[ruralbob]

I have had a very good crop of tomatoes. Did all I should, nipped out after 3rd / 4th trusses, removed side shoots, fed with seaweed feed as per it says on the bottle, watered occasionally with potash solution.

However the majority of them are tastless and soft inside!!  . I grew outdoors as not got a greenhouse (yet). The crop seemed to take weeks before turning red.

So......

Any ideas as to where I may have gone wrong??

[DD.]

What variety are they?

[andy135]

Too much water can leave them a bit tasteless, and we have had a lot of rain.
What is your location?

[ruralbob]

Skipton, and yes it has rained and rained and rained. Will buy them some umberellas for next year.

Will try to make some chutney or keep throwing them in curries and pretend they are tasty.

[DD.]

And the variety?

[ruralbob]

Sorry, they were St Peirre (sp).

Does variety play a lot in it??, can you buy them for cooler wetter areas?

[DD.]

Yes, variety makes a lot of difference in taste & texture.  If it didn't there would be no point in having more than one variety! 

I'm not familiar with that one, so I can't specifically comment. My outdoor Shirley's taste better than the greenhouse ones and they weren't bad!

[ruralbob]

It was a bit daft of me to ask really wasn't it. I was just going to answer 'suttons seeds' till I thought again 

Are the Shirleys good in cooler wetter conditions???

I am considering building a lean to, for toms, cucumbers and peppers.

[Carrotcake]

I think it must be the rain. I've grown St Pierre down here where we haven't had much rain and they are tasty and firm  

The only variety where I've been disappointed about the taste was Garten Perle (a cherry tom).

[DD.]

Shirley are recommended for cold or slightly heated greenhouses, but I find they grow very well outside.

Most of my outdoor Shirley's are rooted side shoots taken off the greenhouse ones.

[Ice]

My theory is that it is down to the watering.  The year before last I grew Black Cherry and they were amazing.  Last year I grew them and I had to ask my neighbour to water them for a long period and he flooded them.  They were tasteless.  This year, with correct watering, they are fantastic.

So for me, good compost, proper feeding and watering according to need are key. 

[shokkyy]

The only variety where I've been disappointed about the taste was Garten Perle (a cherry tom).

Yet my Gartenperle were absolutely delicious, and the most prolific tomato I've ever grown. So far I've picked 3 kilo from 3 hanging baskets, and there's still a lot of fruit on there. It does seem to depend very much on local conditions.

[DD.]

Swindon, UK/Cognac, France - think there may be a climate difference.

[GrannieAnnie]

I think it must be the rain. I've grown St Pierre down here where we haven't had much rain and they are tasty and firm  

The only variety where I've been disappointed about the taste was Garten Perle (a cherry tom).

Oh that's strange Carrotcake.  The Garten Perle I grew in my Polytunnel last year were lovely!!

Sorry Shokky, replied before I red all the posts!!!   

[Trillium]

Let's face it, with toms it's a real fine line on watering to get good flavour. And that's provided you've got a variety you like. My friend loves Jaune Flammes while I find them too tart. Munty adores the smoky flavour of Paul Robeson's while I'm indifferent to it. I love heritage Autumn Golds and most people find it a bit bland. I'll take a Sweet 100 anytime but not Sweet Millions.

I also find that lots of manure is a great flavour enhancer. Kelp helps feed the soil but poop is where the flavour is at