The first Tomato of the season.

[Duronal]

I've just had the luxery of my first tomato of the season. It was a wonderful ferline f1. i didn't manage a fruit this size last year but the tunnel seems to have produced the right enviroment for beef stake-esque tomatoes.

How are others doing?

Al.

P.S does anyone know when black tomatoes are ready?! especially Pigw's french black.

[gemlady]

Well done Mine are still all green at the moment so will have to wait a little while yet.

[FionaH]

I had one red (ish ) tom yesterday, all the rest are still green

[SarzWix]

Nice

(I haven't got tunnel-envy at all... )

What do you mean by "when are black tomatoes ready?", my instant (and unhelpful) answer is "When they're ready" Do you mean 'what do they look like?'

[Flummery]

I've had a few already - but only from my own brand toms - selections from Sungold and crosses - sungold with A N Other. These were pampered and limited to one or two trusses so not a fair comparison. It'll be a week or so before I get anything else ripe. That Ferline looks splendid. I hope it passed the taste test!

[Bren In Pots]

Hope it tasted as nice as it looks, mine are still at the green marble size.

[rustylady]

Mine are in the greenhouse, lots of green tomatoes, plants stopped with around 4 trusses on each. Mixture of Sungold & Gardeners Delight. Waiting in anticipation for them to start to mature and ripen

[organic vic]

Lucky you! Mine are all still green so will be a few weeks yet but I live in Scotland!

[Bramble_killer]

Mine are all still green, they've had fruit on them for ages but not a single one showing any sign of turning red.

[sarraceniac]

2 weeks for my first ones. Reckon the cream bananas are usually the first. And I never know when the green zebras are ripe.

[Two_Sheds]

I've got a couple of red Juliets, but I'm saving them ... what for, I don't know

[Duronal]

sarwiz: having not grown black toms before i've got no idea when do pick them! So are they meant to be really dark black? do they go through colour phases e.g red toms go yellow, orange, red....

I've just got no idea!

Flum: The ferline above was delicious. acidic with a real meaty texture. fragrant juicy and easy to eat

[HayleyB]

Thanks Duronal, I'm a marmande fan love beefys, never realised Ferline were beefs, if I suffer the dreaded blight again this year all I'm gonna grow next year will be Ferlines

[Victoria Plum]

Lots of flowers ... but only 3 green tomatoes ...

Help!

I have got 8 healthy tomato plants in my greenhouse - with lots of flowers, but only 3 tomatoes .... does anyone have any advice? Could it be that the flowers are not pollinating? Or am I just being impatient .......

[sarraceniac]

Are you sure you are letting the insects in Victoria? If not then use a very fine artists' paint brush to hand pollinate. They should be showing toms by now unless...... You don't actually show us a location and it is useful to know. If you live near the north pole then you won't be doing very well yet.