Outdoor Tomatoes

[mojito99]

Hiya

I will be doing some tomatoes and cucumbers in my greenhouse but as it is a 6x4 the GH only holds so much.

I was going to do some tomato plants outside but wondered what would be the best vareity? I live in Central Scotland and as you know we are a hit and miss with the weather so I need something hardy!

I also have cabbage seeds that I got free, is it too late to plant these? I was going to do them from seed and then put them in my raised bed (dont think these can go in containers!)

Cheers

[DavidT]

I think the best variety for you would be Moneymaker.

[Lesley Jay]

I would go for the heirloom variety First In The Field. It is a determinate (bush) tomato variety which I have found is extremely good for growing outdoors, with a vigorous habit and a early harvest of fabulous tasting tomatoes! Makes great tomato soup!!

[mojito99]

Hi Lesley

I tried to find that variety but could only find the seeds on Amazon and I thought it might be a bit late to sow them once they were to arrive?

Anyhows, thinking about it, I still have the tomato seeds from the BBC dig in from last year. The packet doesnt state what type they are but I thought I could try some of these at the weekend.

My plan would be to keep them in the GH till the summer, prob June, then put them out (by that time I would have rec'd my other plants from my neighbour for the GH).

Any thoughts?

Thanks x

[Lesley Jay]

Hi, there are a few seed merchants selling First In The Field seeds. I personally wouldn't buy those seeds available from the seller at Amazon as their feedback from other customers is rather poor.

I sow tomato seeds at the start of April and aim to transplant them outside mid May, after the last spring frost in my area. Tomato plants take about 7 weeks from sowing the seeds to transplanting outside.

Here are some links for the seeds which maybe you could buy next year:-

Tomato - Items - moreveg.co.uk, vegetable seed company, vegetable seed, herb seed, flower seed, carrot,

Tomato Seeds First in the Field SimplySeed.co.uk

Seeds, Herbs and Bedding Plants from Kings Seeds *

[planterlemon]

How about Beefsteak Tomatoes? I've found that they grow fairly well outside.

[Barmychick]

ive got beefsteak tomatoes growing outside in growbags. compared to my gardener's delight which are growing amazingly well in a greenhouse, I wondered if the beefsteak would be ok outside as they didnt really seem to grow much.

regular feeding and watering over the last couple of months and i think they must be doing ok as the stems are nice and thick and I have some flowers appearing now.

Anyone any idea how tall beefsteak tomato plants normally grow? I'll try and get some pics posted

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Caz, what variety are the beefsteak tomatoes??

[Barmychick]

Hiya,

i dont honestly know, i got given them and the info stick only said 'Tomato Beefsteak'

[Barmychick]

Ive managed to upload some of the pics of my beefsteak tomatoes. They seem to be doing well and have the yellow flowers appearing now.

[Lesley Jay]

Wow, they look like superb plants BarmyChick. They should grow to about 2 metres or 6 foot in height. Beefsteak tomatoes are lovely thickly sliced and fried. Brandywine is a beefsteak variety that I like and it doesn't have too many seeds so it gives 'meaty' slices of tomato.

[Barmychick]

they've been growing now for about 1.5 months. they are only about 1-2ft in height. I presume that is because they are outside and not getting the benefit of the warmth/shade from wind etc that they would in a greenhouse???

The beefsteak seem to have taken ages to grow whereas the gardener's delight in my patio, which is making an awesome greenhouse, seem to have shot up in the last 1.5 months

[Lesley Jay]

Hi BarmyChick, it is only the start of June - there are still about six months to go this season!!