Last week was hot. Not the sort of hot that creeps up on you and eventually seeps through but the sort that strikes between the shoulders as soon you step into the sun.
The tomatoes have loved it. Lots of new fruit and increase in size for the existing fruit.
I loved the fact that where I thought I had a couple of tomatoes on a plant the next time I looked a whole new truss had appeared in amongst the foliage.
And I wasn’t alone. Whilst the world twittered about MJ, I received ‘My 1st tomato announcement’ texts!
I also experienced tomato loss. My Darby Striped became a Darby Split and I had to cut it away, losing half the plant complete with fruit. As you can see from the picture the other half seems to be hanging on in there and the fruit swelling. It’s a really attractive looking tomato so fingers crossed.
Today’s other picture is of Moneymaker, an unostentatious plant which is quietly getting on with producing classic looking tomatoes. There’s something very satisfying about their straightforwardness.
Week 16 Summary.
Plants: Not so sure the height increase has been as dramatic this week but the fruit production has been prolific. There’s tomato gold in them there plants!
Watering: Most underused gadget of the week, the centre court roof, most overused gadget of the week, my watering can. I’ve been watering twice a day and averaging 1 litre of water per plant per day. A little more for the bigger plants in big pots and a little less for the smaller plants/smaller pots.
Flowers: Still lots of flowers and industrious bees. Although fickle that I am, where as just a short while ago the sight of those little down turned yellow blooms was enough to lift my heart now it’s all about the ……
Fruit: Most of the plants have now have fruit. Some quite solid looking tomatoes, not full size and not even a hint of amber turning to red but hopefully heading in that direction.
Feeding: Tomato feed once a week. I am following directions on the bottle which is 60ml of feed per 4.5 litres of water. And then from somewhere I had written down to water with ½ litre per plant of that dilution. Does that sounds right ?
Pruning: Severe and not so severe. There are still a few shaggy tomatoes left but the secateurs are sat by the back door and I feel it won’t be long before deleaf day strikes again ! So far they all seemed to have survived the shock and it certainly makes watering and tying easier.
Monday postscript: Well it wasn’t the sun striking me today it was more likely to be a flying tomato. Blustery would be the stiff upper lip way of describing the weather. I have been Cathy to the Carbons and Heathcliffe to the Tigerellas. I’d done lots of tying up yesterday so whilst the stems were secure I’ve been dashing out in the wuthering , uprighting the pots which kept blowing over, plant and all ! ( I think there maybe one down in the garden photos, taken today). The small tapered pots were a bad buy ! I’ve done some moving around and secured them as best I can by jamming the stake up under a fence lap. They may now feel as if they are on a badly listing ship but it’s better than tom overboard.
Tomorrow it’ll be time to make an overdue visit to see how other tomato growers, tomatoes grow ! ( Time for the tomato to challenge the long held tongue twisting supremancy of Peter and the peppers ?)
