Another season comes to a close with mixed results.
Some of us have had an excellent season, while those living in northerly parts got off to a poor start because of the weather and in some cases never fully recovered!
Green Tomatoes
I’m sure there are still plenty of green tomatoes to pick (hopefully lots of ripe ones too!) – if you need a few tips to help ripen them, please go here.
Crimson Crush has been a great success on its launch this season – the last plant standing in many gardens and allotments where blight has been a problem. If you regularly suffer from blight, I highly recommend it.
Looking forward to next season, there are three tips that are the foundations of tomato growing.
Light
Don’t sow too early – it’s easier to grow healthy plants when days are longer.
Watering
Using a reservoir or valve method of watering helps avoid Blossom End Rot and produces very good results – better than a grow bag with grow pots.
Growing Under Cover
Wet leaves for extended periods will cause all sorts of problems including blight – while some varieties are best grown outdoors, it’s good to grow under cover too.
Large Tomatoes
If you enjoy growing larger tomatoes Crimson Crush would be my number one choice, especially if you grow outside.
Of course, if all else fails, one option is to buy small plants from the garden centre in April and get off to a flying start!
Sweet Aperitif has been very popular this season and does very well under cover.
The tomato plant in this photo produced hundreds of very sweet cherry tomatoes. Slightly smaller than Gardener’s Delight but still a good size.
Whatever varieties you choose to grow next season, I hope that the Newsletter has been helpful and I wish you all the best for 2016!
Regards,
Nick
You can sign up to this season’s Newsletter on the Tomato Growing home page.
Nick
Hi Rob, I’m pleased you enjoyed the Newsletters – lets’ hope next season is a good one!
Cheers,
Nick
Nick
Cheers, Chris, I’m pleased you have found them helpful!
Nick
Nick
Hi Valerie, great minds think alike – we had a similar SIP in the members area this season – the bucket method is probably the best value SIP for growing tomatoes I know of.
Regards,
Nick
Nick
Hi Richard, sounds like you had a very good season … there is always something that can go better!
Nick
Hi Terry, thanks for your comment – good to hear you had good crops this year – the guitar is now out of its case!
Cheers,
Nick
bill
thanks for all your advice bill
Nick
Hi Bill, you are welcome!