Disappointing Heirlooms? - Page 3

beeman · August 4, 2014

I am about to 'reset' the greenhouse for a fall crop, the heat has stopped the growth and things look 'messy'.
So I will take all the advice, use it, and hopefully things will be better for the next round.
One thing I cannot understand. If the plants are on an SWC with a constant supply of water in the reservoir, how come they're over watered? I could let then go dry on occasion. Would that be a better idea?
I pulled one apart yesterday and the roots were incredible, all the way to the bottom. Good or bad?

Worth1 · August 4, 2014

I wouldn't let them dry out too much then you will end up with BER.
Another thing I noticed with my tomatoes is they tasted better than some grown by a former member here that lived right up the road.
I have yet to understand it.
The only thing I can think of is the difference in the soil and maybe thiers got more water.
But it was a huge difference in flavor.
You could let the containers dry out for a bit but not enough for the plants to droop.
In my experience the best tomatoes have came from neglected plants.

Worth

Cole_Robbie · August 4, 2014

I have a huge difference in flavor just a few feet away. It was the one row that didn't get any cow manure.

Fred Hempel · August 4, 2014

Which was better? With or without manure?

Cole_Robbie · August 4, 2014

The manure rows were much better. The plants grew better and the fruit tasted much sweeter. I have identical varieties in the one non-manure row, and the flavor difference is drastic.

Fiishergurl · August 4, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

The manure rows were much better. The plants grew better and the fruit tasted much sweeter. I have identical varieties in the one non-manure row, and the flavor difference is drastic.

I wonder if earthworm castings will improve taste also. Growing in swc's, so dont want to add the manure.

Ginny

zipcode · August 4, 2014

Not sure why manure wouldn't work in swc. It works fine in containers with top watering here, what is the difference?
Worm castings should be fine, as long as it has proper NPK. From what I know they are a bit high in N, which usually will not lead to great taste.

Worth1 · August 4, 2014

Ive found that tomatoes grown in the vicinity of a tire fire imparts a unique flavor.

Worth

AKmark · August 4, 2014

Worth, I started choking just looking at that picture

taboule · August 4, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

Ive found that tomatoes grown in the vicinity of a tire fire imparts a unique flavor.

Worth

Agreed, it gives them a rich and smokey taste.

Fiishergurl · August 6, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipcode

Not sure why manure wouldn't work in swc. It works fine in containers with top watering here, what is the difference?
Worm castings should be fine, as long as it has proper NPK. From what I know they are a bit high in N, which usually will not lead to great taste.

I could be wrong but I thought it had something to do with changing how much water is retained to too much in an swc. The earthworm castings Im trying out are 1-0-0 and im trying Garderner & bloomes Organic Tomato & vegertable fertilizer which is 4-6-3 plus some bonemeal and dolomite. Trying this mixture in a few swcs.

Might try adding some horse manure composted for a year in a couple also. For the fall crop here in Fl. I dont live near a tire burning plant... lol.

Ginny

Anthony_Toronto · August 6, 2014

Beeman on the pic the CP and PR look just as expected, if I had only those in the garden I wouldn't have to label any to know what they were. As for flavour of these CP can be pretty subtle sometimes, and very juicy, and PR usually has a little more meat to it when I've grown them, but never ever anthing close to a store bought or what I would call bland or tasteless. Could just be environmental factors this year or watering or something physiological, I don't think its the variety, but maybe you just don't enjoy the sometimes subtle taste of 'black' tomatoes? I'm in Richmond Hill, have had about 10 assorted beefsteaks ripen and all have been excellent so far this year. No PR, but CP is tasting good (or Indian Stripe...can't recall which one has ripened). Would be interesting to hear how the next few weeks work out for these on your end, as I agree that the first tomatoes off the vine don't necessarily show the best.

remy · August 10, 2014

Late to the party.. but I don't think Cherokee Purple is strong tasting to begin with regardless of how grown. It tastes good, but the flavor is not robust. It has been a few years since growing Costoluto Genovese, but I don't recall that one having a robust flavor either.
You may have just unfortunately picked ones that don't meet the flavor profile for your taste buds.
Remy

beeman · August 10, 2014

Just an update.
I have finished harvesting the greenhouse plants and can report there is an improvement in overall taste, perhaps due to better temps.
In spite of that I think some trials with 'Greenhouse seeds' as discussed are worth some effort for next year. Time will tell.

GaMadGardener · August 10, 2014

They don't look ripe enough. and do any of your leaves look like the attachment. Because it sounds like a deficiency.

Mad

August 10, 2014	#43
remy Buffalo-Niagara Tomato TasteFest™ Coordinator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Z6 WNY Posts: 2,354	Late to the party.. but I don't think Cherokee Purple is strong tasting to begin with regardless of how grown. It tastes good, but the flavor is not robust. It has been a few years since growing Costoluto Genovese, but I don't recall that one having a robust flavor either. You may have just unfortunately picked ones that don't meet the flavor profile for your taste buds. Remy __________________ "I wake to sleep and take my waking slow" -Theodore Roethke Yes, we have a great party for WNY/Ontario tomato growers every year on Grand Island! Owner of The Sample Seed Shop

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August 4, 2014	#31
beeman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 692	I am about to 'reset' the greenhouse for a fall crop, the heat has stopped the growth and things look 'messy'. So I will take all the advice, use it, and hopefully things will be better for the next round. One thing I cannot understand. If the plants are on an SWC with a constant supply of water in the reservoir, how come they're over watered? I could let then go dry on occasion. Would that be a better idea? I pulled one apart yesterday and the roots were incredible, all the way to the bottom. Good or bad?

August 4, 2014	#32
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I wouldn't let them dry out too much then you will end up with BER. Another thing I noticed with my tomatoes is they tasted better than some grown by a former member here that lived right up the road. I have yet to understand it. The only thing I can think of is the difference in the soil and maybe thiers got more water. But it was a huge difference in flavor. You could let the containers dry out for a bit but not enough for the plants to droop. In my experience the best tomatoes have came from neglected plants. Worth

August 4, 2014	#33
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I have a huge difference in flavor just a few feet away. It was the one row that didn't get any cow manure.

August 4, 2014	#34
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	Which was better? With or without manure?

August 4, 2014	#37
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	Not sure why manure wouldn't work in swc. It works fine in containers with top watering here, what is the difference? Worm castings should be fine, as long as it has proper NPK. From what I know they are a bit high in N, which usually will not lead to great taste.

August 4, 2014	#39
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	Worth, I started choking just looking at that picture

August 6, 2014	#42
Anthony_Toronto Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 413	Beeman on the pic the CP and PR look just as expected, if I had only those in the garden I wouldn't have to label any to know what they were. As for flavour of these CP can be pretty subtle sometimes, and very juicy, and PR usually has a little more meat to it when I've grown them, but never ever anthing close to a store bought or what I would call bland or tasteless. Could just be environmental factors this year or watering or something physiological, I don't think its the variety, but maybe you just don't enjoy the sometimes subtle taste of 'black' tomatoes? I'm in Richmond Hill, have had about 10 assorted beefsteaks ripen and all have been excellent so far this year. No PR, but CP is tasting good (or Indian Stripe...can't recall which one has ripened). Would be interesting to hear how the next few weeks work out for these on your end, as I agree that the first tomatoes off the vine don't necessarily show the best.