Unfortunately, they got off to a bad start as the compost I'd used to prick the seedlings out in to wasn't up to much. The tiny plants stopped growing altogether and turned a sickly yellow colour but I managed to save them by repotting them in to some fresh compost. This rescue worked and they responded well turning back to a lovely shade of green and growing away. Then, the unthinkable happened, they got left in a hot greenhouse with no ventilation and I thought they were beyond hope, but they rallied and picked up yet again.
I think the problems they suffered as young plants has affected them though as they're really not doing very well at all this year. If it wasn't for the Maskotka plants which I bought at a nearby plant sale, I'd have had very little in the way of tomatoes yet this year. These plants have done really well and they're a variety I'll definitely consider next year.
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As you can see, a couple of salad type tomatoes have ripened recently too. These are Alicante, another plant I bought at the plant sale.
All is not lost though, the Ailsa Craig which I grew from seed is now just starting to ripen.
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The problem with the plants I grew from seed and that suffered as seedlings is that they're not carrying very much fruit. Many of the plants look old before they're time too, they're just not very healthy looking at all. In hindsight, I should have disposed of them and started again, or bought all the plants in.
This is Costoluto Fiorentino, just starting to ripen. It looks very ugly from this angle.
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Taken from another angle, you can see that it's a ribbed variety. It's a beef tomato and very tasty.
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It takes quite a bit of time and care to grow tomatoes from seed so I'm wondering if I should cut my losses and buy in plants next year. It's alright saying that now but I know that when it comes to sowing time I'll never resist sowing some tomato seed.
On a more positive note, my blueberries have done exceptionally well this year. They're just starting to slow down now but have kept us supplied with a small picking each day. There's been enough to share with my mum and dad, they've enjoyed having fresh blueberries sprinkled on their breakfast cereal. This was yesterday's smaller harvest.
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As one crop does well, another doesn't do quite so well and that's the way it goes with gardening. I wonder what's in store for us next year.
My tomatoes are disappointing this year as well, two lots had very small plants and low crop the outside plants are better but the fruits are still green. This is the first year I grew from seeds.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that your tomatoes are disappointing too, I suppose there are some years when they just don't do well. I've always grown them from seed in the past and they've done well so I'm hoping that this year is just a blip.
DeleteIt's such a shame when crops don't give us what we had hoped for isn't it. Mine regret brilliant either this year, I think I've crammed too many into the greenhouse and they're suffering from a lack of light. I'm sure next year will be better, and of course you'll sow them from seed, it's inevitable!
ReplyDeleteThere's always something which doesn't do very well each year, I just wish it wasn't the tomatoes after all the care and time I gave them this year. It's always tempting to grow as many as you can cram in to the greenhouse but it's not always wise. I think you're right, it is inevitable that I'll be growing them from seed again next year.
DeleteYour beef tomatoes look fab, they are probably my favourite although I didn't grow any this year. I buy plants now rather than sow seed. I keep an eye open for gate sales, although it is a bit of a lottery what you can get. But variety is the spice of life! X
ReplyDeleteI don't think there's as much variety with tomatoes when you're buying plants rather than seeds, I don't suppose I grow anything too unusual though so perhaps I could pick up most of the varieties as plants. The Costoluto Fiorentino is especially tasty, full of juicy flesh it's got a fabulous flavour. I picked up the seeds a couple of years ago without knowing anything about it, but I believe it's one which Monty Don grows as well as various other gardeners.
Deletemy tom plants are just awful too, wind swept and not doing very well. Courgettes on the other hand are
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like we're in the same boat with our tomatoes, and our courgettes too. I think this must be my best year ever for courgettes, we're eating loads as well as giving lots away.
DeleteI share your disappointment Jo, but I know you won't give up growing tomatoes any time soon! "Maskotka" has become my favourite, and one of my daughters (the on who lives in France) also grows it by preference - at her request, I sent her the seeds for it.
ReplyDeleteTomatoes will definitely be on the growing list again next year, I don't think I could ever give up growing them. This is the first time I've tried Maskotka, it does have a thicker skin that what I like but the taste and yield more than makes up for it.
DeleteLooking good regardless of set backs! We've been growing tomatoes outside (no greenhouse) so yields are pretty low. The one doing the best was a hanging basket of trailing cherries I picked up cheap at Aldi all dried out and crispy! It's fruiting like crazy! Think the others have got blight, not looking good at all! Not a great year for tomatoes. Guess that's the highs and lows of gardening, never know what'll happen!
ReplyDeleteI have to say that my outdoor tomatoes have done better this year than my greenhouse ones, and they did last year too. I'm actually thinking of giving up growing them in the greenhouse in future, though I haven't had any problems with blight, I may rethink if I did. I'm sorry to hear that your plants aren't doing too well either, but great that you picked up a plant that's keeping you supplied. Good old Aldi saving you from a year without tomatoes.
DeleteA shame but at least you've had some tomatoes. As yet I've picked just one!
ReplyDeleteNext year I'm hoping to grow less but better! Flighty xx
I hope it's just a case of your tomatoes ripening late rather than a lack of fruit. I think many people have struggled with their tomatoes this year. Sometimes, less can be more, it can be better to put all our efforts in to less things.
DeleteWe used to always grow ours outdoors as we never had a greenhouse! Generally speaking they didn't look great but tasted wonderful. It's such fun trying out different varieties each season - you never get everything right do you? xCathy
ReplyDeleteI don't think there's any better taste than home grown tomatoes, indoors or outdoors. I think the fun of tomato growing is trying new varieties, though you tend to find some you're particularly fond of so you end up growing them each year. I don't think I could ever give up growing tomatoes.
DeleteAlthough you are so disappointed, your tomatoes look not too bad, they look so appetizing. Actually I was disappointed to my tomato plot on this early year, but I feel so happy since the second bacth of tomato plot grow well and showing me their green fruits on their twigs now. I'm growing five varieties and they look so happy on this current weather. Although I see any bugs, but I hope they won't to make damages on my tomato plot.
ReplyDeleteThe tomatoes I've harvested are delicious, it's just a case of the plants giving up before their time and producing much less fruit than they should. I'm pleased to hear that your second crop of tomatoes have done good, it's definitely worth growing more than one crop so that if one fails, there's always a back up.
DeleteMine are taking forever to get going and are looking decidedly leggy even though i've been trying to shape them, so I reckon there's something foreboding for Toms in the air this year - out of our control!
ReplyDeleteYou could be right, I've heard that quite a few people are struggling. It's a good job there's always next year and that we can start all over again, the challenge of gardening.
DeleteI get pleasure out of growing tomatoes even though I don't eat them, only Mike likes them. Buying in plants just wouldn't be the same!
ReplyDeleteTomatoes are the thing I enjoy growing most so I know exactly how you feel. I don't know what it is about them, I just love growing them so I really don't think I could ever just buy plants in really, seeds is the way to go.
DeleteIn fairness ours haven't done brilliantly either but I do feel we have neglected them some what with being away so much.
ReplyDeleteI think quite a few of us are strugging with tomatoes this year, I hope we all do better next year.
DeleteI don't grow tomatoes as they never ripen here even in very hot summers! It is true about something's being bountiful and others not growing at all, I have no root veg this year at all but in previous years I have had masses, such is a gardeners lot :)
ReplyDeleteI had one year where my tomatoes didn't ripen on the vine so I cleared the lot and let them do their thing on the windowsill, just about all of them managed to turn red. I've had problem with germination of my beetroot and parsnips this year, I've only got a few of each. Oh well, there's always next year.
DeleteThere's something strangely addictive about tomato seeds isn't there. I always end up with more than I mean to. I shall look out for Maskotka, I've heard them mentioned before. I always grow Sungold because they never let me down. This year all of my blueberries were eaten by a family of blackbirds. They do look quite healthy and glossy now though! CJ xx
ReplyDeleteTomato seeds are addictive, so many different varieties to choose from, I'm like a kid in a sweet shop when it comes to choosing which to grow. I've only grown Sungold once but I wasn't very keen on them, I should really give them another try as I haven't heard anyone else say they don't like them, yet I've heard many people rave about them. Such a shame about your blueberries, but there's always next year, I think you need to net them.
DeleteMy tumbling tom have been ok, but the 'Totem' I've tried again are sadly all leaf and hardly any fruit. I've taken to picking them semi ripe and letting them ripen in a bowl on the kitchen table to let the others have a chance. So many green, so many flowers, so little time. Addictive they are! I'm still trying to find the perfect bush tomato for Scotland. One day, I might find it! Next year indeed! Blueberries look great, my bushes, not a flower on them, but they're reduced bargains from B&Q so I shouldn't moan, here's hoping for next year!
ReplyDeleteThe Totem I grew from seed is one of the plants which has plenty of fruit, however, they're all still green and not ripening at all. I should have a good harvest off it if they do all ripen though. I'm sure your blueberries will come good in time, they can take a while to settle. I've had a few lean years with mine but they've done really well this year.
DeleteWhat a shame about the tomatoes Jo, at least you have some to enjoy though. I confess I was a prolific tomato grower until last year, when I didn't sow any seeds at all. I think missing that one year cured me of my addiction, as, eek, I've been preferring the tomatoes from the supermarket (I know, sacrilege!).
ReplyDeleteI think your supermarket must stock nicer tasting tomatoes than mine does. One of the attractions of growing tomatoes is the huge variety available, I enjoy trying something new each year.
DeleteIts a shame about your tomatoes,nothing beats going into the green house and picking your own home grow. Love your post.....xx
ReplyDeleteI don't remember my tomatoes being quite so bad before, I'm just hoping that it's a blip this year and that they'll be good again next year. Fingers crossed.
DeleteIt is such a shame about your tomatoes Jo, perhaps next year will be better again. As you say, at least the blueberries have done well, some good, some not so. I guess that it balances out, but I know that you have put so much care into your tomatoes I wish that they had done better for you! xx
ReplyDeleteAs you say, there's always next year and at least I'm getting some tomatoes, it's not a total failure. Other things have done well so all is not lost.
DeleteWe were expecting to have a good crop of tomatoes to bottle but many of the flowers have not set. However, we're using the ones that have ripened for salads, hoping the remaining ones will ripen up and other plants will be late producers.
ReplyDeleteI definitely won't have enough to do anything with other than use fresh, though there's still enough to share with my mum and dad so I'm pleased about that.
DeleteShame about your tomatoes perhaps not producing as you'd like. The ones you've pictured look tasty, the Ailsa Craig look like they have alot to offer.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tasted the Ailsa Craig, they're still ripening, but I've grown them this year as they're a variety my dad used to grow so I'm hoping they're going to be tasty.
DeleteMust definitely sow that packet of Maskotka that is lurking in my seed box next year then Jo. My tomatoes have not done brilliantly either. They have been left to fend for themselves outdoors and are complaining about it. Oh well there's always next year.
ReplyDeleteDo try the Maskotka, they've very tasty and have given me the best yield this year. I'm certainly hoping that my tomatoes will do better for me next year than they have this year.
DeleteThe tomatoes that survived and the Maskotka look really good, Jo. How do you like the self-watering pots? I've had no luck with them. Of course, we grow all our tomatoes outdoors where they are subject to all the problems of weather and pests. I gave up a few years back. But every year is different -- that's one of the joys of gardening! P. x
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to say whether the self watering pots are good or not really, I think I need to see how they do another year. My outdoor tomatoes have performed better than the ones grown in the greenhouse over the last couple of years so I'm considering only growing them outdoors from now on.
DeleteTomato plants are always so unpredictable in my experience. I never seem to have the same results from one year to the next. I grew tumblers last year in hanging baskets and they were amazing, they dripped with tomatoes. In fact, I cannot imaging why I did not do it again this year.
ReplyDeleteBlueberries are fabulous, and I am amazed at just how many you have been fortunate enough to pick.
Little Grandson loves them, so next year they will be on my list.
This is the first year that my tomatoes have done so badly, I suppose I've been lucky in previous years. We've really been enjoying the blueberries, I think I've had one year where they've done as well but it's been a bit lean over the last few years so it's nice that they've come good again.
DeleteWell if I had been given a choice at the beginning of the year....tomatoes v blueberries I would have opted for blueberries, I just love them. Glad you got some toms though, you really have had to work for them this year, hope you enjoy them.xxx
ReplyDeleteTomatoes v blueberries, a very hard choice but I think I'd have gone for the tomatoes myself. At least I'm managing to harvest some and I'm enjoying them very much.
DeleteI was thinking about getting some self-watering pots for my tomatoes but instead put them in my asparagus bed in ring culture pots. (I read they make good companions for asparagus.) They've certainly all grown spectacularly well but, like you, very little fruit and what there is there has still to ripen. Very disappointing. I think I may go and chop the leaves off later today to see if that helps. My blueberries are in pots but I think they'd do better in the ground so may plant them properly. It would be so much easier to know what to do if I had my own garden!! And, of course, strong winds are not helping either!
ReplyDeleteI've already started chopping back my tomato plants to allow what little sun we're getting to see the fruit, it's not working all that well as I've still got lots of green tomatoes. My blueberries are grown in containers and it's hit and miss as to how they do each year. I suppose it's easier to give them the conditions they prefer when they're in containers, but it doesn't necessarily guarantee a good harvest.
DeleteI think I need to do something to speed up the ripening of my tomatoes. It's got so chilly that I'm wondering if some of them will ever be ready to pick. It's been another good year for blueberries for me too. As long as I remember to net them before the birds get to them we have bumper crops. Plug plants are so much easier but it's such a pity that the choice of varieties isn't wide enough. Perhaps a mixture of the 2 is the best way to go. :)
ReplyDeleteI had this problem a couple of years ago and I ended up with the whole crop on my windowsill ripening, which thankfully, they managed to do. I think a mixture of plug plants and seeds is probably the best bet, nothing like hedging your bets.
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