Tuesday 10 November 2015

On Their Last Legs

As you can see, the tomato plants were on their last legs so they were finally disposed of last weekend.


They've done so well this year, I picked the first fruits in July quite a while before we went on holiday on the 25th and the last have been plucked from the plants in November. From thirteen plants, seven cordon and six bush, I've had literally pounds and pounds of tomatoes, enough to keep ourselves, my mum and dad, friends and neighbours supplied all summer.

The last few tomatoes taken from the plants don't look quite so good as those I've usually been picking but I'm sure they'll ripen up and we'll get one last taste from this year's crop.


It's only a few months now until we'll be sowing the seeds for next year's plants.

38 comments:

  1. You have done really well with your toms, yes a few months and it will be growing time again, comes round quicker each year :-)

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    1. I've had a really good year. The good thing about them producing late in the year is that I won't have to wait quite so long before I taste home grown tomatoes again.

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  2. Haven't they done well?! It's great to still be picking in November - what a treat! I hadn't thought about sowing again. Sowing time will come around very fast after this long cropping season.

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    1. They've done so well this year. I think I'm going to cut down on both the number of plants I grow and the varieties next year, simplify things a little.

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  3. Comment from CJ - That's brilliant, really impressive. What's the secret?! I try with tomatoes every year, but they just never do very well for me. CJ xx

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    1. Sorry CJ, I deleted your comment by mistake. I wish I knew the secret, having little sunshine this summer I never expected my tomatoes to do so well. I suppose I was just very lucky as I didn't do anything different with them than I do every other year yet there's been a startling difference.

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  4. I really am a just a touch envious as I had a very mediocre year with mine, especially compared to the previous year when I gave lots away. Flighty xx

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    1. I'm sure you'll have a better year again next year whereas my tomatoes will probably be pathetic. There's no telling how the year's going to pan out. I never expected my tomatoes to do so well this year with the summer we had.

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  5. You did so well with your tomatoes! It feels great when you have such success with a crop, doesn't it? This year was a bit of a flop for me where tomatoes are concerned - I tried a new spacing method and it didn't work out well. That's the thing about experimenting, you have to take the good with the bad...sometimes you hit on a winner and sometimes not.

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    1. It does feel good to have had such success this year. It's a shame that your tomatoes didn't perform so well but as you say, it's worth trying different things otherwise you'll never know the best way to grow them. Fingers crossed for next year.

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  6. I still have two toms ripening in the greenhouse. I think I'll pick them tomorrow and then that will be that. I grew mine from seed for the first time, and I am amazed at how well they grew, and how many toms I picked. I gave away plants and tomatoes. I think I'll plants more varieties next year.
    Leanne xx

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    1. Well done with your tomatoes, I'm so pleased you've had a good year too. Tomato growing is very addictive, there's so many different varieties that you're never short of a new variety to try.

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  7. Although we had a good crop of tomatoes this year, the legs came off our plants a while ago. You have done well to keep them going for so long.

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    1. The plants just didn't want to give up this year. Though we think tomatoes like lots of sunshine, I think the weather conditions must have been just right for them.

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    2. I think the dry and cool weather helped keep the blight away

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    3. The weather's had to be good for something this year. I'm hoping for a bit more sunshine next summer.

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  8. That's a good result! I think it was generally a good year for tomatoes. Are you going to do anything different next year? I'm losing faith in the Beefsteak varieties - they are very nice when they do well, but they are difficult to grow. sometimes I want quantity production as well as style! Tomatoes are one crop that I often get enough of to make it worth preserving some.

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    1. I'm really surprised that tomatoes have done so well this year considering the summer we had, I didn't expect half as good a crop from them. I stopped growing beefsteak varieties a couple of years ago and next year I'm thinking of narrowing down the varieties I grow and having a smaller number of plants too. I've preserved tomatoes in the past but haven't bothered this year, I've shared my bounty with friends and family instead.

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  9. They have lasted very well indeed haven't they! I imagine that they are your best harvesting veg! xx

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    1. They have, not only have I harvested a greater amount than in previous years but I've harvested them over a longer time too.

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  10. So sad...summer's over...time for the long winter months and no fresh veggies! But the good news is that stores already have egg nog.

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    1. I'm always sad when summer's over though we're heading in to winter fast here. I've never tried egg nog, I think it's an American thing, but the shops are filling up with all manner of other Christmas things here too.

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  11. We had great tomatoes this year too.

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    1. I think it's amazing how so many people have had a good year with their tomatoes considering the weather we've had.

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  12. You must be pleased because your tomatoes have done brilliantly well - and so nice to be able to share them with family and friends.

    The gardening year is relentless, with so much to do, but also so rewarding ...

    All the best Jan

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    1. I'm really pleased with how my tomatoes have performed this year. I always find it gratifying to be able to share the harvests with friends and family. Allotments are very hard work but it's all worth it when you're eating your own home grown veg.

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  13. That's a great growing season! I had my first red tomatoes in years this year on a cold wet summer, I will never understand tomato growing......

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    1. My tomatoes have done better than ever before this year, even better than when I've grown them in sunny summers. I don't understand it either.

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  14. Thanks for remaining me. My tomato patches looks so poor right now. I think I should pull out and make a new patch.

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    1. There have been years when my tomatoes haven't performed very well at all so it's always a thrill when you get a good year.

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  15. That is amazing Jo. I cannot imagine still picking them in November. I use so many tomatoes in cooking. Your posts have made me rethink.......definitely got to plant more pots :)

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    1. I've been really pleased with Maskotka, a bush variety. They produce larger than average cherry tomatoes and they're so prolific. This is the second year I've grown them and they've done well both years.

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  16. You cheered me up by reminding me that it's only a few months before it all kicks off again! You have had a fabulous harvest of toms this year!xxx

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    1. Thinking that we're not that far off sowing time is the only thing that keeps me going through winter. My tomatoes have done marvelously this year, I'm hoping for a repeat next year but I doubt I'll get it.

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  17. My tomtao plants are done now too...haven't quite got around to taking them out yet though...really should do!!

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    1. It's the end of the season now, much cooler here today. I doubt many more tomatoes could be cajoled in to ripening outdoors.

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  18. The tomatoes here did really well this year too, Jo. No blight, no blossom-end rot. Hope next year is as good! P.x

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    1. Glad to hear that your tomatoes have done well this year too, it would be great for them to do as well next year. Fingers crossed.

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