Bitter start

[AKmark]

Can anyone give a reason why the first few tomatoes on a plant may be bitterish, then following fruits taste fine, actually really good? I almost chopped down a Box Car Willie, until I tried it again, mmmm, pretty good now.

[NarnianGarden]

Heat or any other stress that would have disrupted the flow of taste-forming nutrients..?
I hope mine aren't the same..

[bower]

I've never had early fruit that were bitter... but lots that were disappointing. Why should an early fruit that grew in cold temperatures remind me of horrible barely ripe tomatoes that have been kept refrigerated? Ew, I dunno.....

[crmauch]

This kind of goes with a thread that I was thinking of starting. My problem is not so much with the initial taste, but with later tomatoes (specifically cherries) starting out good and then getting disgusting/yucky etc. as the season progresses. Haven't noticed it as much with Sungold or as recently with other cherries.

Does this correspond to anyone else's experience with tomatoes (particularly cherries?)

As to your experience w/ Box Car Willie, I think my first Sweet 100 cherries tasted more acidic than later ones (or is that my taste buds getting used to the tomato?)

[AKmark]

Originally Posted by bower

I've never had early fruit that were bitter... but lots that were disappointing. Why should an early fruit that grew in cold temperatures remind me of horrible barely ripe tomatoes that have been kept refrigerated? Ew, I dunno.....

I am not sure what your last sentence implies??? If you are poking at me I suggest looking at my thread in Undercover Gardening, and maybe my Smart Pot thread in container gardening. I'm not the brightest, but am not totally ingnorant either.

[bower]

No poke intended AKMark. I thought it was a common experience.

[ArthurDent004]

I was wondering if giving the plants a watering with blackstrap molasses, say a tablespoon dissolved per gallon, would help with the flavor. It would provide sugar for plant fuel and calcium, iron, and other minerals.

[livinonfaith]

Most of mine started off awful this year, although not so much bitter as just not that good. I've been putting it down to too much rain.

Thankfully, they have improved over the last few weeks and most are pretty darn tasty now!

In previous years some have started out less tasty and improved later as well, but this year was, by far, the worst.

[Mischka]

Originally Posted by AKmark

I am not sure what your last sentence implies??? If you are poking at me I suggest looking at my thread in Undercover Gardening, and maybe my Smart Pot thread in container gardening. I'm not the brightest, but am not totally ingnorant either.

Please remove the chip off of your shoulder, lest I be tempted to do so in the manner that I've become (in)famous for.

[NarnianGarden]

Molasses for flavor (and nutrients) is something I have heard to be excellent. I wonder if apple juice (or perhaps honey...) would have the same effect?

[remy]

Many times, not always, the first fruit off of my tomatoes is not as good as all the subsequent fruit. I do then find also the very late fruit right before frost to be sour in taste.
Remy