Comments on: How to Grow Tomatoes in the UK http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/ news, reviews, hints and tips on vegetable gardening, fruit growing and herbs. Thu, 4 Dec 2008 23:33:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: how to can tomatoes http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-8395 how to can tomatoes Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:56:42 +0000 http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-8395 [...] to Grow Tomatoes&8217 guide shows that tomatoes are easy to grow but require dailyattention.http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/Read "RE: Years ago my ex mother in law taught me how to can tomatoes. Yesterday, I FNM Message [...] […] to Grow Tomatoes&8217 guide shows that tomatoes are easy to grow but require dailyattention.http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/Read “RE: Years ago my ex mother in law taught me how to can tomatoes. Yesterday, I FNM Message […]

]]> By: TopVeg http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-8243 TopVeg Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:38:19 +0000 http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-8243 Richard - this is a difficult one! As you are getting copious amounts of fruit, I wonder if you are overdoing it? Tomatoes do not reward excessive care! Your problems could be due to: temperature - high temperatures accelerate softening process fertiliser - too much nitrogen causes puffy fruit too little potassium leads to ripening problems, soft or mushy fruit texture, low acidity and puffiness over-watering causes sloppy tomatoes with little taste Richard - this is a difficult one! As you are getting copious amounts of fruit, I wonder if you are overdoing it?

Tomatoes do not reward excessive care!

Your problems could be due to:

temperature - high temperatures accelerate softening process

fertiliser - too much nitrogen causes puffy fruit
too little potassium leads to ripening problems, soft or mushy fruit texture, low acidity and puffiness

over-watering causes sloppy tomatoes with little taste

]]> By: TopVeg http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-8205 TopVeg Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:25:43 +0000 http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-8205 Darren Thanks for that tip. These humid days are ideal for mould. Darren

Thanks for that tip. These humid days are ideal for mould.

]]> By: Darren Carter http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-8147 Darren Carter Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:52:01 +0000 http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-8147 I live in Manchester. Don't have a greenhouse. It's v damp here. I've been preventing the black mould on my plants using anti-bacterial washing up liquid in a mister. But you need to get in early. I live in Manchester. Don’t have a greenhouse. It’s v damp here. I’ve been preventing the black mould on my plants using anti-bacterial washing up liquid in a mister. But you need to get in early.

]]> By: Richard http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-8115 Richard Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:57:54 +0000 http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-8115 Hello TopVeg, I am in my fifth year growing tomatoes in an (unheated) greenhouse. I sow seed in a propagator at the beginning of April and they usually crop mid-August or about now this year, due to lack of sun in August. I have tried many varieties, from Gardeners Delight, Alicante through to Plum and Beefsteak type. Unfortunately the results are always the same, the plants crop copiously, but the fruits (although ripe)are mushy and never crisp. Any ideas what is wrong? I use rainwater & special tomato feed. Many thanks, Richard. Hello TopVeg,
I am in my fifth year growing tomatoes in an (unheated) greenhouse. I sow seed in a propagator at the beginning of April and they usually crop mid-August or about now this year, due to lack of sun in August. I have tried many varieties, from Gardeners Delight, Alicante through to Plum and Beefsteak type. Unfortunately the results are always the same, the plants crop copiously, but the fruits (although ripe)are mushy and never crisp. Any ideas what is wrong? I use rainwater & special tomato feed. Many thanks, Richard.

]]> By: TopVeg http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-7900 TopVeg Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:22:41 +0000 http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-7900 Your suggestion was spot on. I returned to three toms just turning and put them in the fridge... we tasted they were fresh as a daisy. the others are just coming around now. thanks for your help luigi Your suggestion was spot on.

I returned to three toms just turning and put them in the fridge… we tasted they were fresh as a daisy.

the others are just coming around now.

thanks for your help

luigi

]]> By: TopVeg http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-7244 TopVeg Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:33:20 +0000 http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-7244 Hi Jenny Let us know how the tomatoes do! Good luck Hi Jenny

Let us know how the tomatoes do!

Good luck

]]> By: jenny jackson http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-7239 jenny jackson Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:57:30 +0000 http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-7239 Hi TopVeg, Sorry I didn't greet you last time. Not only am I growing tomatoes for the first time, I'm also blogging for the first time as well and on a steep learning curve for both! Thank you so much for your advice I'm off to the greenhouse, knife in hand, immediately. Hi TopVeg, Sorry I didn’t greet you last time. Not only am I growing tomatoes for the first time, I’m also blogging for the first time as well and on a steep learning curve for both! Thank you so much for your advice I’m off to the greenhouse, knife in hand, immediately.

]]> By: TopVeg http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-7235 TopVeg Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:36:34 +0000 http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-7235 Hi Jenny They will get there in the end! They always taste better ripened on the vine. Take off most of the leaves on your plants, starting from the bottom & working up. This will stress the plants & force them into ripening the fruits faster. Also it allows more sunshine onto the tomato fruits. HTH! Hi Jenny

They will get there in the end! They always taste better ripened on the vine.

Take off most of the leaves on your plants, starting from the bottom & working up. This will stress the plants & force them into ripening the fruits faster.
Also it allows more sunshine onto the tomato fruits.

HTH!

]]> By: jenny jackson http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-7231 jenny jackson Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:18:39 +0000 http://topveg.com/2008/03/06/how-to-grow-tomatoes/#comment-7231 At long last I have a greenhouse and am growing tomatoes for the first time. I have Sungold, Ailsa Craig and Marmande varieties. The sungold are ripening and delicious, but despite a good crop the others are still showing no sign of ripening. Am I doing something wrong and is there anything I can do to encourage them to ripen? At long last I have a greenhouse and am growing tomatoes for the first time. I have Sungold, Ailsa Craig and Marmande varieties. The sungold are ripening and delicious, but despite a good crop the others are still showing no sign of ripening. Am I doing something wrong and is there anything I can do to encourage them to ripen?

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