A new way for tomatoes

[nellie-m]

So would vine tomatoes treated like this just be too big and heavy for a large hanging basket assuming I got all the supporting stuff right and only put one in a basket? Or are there more than just Tumbling Tom that are worth growing (ie tastier)?

There's one yellow/orange, eggshaped variety called "Pendulina" for hanging baskets, can't tell you what it's like but I want to try that one next year. Said to be very early, so blight doesn't seem to have a chance

[VirginVegGrower]

You got back quickly moddom!
And now I get FB toms...yay!

[marchogaeth]

[QUOTE=veggiechicken;915343]Marchogaeth, why don't you introduce yourself to the Vine QUOTE]

Thanks, I will. So is this the vine is there a specific place to let people have the details? Pretty much as above. It should have said Sir Benfro (Pembrokeshire) so sorry about that.

[marchogaeth]

No, I grew French Black's this year in a tub, and let them fall over the side and am still picking them.

Great, I'll give this some serious thought.

[veggiechicken]

Marchogaeth, why don't you introduce yourself to the Vine QUOTE]

Thanks, I will. So is this the vine is there a specific place to let people have the details? Pretty much as above. It should have said Sir Benfro (Pembrokeshire) so sorry about that.

Look for the thread called "Introduce yourself" You'll find plenty of examples there. I don't have a problem with Sir Benfro but I expect others will be scratching their heads!

[VirginVegGrower]

BTW a local nursery has pick your own toms going about twelve feet in the air. Huge poly shed. Need stepladders though...

[marchogaeth]

There's one yellow/orange, eggshaped variety called "Pendulina" for hanging baskets,

Do you know a UK seed supplier for this? All the ones I've found seem to be US based and talk about it being suitable for Texas!

[jackyspratty]

Im sure I saw a Gardeners world where MOnty Don said he does not pinch out his outdoor toms either?

[pigletwillie]

I have been growing all tomato plants as bush for a few years now as I dont have time to keep them as vines. I concur with Zaz's reports of the yields. My greenhouse has just 6 plants in it yet you can hardly get in the door. The results are that I get many more tomatos than I ever did with vines for a lot less faff. At the moment I have about 2 builders buckets of ripe tomatos ready to pick which will be turned into passata next week, and thats despite me picking them and eating them like sweets every time I walk past the greenhouse on my way to the workshop.

I wouldnt call it a new way of growing tomatos as several serbian families have been growing them like that on my old allotment site for many years and its from them that I copied the idea, but it certainly is not a common or well written about way when it really should be.

Vine tomatoes are just commercial varieties, bred to be able to be grown like that for ease of spraying and picking. If you leave them to grow "au naturel" most form a fairly impressive mat with even more impressive amounts of fruit.

[zazen999]

By the way PW - I had a bucket of your French Blacks, 17 seedlings just plonked in the middle and the stems left to hang over the side and have had loads of toms off them. Just binned them today in fact due to the stems being nearly sticks; blommin marvelous.

[pigletwillie]

Grand, they are a staple at home now as they are so prolific. Can I swap some seeds back from you as I havent saved any this year?

[zazen999]

I'm sure that can be arranged.

Will get some in the post to you...no need to send any back. Same address?

[pigletwillie]

indeed, thank you x

[taff]

bumping in case anyone wants to try this this year...

[tamsin]

I grow mine in buckets and there is usually one spare elbow I miss, I'm not sure a bucket would support them growing completely unchecked though?