This year I've grown two Ailsa Craig, two Gardener's Delight, one Totem and three Maskotka plants outdoors and one Ailsa Craig, one Gardener's Delight, one Bloody Butcher and two Maskotka plants in the greenhouse. Thirteen plants in total. They've all done well but as in previous years, I think my outdoor plants have done just a little better than those in the greenhouse. I don't usually weigh my harvests but I did weigh those below, there's about seven pounds in that one bowl and this is just the tip of the iceberg, the plants must have yielded pounds and pounds.
I've now removed most of the foliage from the cordon plants to allow what little sun we've got left this year to get to the fruit to ripen it. There's little warmth left in the sun when it does shine so I hope the tomatoes which are still to be harvested ripen before it's too late. This is the state of play at the moment and as you can see, there's still plenty to harvest.
I think the above photo shows how well the grow bags have held up. I cut each bag in half before standing each half on its end and planting in to it that way, it gives a much better depth for the plants to spread their roots than when the grow bags are laid flat.
The Maskotka plants are now a tangled mess. They're very untidy plants but I'm willing to forgive that as they produce such a huge yield of larger than average cherry tomatoes which taste divine.
I've been able to share my bounty with family, friends and neighbours this year and have had apples and grapes in return with a promise of pears still to come. I think it's great when you're able to trade in this way.
There's been one or two comedy tomatoes produced which wouldn't look out of place on Esther Rantzen's That's Life! Oooh Rude!
There's only two varieties which I've decided on for next year, those are Maskotka and Bloody Butcher. I may just stick to those next year, one salad tomato and one cherry, we'll have to wait and see whether any others tickle my fancy.
I thought my tomatoes were struggling this year until Mike let on he was eating them straight off the vine. You have had such a lovely crop of them Jo, I cut down on the amounts of plants grown his year but now it's time to plan for next years x
ReplyDeleteHa ha, that's so funny, I bet you've had a great crop, you just didn't get to see the ripe ones. I think I may cut down next year, not just in the number of varieties I grow but in the number of plants too.
DeleteWhat a great result, Jo. Your plants have had so much fruit on them. Many of mine didn't set too well, but having said that, some of the fruits are / were very big, so in terms of weight I have a had a good harvest. I will definitely be growing Maskotka again, and Cherokee Purple, but I'm not sure about the others. The beefsteak varieties seem to experience more problems than the smaller ones, so maybe that will influence my decision.
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled with this year's result, it's been one of my best years yet. Cherokee Purple looks like a nice tomato, it's one I've never tried but I may do some time in the future. I've given up on beefsteaks, mainly because the crops are always smaller, I prefer a larger quantity of smaller tomatoes.
DeleteI love tomatoes, what a wonderful colour better than the supermarket, I will be growing lots next year for sure.
ReplyDeleteI rarely buy tomatoes from the supermarket so I look forward to harvesting my home grown crop. I've had such a great year with them, I shall miss them once they're finished.
DeleteLucky you. I'm a touch envious as I've had my worst year yet with mine, which have succumbed to blight and been consigned to the compost heap.
ReplyDeleteAs yet I'm undecided what varieties to grow next year. Flighty xx
I think it's been a very mixed year where tomatoes are concerned, I've heard of others, like you, who have had bad years, yet many more have had a good year like I have done myself, very strange. There's so many tomato varieties that it's quite exciting deciding which ones to grow.
DeleteOh what a splendid looking crop Jo. Your comment that the outdoor plants are a little better than the indoor ones is intriguing. I wonder if heat gets reflected and/or lingers in the fence behind them. I hope to grow Maskotka again next year and my stalwart 'Gardener's Delight'.
ReplyDeleteI know my greenhouse isn't sited in the best place so that may go some way to explaining why the outdoor tomatoes often perform better than the indoor ones. I grow Gardener's Delight every year but I think I'm going to give it a miss next year as in my opinion, Maskotka outperforms it. I never thought I'd find a cherry tomato which did.
DeleteI like your use of the grow bags - it makes so much sense to give depth for root growth - and for watering too. I have never seen that before , but it is so logical! I have grown the sweetest tomatoes I have ever tasted this year - 'Sweet Aperitif' (T & Morgan). You may have tempted me to try Maskotka next year, instead of my usual G Delight!
ReplyDeleteI've used grow bags in this way for two or three years now and it works really well. I've never heard of Sweet Aperitif, I shall have to look that one up, but I can definitely recommend Maskotka.
DeleteOh lucky you, you have the magic touch I think. My tomatoes have been pretty hopeless this year. I might try bloody butcher next year if it's done well for you. Although I don't have a greenhouse, and I see it's one you've grown inside. I like the growbag idea, it looks like it's worked really well. My Maskotka is a big mess, I might try it again next year, not sure. I need to have a rummage around in there and see what the harvest is like. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteI don't know about the magic touch, I think I've just been very lucky this year. Bloody Butcher is supposed to cope with cooler temperatures so should be a good one for growing outdoors here in the UK. I'm going to try it outdoors next year and see how it does. I'd definitely give Maskotka another go, that's the tomato I'd choose to grow if I could grow only one variety.
DeleteWe have also had a good crop but very late, we only plant five vines, that's enough for us, four Sungold and one Money Maker, so disappointed in the flavour of the Money Maker though yet it was so popular for years. I'm still trying to track down bloody butcher seed for next year as you have raved about it.
ReplyDeleteThe Sweet Peas have been fantastic with very long stems, again very late.
I think I'm going to grow fewer tomato plants next year, though I do like to have a large enough harvest to share round. I remember my grandpa growing Moneymaker but I think there's so many varieties of tomato that there's lots which are better tasting. I hope you find some Bloody Butcher seeds, I shall be looking for some too. Glad you've had a good year with your sweet peas, mine were rubbish again this year.
DeleteYour tomatoes look fantastic Jo, and such a lovely colour too. I think it's great that you've been able to share your bounty.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan.
I especially like to share my harvests with my parents as they no longer have a garden so they can't grow their own. My dad was brought up on home grown veg, his parents had an allotment, and has grown his own over the years too.
DeleteI am so jealous about the tomatoes. I only just started harvesting few red ones and there are still many green ones which will have to be preserved. So sad. This is the second year that my toms are dissapointing.
ReplyDeleteThat's such a shame. I can't believe how early my tomatoes started ripening this year, I've had a long season.
DeleteLots of tomatoes, Jo! The last picture is so interesting, look like Pinokio.
ReplyDeleteI've had a huge harvest. Yes, that misshapen tomato does look like Pinocchio with its long nose.
DeleteThat's a fabulous crop Jo! Well done. I've still got Sungold going strong, I'd like to try another variety but I only grow them for Mike and that's the only variety he wants.
ReplyDeleteI know lots of people rave about Sungold. I tried them once but I wasn't very keen on them, perhaps I should give them another go, though I'm trying to streamline what I grow next year.
DeleteThose tomatoes look great and well done on such a huge harvest. If some don't ripen I have heard of green tomato chutney. Have you ever made chutney? Happy harvesting and take care.
ReplyDeleteMy tomatoes have done me proud this year. I've never made chutney, it's something none of us are too keen on. I remove the green tomatoes at the end of the season and they ripen indoors, though they're never as tasty as the ones ripened on the vine.
DeleteExcellent harvest - I was interested to see how those grow bags held up. I swear that a big part of GYO is producing comedy carrots and rude toms. Supermarket shoppers miss out on these gems.
ReplyDeleteI was really pleased with this growbag method the first time I tried it, the plants seem to do really well in them. You're right, you never have a laugh at rude vegetables in the supermarket because they don't sell them.
DeleteOur outdoor tomatoes ripened first too. I've been trying to figure out why that might be. The only thing that I can think of is that they are more open to the light. That last photograph reminds me of an owl.
ReplyDeleteI think my outdoor plants get better light, the greenhouse isn't in the best place really. I can see an owl with its big eyes and pointy beak too now you mention it.
DeleteYour tomatoes have done really well. Especially as they were grown outdoors. We have to grow ours in a greenhouse. They did well this year too - I'm still picking them.
ReplyDeleteI picked another seven pounds yesterday and they're still coming. I'm glad yours have done well this year too, I think it's been a bit of a mixed year where tomatoes are concerned.
DeleteWow - your plants are simply loaded! It's wonderful seeing such success from plants grown in grow bags. It really highlights the point that you don't have to have a lot of space - or even a proper garden - to grow some great veg.
ReplyDeleteI bet that last tomato was a Bloody Butcher, am I right? ;)
I'm so pleased with my tomatoes this year, they're still ripening well and I'm picking pounds and pounds. You're right, that last tomato was a Bloody Butcher.
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