Pepolino F1

Each season I grow as many different varieties as space will allow and this year I'm growing a new variety called Pepolino F1.

The plant is a bush variety that grows well in a container and its tomatoes are elongated and similar to a plumb shape.

The taste is excellent and is a very good balance of both sugar and acid which gives it a traditional tomato flavour. However, the fruit are very small - about half the size of an average cherry tomato and although the plants produce lots of these little toms, I don't think I shall grow them next season.

There are many varieties to try, so a tomato has to be pretty special to grow it every year.

Growing Tomatoes & Wet Weather

It seems that we've had rain everyday in August here in the UK. Fortunately the temperatures haven't dipped too, otherwise there would be a danger of tomato blight.

One effect that rain has on tomato plants and their fruit is that it dilutes the taste. You'll get a more intense taste from a tomato whose plant has been slightly under-watered.

Tomato split is also the result of either over-watering or too much rain. This happens when the inside of the tomato swells faster than the outside skin is able to cope with and the skin splits.
I cut my split tomatoes along the line of the split and nobody knows the difference!

If growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, wet weather may affect your plants by condensation and humidity. Too much of either can cause fungal diseases (tomato blight again) and cause skin blemishes like ghost spot. This happens when grey mould spores fall onto the skins and leave small white rings.
Thanks to Pete E. for the photo.