[GrannieAnnie]

I was looking through some of my old mags this afternoon, and found this article in the June 1985 magazine of Gardening from Which?

"Unimpressed by flavourless hot-house grown tomatoes in the winter months?  One of our members has developed a techique for producing home-grown tomatoes for Christmas without using a greenhouse.

Towards the end of May or early June, sow an outdoor tomato variety and grow the plants in 10 to 12inch pots in the garden.  Bush varieties should be grown through a wire mesh so that the plants are well supported.  Other varieties should be staked and the tops nipped off after the third truss so that all the fruits mature about the same time (bush tomatoes tend to mature all together anyway).

The tomatoes should be mature, but not ripe, about the beginning of October.  The plants should then be moved to a cool but frost-free shed or basement - light is no longer needed.  Watering should be kept to a minimum until all the leaves die off, when you should stop watering altogether.  Pick off the dead leaves to prevent mould.  The tomatoes will stay in suspended animation on the plant right through the winter.  When you want home-grown tomatoes, bring one of the pots indoors where they will ripen in the warmth.  Our member has had home-grown tomatoes as late as February using this method".

What do you think?  Worth trying???

[crowndale]

well, not quite the same but I had some toms in the greenhouse last year that I forgot to water and they were still hanging onto the vine at Christmas unripe.  So there may be something in the water deprivation and cold.  worth a try if you like fresh toms at Christmas or through the winter.

[yellowkid]

I grow "giallo d'inverno" (yellow for winter) and I eat toms in december,january,february and march.I store them in summer and they are ready to eat for autumn and winter.Are you interested ?

[Martin]

Real Seeds do a storage tomato (variety is "De Colgar") for winter eating. See here, at the bottom of the page. Haven't tried it though.

[David.]

My local garden centre is having a Chilli & Tomato Growers' Festival over the Aug Bank Hol weekend - "All you ever need to know about growing, cooking and eating chillies & tomatoes".

When another local garden centre had a potato day, I checked out how to grow new potatoes for Christmas, so this seems like good question to add to my list for the above event.

[Ann]

If OH will allow me some space in the shed I will definately have a go at toms for Christmas.

[GrannieAnnie]

I grow "giallo d'inverno" (yellow for winter) and I eat toms in december,january,february and march.I store them in summer and they are ready to eat for autumn and winter.Are you interested ?

Sounds interesting Yellowkid!

[yellowkid]

At the end of the summer I'll have the seeds.If you want ,I'll give you some seeds.

[Salkeela]

Real Seeds do a storage tomato (variety is "De Colgar") for winter eating. See here, at the bottom of the page. Haven't tried it though.

I've a couple of plants of this variety growing inside and a couple outside.... I'll let you know........

[GrannieAnnie]

At the end of the summer I'll have the seeds.If you want ,I'll give you some seeds.

I'd like that yellowkid, and perhaps I can send you something in exchange?

[GrannieAnnie]

Real Seeds do a storage tomato (variety is "De Colgar") for winter eating. See here, at the bottom of the page. Haven't tried it though.

I've a couple of plants of this variety growing inside and a couple outside.... I'll let you know........

Yeah, please let us know what they turn out like Sally!!!!

[yellowkid]

Grannieannie,I'll send you the seeds in october.I like flowers.
If you can, send me flower seeds.

[GrannieAnnie]

Grannieannie,I'll send you the seeds in october.I like flowers.
If you can, send me flower seeds.

What sort of flowers do you like/can you grow over there?

[Bagpuss]

Real Seeds do a storage tomato (variety is "De Colgar") for winter eating. See here, at the bottom of the page. Haven't tried it though.

That's really good tomato seed website. I shall certainly try some.

[yellowkid]

I like very much penstemon and nepeta.
I can't find them here.
If you have these seeds I'm happy,if no,don't worry ,in any case I'll send the seeds