I am now certain the phrase ‘green with envy‘ fell first from the lips of a tomato grower. A grower who having only the blue skies to grow under could but dream of the personal climate created by the underglass grower, in a greenhouse.
The plants in the top photo were, a mere a 2 months ago, the same as the promising but green youngsters in the bottom photo. Today not only were the Super Marmande and Sunbelle giddy with flowering trusses but the Gardeners Delight had fruit !
A clear cut case for growing under glass ?!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Let’s console ourselves – you and I will feel such a sense of achievement at having produced fruit *without* glass that we won’t even think of these people enjoying their fully grown fruit. We could invent slogans like ‘NATURE NOT NURTURE’ to further our cause, rather than simply sit back in envious jealousy.
Or, actually, we could do the jealousy thing. ‘Cause if I had space for a greenhouse and getting on for a thousand to spare, it’s the first thing I’d do…
Blimey, that’s pretty impressive for two months’ growth. Mind you, our slow-ripened, outdoor fruit will probably taste a whole lot better than those rushed into early ripeness. Quality not quantity. But if we get the usual naff summer, we’ll be grateful for anything we can harvest blight-free!
My Gardeners’ Delight clone isn’t far behind those in the picture – it’s just bursting into flower now. I’m going to re-pot and stake it now!
Sally, Here’s a picture from my rubbish ‘phone, showing ‘The GD Clone’ (30″) vs ‘Gold Medal’ (12″ – 14″).
What *have* I created?
I’m afraid I can’t manage the noble thing – just even stepping into a greenhouse somehow feels like you’ve entered a special world – whether its the temperature or the stillness – or just Wacko Jacko style all that oxygen coming off the plants ! So the same as you – if I had the space and £ my tomatoes could live in the splendor they deserve !
Thank you for the picture – the GD most definetely has top podium position ! I couldn’t see the flowers from the picture but great news to hear that they’ve arrived. It’s clearly competitive and doesn’t think that just cos a march has been stolen in being called ‘Gold Medal’ that winners accolades should automatically follow! I should say you’ve created a Winner !