I know I shouldn't have done it but...

I bought a couple of supermarket tomatoes today. Well, I have plenty of salad leaves and spring onions on the plot and thought toms would complete the picture. WRONG!

They were like solid rubber balls with skin like leather. The flesh was hard and quite unlike the lovely juicy flesh of my home-grown ones and worst of all they didn't even taste like tomatoes!!

After eating 'proper' food for so many years I can understand why people are not keen on putting more fruit and veg in their diets if all they are offered is this kind of thing. OK, rant over. On the plus side my next-door neighbour asked if I could spare a couple of tomato plants as they'd quite enjoyed the ones I gave them last year.

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Permalink Reply by Fred Hogg on April 17, 2012 at 22:37

Good evening Victor............

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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on April 17, 2012 at 22:41

At my age one needs a Meldrew moment every now and then.

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Permalink Reply by Fred Hogg on April 17, 2012 at 22:45

Where you are concerned, it is allowed....

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Permalink Reply by Jade Hwang on April 18, 2012 at 13:04

Supermarket tomatoes are pointless unless they are cherry tomatoes. They are surprisingly sweet even in winter months. That is the ones to go for.

I don't have green house so my homegrown tomatoes have been disappointing too.

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Permalink Reply by Deborah Davies on April 18, 2012 at 17:57

I like Samantha buy a pack of toms when I go shopping, but the taste just isn't there and yes the skins are tough. Since growing my own veg I realise what I have been missing all these years....taste. Homegrown makes such a difference, they may not always look 'pretty' but usually taste heavenly.

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Permalink Reply by Debbie on April 18, 2012 at 19:37

Oh I do know how you feel. I only buy plum or cherry tomatoes when I have to, after a similar experience

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Permalink Reply by Shaun Nicholson on April 21, 2012 at 13:35

Hi. We eat a lot of tomatoes. Same experience as supermarket toms are usually bland and pretty poor (oh but they look perfect...which obviously counts for a lot...NOT)!

First year of growing veg for me this year, starting with easy stuff and in containers as no veg patch ready. But I have 4 tom plants growing indoors at the moment ready to be planted out a bit later (into grow bags). Excited about the prospect of some lovely tasty home grown toms...hoping my expectations won't be dashed!

How many tomato plants do you guys typically have going all year? Wondering if I should get some more! Any suggestions on good varieties (for outdoor as I have no greenhouse)?

Cheers

Shaun

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Permalink Reply by Flighty on April 21, 2012 at 15:56

Shaun I don't know about all year as outdoor tomatoes are planted out late May or early June to pick in August and September.

Like you I don't have a greenhouse and only plant out about six, usually Gardener's Delight and a yellow one such as Golden Sunrise.

This forum discussion from earlier in the year may be of interest - Tomato Choices - UK Veg Gardeners

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Permalink Reply by Shaun Nicholson on April 21, 2012 at 17:37

Thanks. Will take a look. Apologies, didn't mean all year....meant each year!

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Permalink Reply by elaine rickett on April 22, 2012 at 22:19

The little pomodorro tomatoes aren't too bad from the supermarket - it's those underripe cannonballs that are tough, tasteless and pallid. They just aren't worth the exorbitant price you have to pay for them.

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Permalink Reply by Catherine on April 22, 2012 at 22:36

I know how you feel...the only ones I will buy are the small cherry ones....better than the bigger swelled ones. Just cannot abide buying those red rubber balls either!

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Permalink Reply by Malagrowther on April 25, 2012 at 12:59

There were several hundred frost burned tomato palnts at Homebase last weekend. Seemed a terrible waste, but have to admit to a certain smug "told you so"-ism