Hi there just wondering what tomatoes do really well for taste and crop in the south. I'll probably do two sweet 100's but looking for a large variety to try. Whats your favourite's?
nukhelenc,
Sep 30, 5:08am
Cant realy say ive found one with that flavour in the larger size Lots of folk seem to do Moneymaker
This year ive gone for 4x Inferno F1 1x Cherry Tomato. Sungold 1x Supreme sweet 100 Gee im doing all cherry toms pretty much this year. Might add one or 2 other medium size if ive got the room when i get them planted. Soon
standard,
Sep 30, 5:30am
Money maker, good medium size and flavour
southerngurl,
Sep 30, 6:11am
I always do a sweet 100 and a beef steak, last year i did a kumato as well they were yum.
krames,
Sep 30, 6:54am
Russian red
anne1955,
Sep 30, 7:20am
Just had a friend today saying she had lost all the ones she brought when we had been shopping last week. She said she had them in nice sunny spot. I told her when she brought them to early for direct planting into ground without covers ground here still too cold. You don't plant down here until the snow is off Mt Roy. She said today could I find out if it' off there yet :) No it isn't wait till after Labour Weekend :) And I grow amazing tomatoes stop people in their tracks when they walk past and see them. They take major staking up. And doesn't seem to matter what type I plant I love them all and use different ones for different things.
sumstyle,
Sep 30, 7:44am
Same, although I plant more htan one sweet 100 as I freeze them, and dry some in the oven too (then freeze them), which means I can have them on my pizzas over winter. Beefsteak are good for bulk - I use them for tomato concentrate for soups and sauces.
I am going to try Brandywine this summer, as I understand they have nice flavour.
macandrosie,
Sep 30, 8:55am
There's a variety called "Arctic" which I was told about & managed to buy them at Mitre 10 in the past. Apparently a little more hardy for the south but still grown in a tunnel house. I think you can grow any variety in the south so long as it's under cover or a tunnel house. Let's hope the frosts are finally over too!
lythande1,
Sep 30, 5:34pm
I kept seed from the cocktail (not cherry) tomatoes you get in the supermarket - like Sweet Delight for instance. Every year we grow these now. excellent flavour.
cantabman1,
Sep 30, 6:30pm
ChCh here. I have all my 12 mix in the ground; a combo of Early Girl and Potentate.They are against a Garage facing north which gives them a little cover from frosts. Early girl has romped away, but other is much slower to grow.
daarhn,
Sep 30, 7:22pm
Show Day tradition in Chch for planting. Up here some of us have fruit formed on the toms, those planted in pots in alcoves.
cleggyboy,
Sep 30, 7:40pm
I had some freebees cherry tomatoes given to me in my Countdown grocery order. There were several different colours, so I saved the seed from one of each, the whole lot germinated, plus I had also sown some money maker seed and they are up also.
annies3,
Sep 30, 7:47pm
There is a major grower in Kakanui they have had produce in the supermarket for a month or so, but of course probably a heated glasshouse, their tomatoes are so superior to taste, We have grown Amish Paste here inside, the single plant cropped 14kg the first flush and kept going for two or three years, I cut it down and it grew again, I just grew it in front of a window and put crop support from the ceiling, But I have to be honest, we haven't had successful tomatoes grown outside here, I have a suitable sheltered spot sorted out now though so I had better get going and have it ready for when the frosts have stopped, (had a good one today )
neldav,
Sep 30, 7:49pm
I don't plant tomatoes till November when the soil is warmer, they grow quickly then. Well last season November was so horrible had to wait till December. Grow out doors, buy whatever is cheap. good sunny sheltered spot, feed well, had lots last summer.
rocky92,
Sep 30, 10:12pm
Wow heaps of replies! I tried the sungold cherry last year and just loved the flavour same with the trusty 100's. Havent had alot of luck with money maker so far so thought about trying a beefsteak type. Anne1955 whats your soil secrets to such a fab crop? ;) annies3, wow amish paste sounds amazing! Thanks for the ideas :-)
speights40,
Sep 30, 10:21pm
I bought one called Dynamo this year, it was a really healthy looking plant best on the day. Early heavy medium size crop is how it's described I hope it is good as I don't see it mentioned anywhere in the thread lol. Also bought a sweet 100's. Neither are planted yet though, out in the sun all day & bought into the garage at night. I am not sure when I'll actually put them in the ground at this point.
anne1955,
Oct 1, 4:29am
I had never heard of Russian Red till this thread. Then today while doing someone else's garden (must be mad lol but pays more than doing mine lol) I was amazed how warn 'his' soil was in the places I was working in. A holiday home 11kms away and asked was he planning on planting it with anything or letting it go back to lawn for ease of being maintained :) And he said no he'd get me some Russian reds for me to put in. had to have a smile to myself. So I will see how they grow and taste. And what I can use them for by way of chutney or likes.
As for my secrets lol if I told you they wouldn't be secrets any longer lol. No quite simple actually. Before planting I put teaspoon of milk powder into hole, then plant. Also often use it also as a fertilizer around them or if I can be bothered I make it up into milk for watering once a week or so. Also wash / fill semi or empty milk bottles with water them and do that as often as it is there. I also have another wee trick lol that many laugh at but all are amazed by results. The Pill yes contraceptive pill, even had a friend ask her chemist for out of date ones they work just as well with tomatoes, green peppers and other colours and the likes. Yes it's the hormones in them. :) I don't suggest you just take wife or partners without them knowing lol might end up with different sorts of babies :) And no need to go mad with a lot of them. In an area metre x metre I'd use about 6 well spread out and not directly on top of where roots are growing well main root growth and just put in at 1/2 a finger nail depth once plants are in. They break down as they are watered. No harm caused in eating :) just covered by soil is enough and only need to do it the once per season. I have had tomatoes needing so many stakes to hold up growth it almost became a pain. But the milk and milk powder will do And just buy a small bag of milk powder from bulk food bin. You don't need that much. And again does well for all plants like tom's and peppers etc. And make use of washing out milk containers even if it's off milk. Also once they are foot high I guess or a bit more I am pretty brutal on picking off laterals that are only going to give you more leaves yes they need leaves but not as may as people leave on. Just a waste of it strength.
madzwhippet,
Oct 1, 6:30am
Yes for southern growers Russian Red is very good . Bred to withstand colder conditions than we have just north of Temuka. this variety grown outside does better than other sorts in plastic house. as well Sweet100 does well in a sheltered warm corner outside.
rocky92,
Oct 1, 7:15am
Lol anne1955, thankyou for such great tips to try! My partner and i are here cracking up wondering if we could get our hands on sum Viagra how they would grow, they may not even need staking! Hahaha
biddy6,
Oct 1, 7:41am
Interesting thread. LOL rocky - makes Dr's apt for my son-in-law ;-)
soulpower,
Oct 1, 7:54pm
Beef steak tomatoes are AMAZING!
rainrain1,
Oct 1, 10:23pm
Have a friend who likes growing the beefsteak, she is a real green fingered gal
bluefrog2,
Oct 3, 7:31am
I've only managed to get fruit of Russian Red, Moneymaker, and sweet100. The other varieties didn't do well, even in the glasshouse. I think Russian red tastes nicer than Moneymaker.
paix1,
Oct 4, 7:06am
North Is here (Taupo) so maybe similar conditions to the South Is. I never EVER plant my toms until November - been caught too often. But I grow almost any variety esp Beef Steak, Russian Red, Moneymaker etc etc (usually grow about 8 different types). Tried the milk powder tip last year that poster above recommends - didn't make any difference to my crop but going to try it again this year.
trade4us2,
Sep 11, 6:02pm
I've just planted two Sweet 100s. Last year's plants still had tomatoes on. I've had thousands of tomatoes all winter!
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