We have a lot of guests arriving this summer, so, as we won't be providing meals for all of them, I decided to do the next best thing, and supply their Tomatoes.
I've not grown Tomatoes in pots before, so it's very much an experiment.
The two pots on the left contain the wonderful 'Portuguese' variety, and the one on the right is a basic round red Cherry Tomato. All very productive varieties (hopefully).
Of course they will still have access to all that grows at Haddock's, but a few edibles right outside the barn's front door (they're all staying up at the barn) can't be bad. I just hope the plants survive, thrive, and are bounteous.
33 comments:
Don't tomatoes placed too close together cross pollinate even when they are different varieties? We always planted the yellow ones in a different area than the red ones for that reason. Been many years since I had a garden, though.
I've not heard of that. I usually have a good mix of plants at Haddock's, and they come to no harm. If one was keeping seeds for the following year, it might well have an effect. I don't really know.
Fresh tomatoes seem to impress all guests. Our summer guest list is heavier this year than most so I have planned heavy rotation crops in the kitchen garden and for the first time will be growing tomatoes in the greenhouse as well.
It's the taste of summer, and home grown is, without doubt, the best. Most of our guests will be 'townies', so having real sun-ripened fruits will be a real treat for them.
Maybe I should try tomatoes in a pot. I haven't planted any because last year they were a disaster.
Great idea for guests. Just read about someone else doing it for the family. Cherry tomatoes in pots so when they want a snack they can go and pick a tomato.
Sounds good
We'll have lots of children too, and the Cherry Toms are perfect for picking as one passes by.
It makes me want to try to grow at least one bush in a pot. I just came back from the little shop here where I also bought some cherry tomatoes.
Paul has planted them everywhere this year - in pots, in the greenhouse and in the potager!
I hope they grow properly; I don't see why they shouldn't.
I've planted about 8 at Haddock's, plus these three up at the barn. Usually I'm overwhelmed with fruit with just these few. I still have loads of conserves from last year, even though we had a very poor harvest.
A lovely idea
Do you give your tomato plants a liquid feed? I am wary of planting tomatoes outside in Ireland because of Blight.
We have tried tomatoes outside here but they don't thrive. We did try them in the greenhouse a few times, in grow bags, but they took up too much space. Perhaps we should try again.
My intentions are good!
I put them in some quite rich compost/soil mix; I hope that'll be enough. As for blight, I might give them a spray of copper sulphate.
Mine are usually just outdoors at Haddock's; normally they do very well.
Staying in a barn? You are such a good host. I suppose it is better than staying in a shipping container. Out tomatoes in a pot were a disaster, an expensive one at that. Each cherry tomato produced ended up costing about $5. The wind on the balcony does them in.
I always put my tomatoes in pots of our own compost, in the greenhouse. I tend to be an over-waterer, but I water in the evening and they drain really well, and grow with no problems at all. When you pull them out, it's surprising how small their rootball is.
I don't try them outside - like Ireland, West Wales can be very wet!
The barn in question has been beautifully converted into a 5 star luxury home (ahem). I suspect it was that gold leaf lining inside the pots that killed off your Toms.
I've read that one should water Tomatoes copiously, but not too often. I have an Italian cookery book that shows Tomatoes growing perfectly well on cracked arid land (without any support either). Every time I think it all looks too dry here, I think back to that photo.
We grow lots outside every year (Sungold as favoured by the late Geoff Hamilton) and from that experience I would say your're gonna need some much bigger pots.
I always have one or two grape or cherry tomatoes in a pot. They have never produced as many tomatoes as those in the ground and start dying off sooner. I still do it though because I like the challenge.
That shouldn't matter unless you're saving seed for next year. It won't have any effect on this year's fruit.
They're actually quite big pots; they just look small in the photo; but we'll see, you may be right.
This is an experiment, so I'm not quite sure what to expect. If they grow in bags, they should be OK in my pots.
I plant red cherry variety every year, they are problem free with a lovely flavour and deliciously sweet - you can eat them like sweets. I have no problem growing them in pots. Your guests will be delighted!
We have grown them very successfully in large pots. I put tomato cages inside the pots and sometimes have to tie all of this to a fence they are so prolific. We and the squirrels really enjoy them.
How lovely to step out of your barn on a Summers day morn, pluck a tomato that has ripened in the warm French sunshine and pop it into your mouth ! ...... I’m there 🍅 !!! XXXX XXXX
They always do well here, in fact they always produce far too many, hence just one plant.
Encouraging. I'm anticipating tieing the supports to the wall.
That is my attitude exactly. You are obviously a romantic!
We use 16 inch (40cm) pots, one plant per pot. Even in Yorkshire, smaller pots need watering every day.
As long as you feed and water them they should be fine. Watch out for erratic watering, though which can promote blossom end rot
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