Luvachicken Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 I was going to save some of my tomatoes and use the seeds next year for plants but I don't know whether to pop the tomatoes in a pot over the winter - plants seem to pop up all over the place where tomatoes have fallen - or take the seeds out and leave them to dry or just buy new plants/seeds next year. What do you think is best ? Also will the tomatoes come true to the ones I've been eating ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted October 3, 2016 Share Posted October 3, 2016 firstly if the tomatoes are F1s then it's pot luck as to what you'll get next year some plants will come true to the variety from this year most won't you need to leave the tomato your going to keep for seed to get fully ripe on the vine i.e over ripe then leave it on the greenhouse bench or shelf until it starts to collapse ( this is so the seed matures and ripens) and then take the seeds out and spread them out on kitchen towel to dry. or you could just put the tomato in a pot saucer a leave it in the greenhouse until it completely dries out and then collected the seed it's the way I do it with a variety called Texas Wild that I keep from year to year as the fruit are only the size of a big pea and it's easier to leave a few fruits to do it naturally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 3, 2016 Author Share Posted October 3, 2016 Thanks sjp Can't remember their name right now but I think I will just get fresh seed or plants next year. These were particularly tasty so wouldn't like to grow them and get something different. I kept the labels so can get the same again next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 I pot up the rogues that germinate in the multi purpose compost that I use and I do get some decent toms from time to time. I've also had some truly 'orrible toms from seed I've brought after folk have recommended them. I now tend to stick to non F1 varieties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 I only have the Sungold F1 variety. The rest are normal. But yes I agree, some that have been recommended are not to my taste. I'm trying to work through some heirloom varieties now. I still have Mr Cheetham's Potato Leaf - which wasn't bad - easy to spot if the labels are mixed up though! I have an interesting book called Epic Tomatoes which lists a fair few old varieties (although American but there are some varieties over here too). Just emptying out the old tom plants. Still have Sungolds - but this year I don't think they will last till Christmas. We have had them for Christmas before though. It was great showing off to the in-laws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 I only have the Sungold F1 variety. The rest are normal. But yes I agree, some that have been recommended are not to my taste. I'm trying to work through some heirloom varieties now. I still have Mr Cheetham's Potato Leaf - which wasn't bad - easy to spot if the labels are mixed up though! I have an interesting book called Epic Tomatoes which lists a fair few old varieties (although American but there are some varieties over here too). Just emptying out the old tom plants. Still have Sungolds - but this year I don't think they will last till Christmas. We have had them for Christmas before though. It was great showing off to the in-laws. I 've grown a potato leaf ones before but not Mr Cheetham's Potato Leaf. never got them to fruit through Sungold's not one of my favorites I'll grow it once in a while I don't much care for Gardener Delight or Garden Pearl/Garten Pearle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 6, 2016 Author Share Posted October 6, 2016 I love sungold This year though I bought a new one and that is the name I can't remember - and I did mean to get the label but have been busy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 Just as a tip: I bought two Tomtatoes this year. A tomato grafted on a potato. Amazing plant! Had 1.5 kg of potatoes from one plant and a whole summer long picking nice firm tomatoes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 16, 2016 Author Share Posted October 16, 2016 Just as a tip: I bought two Tomtatoes this year. A tomato grafted on a potato. Amazing plant! Had 1.5 kg of potatoes from one plant and a whole summer long picking nice firm tomatoes. That sounds cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted November 21, 2016 Share Posted November 21, 2016 Just as a tip: I bought two Tomtatoes this year. A tomato grafted on a potato. Amazing plant! Had 1.5 kg of potatoes from one plant and a whole summer long picking nice firm tomatoes. Yes I saw those and was tempted....what did the tomatoes taste like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted November 21, 2016 Share Posted November 21, 2016 They were really nice! Firm and sweet, but not too. Good little tomatoes for salads. Potatoes were firm and I had almost 2 kg of potatoes from one plant. The one in the potatoe bag gave plenty, the one in the border hardly any... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted November 21, 2016 Share Posted November 21, 2016 Thank you....I might give it a go I can grow potatoes in bags only as we get blight easily on the allotment unless we grow Sarpo...but those are pretty tasteless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted November 21, 2016 Share Posted November 21, 2016 Have had blight in the past, but not on these. Doesn't really give any guarantees, but I really was surprised by how well they did. Will definitely get some more next year. Kept giving fruit till late September, early October and then I called it quits myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Thank you....I might give it a goI can grow potatoes in bags only as we get blight easily on the allotment unless we grow Sarpo...but those are pretty tasteless growing spuds in bags won't prevent blight and you won't get blight every year as it's 100% dependent on the weather conditions as it needs a temperature of about 21C and more importantly humidity of around 80% so in a hot dry year you don't get blight but You will in a warm wet year this year I got some blight but not nearly as bad as it could have been but it a strange year for it no foliage blight but a bit of tuber blight and the bags at home got hit harder than the allotment I grow in bags and open ground around 60-100 bags one tuber to a bag and about 100- 200 tubers on the allotment depending on what takes my fancy at the potato days and how many new varieties there are I can get hit harder with blight in the bags because they closer together so the air flow around the plants is compromised which increases the humidity at the base of the plant which will trigger blight A good replacement for Sharpo Mira (the main Sharpo that's available also the worst one of the range) is ALOUETTE a red there's also Carolus a white with red eyes a bit like Cara but better looking and a very good cropper it's not as blight resistant as Mira, Alouette or Cara but it's worth growing it dose very well on heavy ground and in dry conditions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Thank you sjp for your brilliant advice re varieties to grow. I shall report back and just grow earlies in the bags Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
