Tomatoes - esp. for Dandysmom

[angieh]

Eileen - I remember you saying regretfully that you won't now be able to grow tomatoes in your new place. I just wanted to tell you that this year as an experiment I have grown 3 tomato plants each in 7.5ins pots very successfully alongside my normal planting in growbags with ring culture. The crop isn't as heavy, but I've got tomatoes turning red! They just need good cane support.

I'll post a photo in a while .....

[dandysmom]

Ah, now that is interesting! I could put a pot in the greenhouse come Spring and see what happens. Yes, pics, please!

[angieh]

Sorry these took a while Eileen, I've had computer problems .....

and a chilli plant - the variety is Joe's Long!

You could try bush varieties too!

[dandysmom]

Thanks for the pics; Are those cherry/grape tomatoes? The chili looks interesting, is it mild or hot? I think I'll try both come Spring; nothing to lose, really ... unless someone pinches the tomatoes from the greenhouse! At least I have no worries about the s*******s!!

[angieh]

I've grown 3 varieties of tomato this year - San Marzano, Roma and Gardener's Delight, the ones in the smaller pots though are Roma, just because I had really good germination and had spare plants. Not sure about the chilli strength yet as this is a new variety to me this year.

[dandysmom]

I'd try my standard, Marmande, and Thai Hot chilis. I wasn't familiar with Joe's Hot, apparently it's a spicy one!

Joe's Long Cayenne (Chile)
It turns bright red for homemade hot sauce and dries well for ristras and delicious, dried hot pepper flakes. The 8-10" long, thin-fleshed fruits taper to a skinny point.

[angieh]

Thanks for that info Eileen - they are certainly rather large - I will have to measure the longest, living up to their name! I am also growing some little Apache chilli, which I know are rather fiery! We double bag them and put them in the freezer and use when required. Very easy and they keep well, even get hotter if that's possible!

[dandysmom]

I've never tried freezing mine, have always let them dry, as most recipes I use can work with either fresh or dried. And the fresh ones the supermarkets carry are the milder hot ones; that's why I like growing my own. Although they do have Habaneros, which are actually too hot for me!

[Velvet]

We got three plants in the supermarket
Moneymaker
Cherry*
Ailsa Craig

Ailsa Craig grew well, flowered but no fruits grew, flowers withered & died off

Moneymaker grew well & has some nice toms developing

The little Cherry toms, well they grew and grew and grew..........

Photos below - afraid the Cherry toms were actually the big beefsteak stuffing type - what a hoot

......and the first Cherry Tom (not) off the plant - one very fine Beefsteak tomato!!!!

Next year think we will go back to growing our own from seeds!!!

[angieh]

That's a fine looking tomato though, even if it is a fraud!!! They don't taste as nice as the cherry toms, but are great for cooking.