Tomato Terroir

[Jarrod King]

Originally Posted by rhoder551

Jarrod King, Did you watch "Mondovino"? My all time favorite documentary that happens to be about wine.

I do think there is something to soil and taste in a tomato. I have very limited experience but I think tomatoes grown in containers are usually bland compared to tomatoes grown in garden soil.

Yes that is one of the ones I watched! I found the series and it is amazing. It really made me think about the relationship between the soil and earth we grow in and the final product.

Thanks for all the responses so far from everyone, really good reading.

[rhoder551]

@Worth1 I don't know anyone who grows their tomatoes in containers so my experience is limited. The only time I tasted container grown tomatoes-that I knew- was a tomato tasting at a nursery nearby. I thought they would know what to do and grow the most delicious tom but no.... even the Cherokee Purple tasted watery. I probably wasn't the only one who noticed since they have not held a tomato tasting since. They grew their tomatoes in large plastic pots.

[fonseca]

I am a rock dust believer. That almost sounds like a new age religion, and there are certainly some silly claims about rock dust benefits online, but I think anyone growing in a biologically active container mix should try adding a mineral amendment ahead of planting for a side-by-side comparison. I have done this several times, with multiple varieties of tomatoes, and the difference in taste is readily apparent. Tomatoes grown with rock dust have more flavor, and the plants are slightly healthier in appearance, probably due to the added silica. Silicon and trace minerals may not be essential plant nutrients, but their presence impacts plant health and taste despite being unnecessary.

It's not always positive. Some of the tomatoes I have grown in a heavy mineral mix have ended up with an overly salty, slightly ironlike flavor.

[Jonnyhat]

i have a good focus group this year, 34 plants in raised beds, 10 in pots where 5 are heavily rock dusted 4 none at all in the pots. while i till my soil in the beds with about a half cup per plant of rock dust. this year it is glacial rock dust and I will amend with azomite top dressing with a compost cap and then straw mulch.

(PS my neighbor is a POS, and called the township because i wrapped my tomato beds in plastic for 2 weeks, claimed it was an eyesore, all while he has 2ft tall plastic horses prancing around his back yard like a my little pony ad. )

[Worth1]

It really gets me how some people just cant live and let live.

Worth

[Tracydr]

I added Azomite to mine this year,a few tbsps each hole. Figured if I keep it up for awhile my garden will eventually have a fair bit of rock dust.
My soil is mainly sand with some loam on top so I figured the rock dust may help.

[Kazedwards]

I'm sure micro nutrients play big factor in taste. I have not tasted a difference but I am curious. I'm sure different varieties react differently too. I have noticed a difference with weather and temperature. Siletz is a good example. It somewhat early with the first fruits being rather bland but as the days get longer and warmer the taste improves a lot. More so than others. You can really taste the difference from week to week almost.


-Zach

[Darren Abbey]

Originally Posted by Jarrod King

I see tomatoes as mentioned as being affected by terroir and I was wondering if anyone has any insight into that they'd like to share. Do tomatoes grown in sandy or clay soil have a different taste you can identify? Rocky soil? Hills? What influence do climates have? I've found that they need a lot of sun obviously, but what about more subtle variations? Right now my tomato patch of about 300 heirlooms is on a sandy slope in a clearing surrounded by forest and I sit and wonder how those are going to turn out this year and how each variety is going to taste.

I've noticed this with "Indigo Rose". When I was growing it in a garden composed of mostly heavy clay, I loved the delicately tropical flavor of the fruit. When I grew it in a pot, with a mix of commercial topsoil and the sandy loam of my new property, the fruit tasted mealy and bleh. I'll keep trying until I figure out how to get it right.

[Kazedwards]

I have plenty of clay you can have. As much as you want. You just have to pick it up. I'll even help you load it.


-Zach

[Darren Abbey]

Originally Posted by Kazedwards

I have plenty of clay you can have. As much as you want. You just have to pick it up. I'll even help you load it.

If you were even in the neighboring state, I might consider this offer as one with serious intent. ;-) (I'm currently trying to get a new raised bed filled.)