,

I've been growing Marmande outdoors for the last 3 years now with great success, my biggest problem was shielding them from the wind (even in summer) but I am situated right on the coast and am probably geographically nearer to Norway than I am to Liverpool so I reckon if I can grow them you can too.  The only types I grow in my greenhouses now are cordon and all the bush types go outside and take their chances and so far I've had no problems, so I say go for it!!

[Nicki85]

I have grown cour di bue this year as part of a seed selection.  Plants are good and strong, mine seem determined to be over six foot tall.  Lots of fruit and just starting to ripen off now.  Saying that i'm not growing again as they are OK just nothing special!

Next year I plan to grow-

Millefleur (centiflor type)
Urbikany (very early bush type)
Large pink doctor carolyn (vine)
Costoluto (vine)
Amish Paste (Giant plum)
Gold medal (beefsteak- it's very pretty!)

I may have to take one out of the selection here due to lack of space but we will see!  

Edited to say i'm in Hampshire!  Mine grown outside and in, outside seem to be better???  Not sure if it is just cause they are in bigger pots!

[mumofstig]

It throws the discussion wide open, when I say that some of my tomatoes which tasted lovely last year, this year are 'nothing special' as well

I am sure that the weather has a lot to do with it, our climate is not exactly the med, is it

Like everyone else.........I'm still looking for my best tasting tomato 

[Nicki85]

TBH I haven't been impressed with any of my varities!! The flesh seems to be pretty mushy or mealy as well this year even with a strict watering regime.  I think it is down to the heat- temperatures seem to have dropped now they are coming up to ripening.  That's why i'm trying a couple of super early types next year.  Seems that even the toms in the greenhouse are mushy....

[codheadred]

So the pepsi challenge it is then - some in the GH and some out - thanks for your comments

Jabberwock I will get them up against a sunny wall,

Nikki youve got me googling those other varieties, as for whats good and bad this year

Mumofstig I just hope mine ripen as I built my greenhouse late and so everything went in a lot later than most (4 weeks)

Steven
  

[shokkyy]

I know what I won't be growing again next year. I did 6 varieties this year, all treated much the same way, and only the Sungold have had a huge percentage of fruit that split, and only the Alicante have had problems with blossom end rot. Gartenperle, Red Alert, Legend, Pomodoro Roma have all been 100% problem free with good crops.

[Snoop]

I've grown Marmandes every year I've had a vegetable patch. My circumstances are a bit different to yours. But I only knew about them because my Dad grows them in the UK. He always had good results, and they are by far the most reliable tom I've grown. The flavour is very good and they give a good crop too, though you need to give them a fair bit of room to spread into and be prepared to add additional stakes for support to the side.

Shokkyy, what  a shame about your Sungold. I've got one in a pot, which, being a total idiot, I regularly allow to dry out because I forget to water it. Yet I rarely get split fruit. I grew these last year and grew only one this year because they're so prolific. Very tasty as well.