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Cosmic
assistant gardener
Australia
129 Posts |
 Posted - 29/12/2007 : 09:23:55
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Have just spent two mornings trimming off excess leaves from the tomatoes. I guess I should have been pinching out the laterals before they grew to make a jungle  Have got about half way through the plantation and about 25 plants to go. Earliest tomato (for Tassie) and gave us a few in time for Christmas was Kotlas. This is a super little tomato full of flavour tidy bush and plenty fruits. Will be saving seeds. Second cab off the rank has been Imur Prior Beta, supposedly a very early, the flavour however doesn't compare to Kotlas. Ida Gold little cherry is a real taste explosion, orange fruit cherry. Nice mixed with other cherries but it came on so early that the others haven't caught up. Lime Green Salad is 4th in line. I gre this in a hanging basket and will put it outdoors soon as it seems to be getting too hot for it in the hothouse. Ah well, sharpen the scissors and cut up some more sheets.............
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 29/12/2007 : 10:00:21
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You have quite a few varieties there, I have never heard of some of those names it will be good to hear how they go, best of luck with all of them not that you need it down your way..
I agree with you Cosmic taking the leaves off, Tony has done that to ours and we are getting heaps more fruit and no diseases that the leaves used to get.
No names in our garden at present they have all come up via the compost bin though we have had to throw the last bowl full out having found fruit fly in them.
Good Things Come To Those That Wait ... I am Tired Of Waiting |
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Pamela
head gardener
Australia
3949 Posts |
Posted - 29/12/2007 : 11:12:15
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| You remind m e Cosmic - about to do the same |
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Cosmic
assistant gardener
Australia
129 Posts |
Posted - 29/12/2007 : 15:31:13
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| I'm growing heaps this year to help with the Tasmanian Seed Base. So lots of varieties, mainly for seed. Excess tomatoes that I don;t make into paste and pasta sauce go to neighbours and friends. I'll have some interesting results because a lot of them I haven't grown before. Taking off the leaves especially at the base of the plant does help to get the airflow going and reduce mouldy things and critters hiding places. I'm amazed that we actually got tomatoes before Christmas this year. Not many mind, but at least I beat the jinx! |
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tessa
head gardener
Australia
3682 Posts |
Posted - 29/12/2007 : 15:37:26
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ashleigh is going to be my first this year:
i've cleaning up leaves as i go...but only because the damned mites made it mandatory!
sounds like things are going really well over at your patch, cosmic.
cranky people live longer. i'm going to live forever!
perth, wa |
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Pamela
head gardener
Australia
3949 Posts |
Posted - 29/12/2007 : 18:32:42
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Tell us about the Tasmanian seed base - what is that?
Great looking tomato Tessa. I ate my first one today but it was only "OK" as a bit pale and not yet enough heat to make them ... red and with flavour - but lots of hot weather this week I think ... |
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tessa
head gardener
Australia
3682 Posts |
Posted - 29/12/2007 : 20:12:54
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what kind was it, pamela?
cranky people live longer. i'm going to live forever!
perth, wa |
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Pamela
head gardener
Australia
3949 Posts |
Posted - 30/12/2007 : 03:07:42
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| just a Bunnings special roma - I will post some pics. Also have a grosse lisse that has a horse placenta a foot under neath it - or did. It has lots of flowers. |
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Gail
garden sage
Australia
7707 Posts |
Posted - 30/12/2007 : 05:43:38
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Sounds like fun (not!) Cosmic  You would also have a tedious job bagging the flowers to prevent cross-pollination wouldn't you? Those ripe tomatoes would have been a nice Christmas present though and make it worth the effort.
Tessa, ashley looks yummy.
Pamela, it won't be long before you have plenty of fruit and even if your first was only ok, it still tastes better because you grew it yourself.
I haven't worried about defoliating my tommies as I think ours would get sunburnt. This roma obviously isn't affected by too many leaves (I actually put these photos on another post a couple of weeks ago)...
... as I picked about 3kg of fruit of it yesterday morning and there is at least the same amount still on it, that doesn't include the kg or so I had already picked. I haven't taken any photos lately (too much going on over the holidays) but I also have just picked the first surprise tomatoes from a batch of heirloom tomato seed mix from Eden seeds (I couldn't make up my mind which ones to get so I decided to have a surprise with the mixture ) I think the tomato was a Sunray - it was about 6 to 7cm across, round and orange in colour. I will try and get some photos soon.
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to use it in a fruit salad.
Gail, near Gympie, Qld |
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tessa
head gardener
Australia
3682 Posts |
Posted - 30/12/2007 : 07:39:05
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hey gail...did you get a new camera for chrissy by any chance???? 
cranky people live longer. i'm going to live forever!
perth, wa |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 30/12/2007 : 07:55:19
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Gail ours are not getting sunburnt
We never seem to have any  here anymore its grey everyday.
But I am not complaining. Great lot of tommies there 
Good Things Come To Those That Wait ... I am Tired Of Waiting |
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Cosmic
assistant gardener
Australia
129 Posts |
Posted - 30/12/2007 : 08:07:27
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Kevarose, there is another fellow and me who are storing seeds of heritage varieties to distribute in Tasmania. He has a lot of land so can grow much more than I do, but I am the one who buys in seeds from various parts of the world and pays the import inspection fee. Works well.
Kito - I try to bag the first flower truss of each variety - less chance of an accidental cross then as they do tend to flower at different times. The only reason I do this is because I have them planted very close. Other years where there is lots of space between them I just open pollinate. Tomatoes are self fertile so don;t rely on bees or wind but when they are growing close, there is always the risk that a bit of pollen might fall onto a different variety. |
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Gail
garden sage
Australia
7707 Posts |
Posted - 31/12/2007 : 04:39:11
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Sunny, even though it has been cloudy I still get some sunburn on a couple of my less leafier tomatoes especially on a couple of plants that are planted in the same area as the one above. The GZebras seem to be the worst affected as they have the least leaves.
Tessa, not yet, I must have been naughty as I asked Santa for one 
I had a look for cameras when I went to town the other day but there wasn't much around but I am going to the shops today (different ones) so will have a look there.
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to use it in a fruit salad.
Gail, near Gympie, Qld |
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tessa
head gardener
Australia
3682 Posts |
Posted - 31/12/2007 : 06:30:30
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gail...don't forget cash converters and ebay!
lots of folks were really really really nice this year and got cameras for christmas and are either trading in the new ones, or the old ones.
i cannot believe you didn't get a camera when you asked.
i think WE should get you one, since you've been very very very nice here and not naughty at all.
cranky people live longer. i'm going to live forever!
perth, wa |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 31/12/2007 : 07:29:11
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I agree Tessa..
No sunburn here at all Gail I have got enough problems to contend it with that..
Sorry to hear that you have that problem.. I do wish someone would breed a good tropical tommy as they are the hardest fruit/veggie for us to grow, so many problems I often think they are not worth the water or the time.. I don't eat them myself as they don't seem to have much taste, even when I grow the paste type they all taste floury to me and normal ones taste watery  or should that be gelly
Good Things Come To Those That Wait ... I am Tired Of Waiting |
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Gail
garden sage
Australia
7707 Posts |
Posted - 31/12/2007 : 17:13:11
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Sunny, I don't do anything special to my tommies - just a drink when they need it and a handful or two of food every few weeks. Sometimes they get spots or caterpillars eating them but they bear well so can afford to feed a few with holes to the chooks. I actually find them one of the easiest vegies to grow, it is when I start fussing around them I seem to have trouble - that is what happened when I decided to try lots of different types, now I stick with ones that do well, if they don't do well I don't bother with that type again.
Tessa, still no camera everyone is out of stock and more aren't due in for another few days or week when the warehouses open again. I don't like cash converters and similar as find they are often dearer - you really have to know the new price before you go in - been caught once, not again. There isn't any great hurry anyway as I haven't even had a chance to take many photos the last few days
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to use it in a fruit salad.
Gail, near Gympie, Qld |
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