The Tomato Newsletter has just started again.
With a new season just around the corner, Nick has updated the Tomato Growing website and is including information about some of the latest growing devices.
Air pots and fabric pots are a great aid to providing more oxygen in the root zone of tomato plants and consequently a more successful result.
Propagation has its new items too with sowing seeds in sponges that provide an excellent ratio of moisture and air for healthy root growth.
If you aren't receiving Nick's Tomato Growing Newsletter, you can sign-up here.
Lots more posts to come at Tomato Daily as we approach the new season!
Tuesday, 5 February 2013
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
What Is Blossom Drop?
Blossom drop happens when a tomato plant aborts its flowers. as in the photo below.
This can happen for a number of reasons but the most regular cause is because the flowers fail to pollinate.
This happens when the air is too dry or too humid and the pollen finds it difficult to find its way to the ovary in the flower.
The way to help avoid blossom drop is to shake flowers and stems. It is also a good idea to hold something that vibrates, such as a toothbrush against the stems and flowers to simulate the affect that a bee has when it helps pollen move within a tomato plant's flower.
It is frustrating when an entire truss of flowers fails to pollinate and set fruit, so keep shaking those plants, stems and flowers!
More information about blossom drop may be found here.
This happens when the air is too dry or too humid and the pollen finds it difficult to find its way to the ovary in the flower.
The way to help avoid blossom drop is to shake flowers and stems. It is also a good idea to hold something that vibrates, such as a toothbrush against the stems and flowers to simulate the affect that a bee has when it helps pollen move within a tomato plant's flower.
It is frustrating when an entire truss of flowers fails to pollinate and set fruit, so keep shaking those plants, stems and flowers!
More information about blossom drop may be found here.
Wednesday, 11 July 2012
First Tomatoes Of The Season
The first tomatoes to ripen this season in my pollytunnel are Red Alert. These are cherry tomatoes grown in containers and are a bush variety.
Red Alert is one of the easiest varieties to grow, and if you live in a short season area, is one of the most reliable and quickest tomatoes to grow - especially if the weather is poor.
Another reason why I like to grow Red Alert is because the flowers set fruit easily and early in the season. Some varieties can take ages from when the flowers first appear to when they fade away and the small pea-like tomatoes show.
If you haven't grown Red Alert tomatoes, I would recommend that you give them a try!
Red Alert is one of the easiest varieties to grow, and if you live in a short season area, is one of the most reliable and quickest tomatoes to grow - especially if the weather is poor.
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| Red Alert - one of the easiest varieties to grow. |
Another reason why I like to grow Red Alert is because the flowers set fruit easily and early in the season. Some varieties can take ages from when the flowers first appear to when they fade away and the small pea-like tomatoes show.
If you haven't grown Red Alert tomatoes, I would recommend that you give them a try!
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Watering Tomatoes
Roots need moisture and air to grow successfully – too much water in the
soil on a regular basis will reduce growth and encourage diseases.
It's important that there is some moisture in the soil at all times because roots cannot absorb nutrients if the soil is bone dry.
Tomato plants need different amount of water depending on the temperature, whether or not they are fruiting and how many leaves a plant has - the more leaves the more water that's required.
A good root structure is achieved with a balance of both moisture and air.
Try to keep soil just moist is the usual
advice.
Another method is to give the soul a good watering, then let it
almost dry-out before watering again.
Tomato plants need different amount of water depending on the temperature, whether or not they are fruiting and how many leaves a plant has - the more leaves the more water that's required.
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Tomato Seeds & Varieties
For me, this is the most exciting time of the season - choosing which tomato varieties to grow this summer and I always end up with too many plants!
In my part of the world, sowing begins in earnest at the end of March and beginning of April but I've already sown lots and have plenty of seedlings growing - I can't stop myself!
- Bush varieties for large containers
- Tall varieties for grow bags and the greenhouse
- Hybrid varieties for vigour and yield
- Heirloom tomatoes for taste and history and tradition
- Cherry tomatoes for hanging baskets and salads
- Medium to large varieties for slicing and sandwiches
- Red, yellow, orange, pink, green, white and black tomatoes for colour
- All shapes and sizes including plum tomatoes for the barbecue and frying
In my part of the world, sowing begins in earnest at the end of March and beginning of April but I've already sown lots and have plenty of seedlings growing - I can't stop myself!
Saturday, 11 February 2012
The Tomato Club & Newsletter
The Tomato Club, that tomato growers can join for free, is now up and running on a weekly basis again this season.
It is especially useful for those who grow tomatoes in containers and grow bags. There is a lot of information available - including a weekly quiz - and is well worth joining.
Of course, coming from a short season area - the UK, many of the tips and suggestions relate to tomato growing in a cooler climate, but it is useful to note the varieties that are successful at cooler temperatures and those that ripen early.
Here is the link - Tomato Club.
It is especially useful for those who grow tomatoes in containers and grow bags. There is a lot of information available - including a weekly quiz - and is well worth joining.
Of course, coming from a short season area - the UK, many of the tips and suggestions relate to tomato growing in a cooler climate, but it is useful to note the varieties that are successful at cooler temperatures and those that ripen early.
Here is the link - Tomato Club.
Monday, 16 January 2012
Tomato Red Alert
Finding tomato varieties that grow well in your area is very important for success. With so many from which to choose, when you find one that does very well, it's worth growing every season and for me, it's Red Alert.
The earliness and taste of this variety are second to none - at least in my garden - and I would recommend it to everyone to try.
As a cherry and bush variety it is easy to move under cover in the spring if temperatures become too cold or weather too wet.
It's only downside is that it can become a bit "leggy" and needs plenty of light. It performs best in a large container rather than a hanging basket and as a general rule, will produce an excellent harvest in a large pot or container. Grow bags are OK too, but it's best to keep the low growing branches off the ground.
The earliness and taste of this variety are second to none - at least in my garden - and I would recommend it to everyone to try.
As a cherry and bush variety it is easy to move under cover in the spring if temperatures become too cold or weather too wet.
It's only downside is that it can become a bit "leggy" and needs plenty of light. It performs best in a large container rather than a hanging basket and as a general rule, will produce an excellent harvest in a large pot or container. Grow bags are OK too, but it's best to keep the low growing branches off the ground.
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