[Headgardener22]

Loads of different varieties ripening now, 4.7kg since Thursday including the first of the beefsteak (Limmony, Black Russian and Pink Brandywine).

The Rambling Gold Stripe are a waste of space though, they're really floury - maybe they're overripe.

I would post a picture but I don't know how

[mumofstig]

I would post a picture but I don't know how

Advice from the Notice Board on how to post pictures in a thread
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=19476.0

[Annen]

Loads of different varieties ripening now, 4.7kg since Thursday including the first of the beefsteak (Limmony, Black Russian and Pink Brandywine).

Did you find the fruit set okay on your black Russian?  I only have one fruit on three plants.[/font]

[surbie100]

I've got about 8 fruit on my black russian, all still very very green though. My plastic growhouse can't get to greenhouse temperatures!

[Headgardener22]

Loads of different varieties ripening now, 4.7kg since Thursday including the first of the beefsteak (Limmony, Black Russian and Pink Brandywine).

Did you find the fruit set okay on your black Russian?  I only have one fruit on three plants.[/font]

I've got variable setting rates on my beefsteaks, some have got lots and some have only a few. I think its because of the hot weather when they were flowering. The ones that flowered earlier have more fruit than the ones that flowered later. If this is real and not imagined, then the quantity of fruit that we all get will be vary varied because the temperatures were up and down a lot.

The Black Russian has 4 fruit. The Marvel Striped 12 (but they're still green). Last year was the other way around Black Russian was heavy with fruit but I only got one tiny Marvel Striped.

[missmoneypenny]

Has anyone spotted  blight on their toms yet? I check regularly, haven t seen any yet but I fear that will all this rain it s only a matter o f time.

[Annen]

Did you find the fruit set okay on your black Russian?  I only have one fruit on three plants.

I have just read up about blossom drop and dry set on tomatoes in an ancient copy of Hessayon's "Be Your Own Plant Doctor" (cost 45p!) and it is caused by air too hot and dry at pollinating time. Which would be about right for the time the black russians were flowering, but the other varieties don't seem so badly affected.

[guykp57]

My toms all still green..why won't they turn red

[Springlands]

Guy - your Tom's look lovely. Lots of us are having to wait a bit longer for our Tom's to ripen this year especially if they are grown outside. They look as if they are beginning to lighten so maybe they are on the turn.

Just looking at your picture again - it might be useful to cover the plants at night - the nights are getting colder now. Also you could consider removing the upper trusses with the very small fruits as it is very unlikely that they will grow bigger outdoors at this stage of the season unless we get a really good autumn. That way all the plants energy will go into the bigger fruits.

[surbie100]

One of my black russians is on the turn! And it's a biggun! 

[compostqueen]

Exciting times    The branch of Tigerellas that broke off, which I hung upside down, is ripening faster off the plant than on it 

I have a ripening Saint Pierre this morning (at long, long last) and it's a whopper.  I had to check the labels of all the St P's as I can't believe how large they are. They are normal sized toms as a rule - well mine have been in the past.  They are beef tomato size this year 

[Annen]

I've got a marmande turning pink

[compostqueen]

Marmande are lovely looking toms. They hold such promise for meals to come 

[chillimummy]

have had 2 ripe tigerellas and delicious. have lots more but still green. good to read what other people are growing ready for next year.

[Headgardener22]

A selection of the beefsteaks I picked today  .

Some are a bit on the small size but there are others ripening 



Pink Brandywine; Black Brandywine; Black Krim; Cherokee Purple; Black Russian
White Queen; Azoychka; Limmony; Cuore di Bue
Marmande; Summer Cider (both a bit small but they'll still be lovely)