In the last few years we have little success with tomatoes under glass. We water them regularly and well, feed them OK, but still we get BER and disappointing yields.
The outdoor tomatoes have done really well in comparison this year, even the ones on the allotment which had little water and no feed at all.
I've heard lots of theories about tomato growing, and I know we could talk about the subject for pages, but maybe if some of you could post your favourite useful tip, I might be able to put some of them into practice and have a little more success.
Feeling a bit disheartened.
Tomato help needed.
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alan refail
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Hi Pongeroon
No answers - just a question: are the ones under glass in grow bags, soil border or something else? Therein may lie your problem
No answers - just a question: are the ones under glass in grow bags, soil border or something else? Therein may lie your problem
Good morning Alan and JB 
I was a bit rushed when I posted this question, and I realised I had missed out this important bit of info only when I was nowhere near the computer
I have been growing them in large pots (actually the tubs we get fish food in) filled with coir-based compost and our own compost, probably 50/50. The plants grow on tremendously well, but don't produce a huge amount of fruit, though flowers are numerous. I mist the flowers, and quite a lot set fruit, but we do get BER a lot.
This year we grew Gardeners Delight (which weren't, they are far too big) which had the biggest problem with BER; San Marzano which set very few fruit and again, BER; beefsteak, which have been OK but not great; and Latah, which were very early of course, and did very well, and are still producing a few.
What do you think, guys?? The only outside tomatoes are SM and GD, and both have done very well indeed.
I was a bit rushed when I posted this question, and I realised I had missed out this important bit of info only when I was nowhere near the computer
I have been growing them in large pots (actually the tubs we get fish food in) filled with coir-based compost and our own compost, probably 50/50. The plants grow on tremendously well, but don't produce a huge amount of fruit, though flowers are numerous. I mist the flowers, and quite a lot set fruit, but we do get BER a lot.
This year we grew Gardeners Delight (which weren't, they are far too big) which had the biggest problem with BER; San Marzano which set very few fruit and again, BER; beefsteak, which have been OK but not great; and Latah, which were very early of course, and did very well, and are still producing a few.
What do you think, guys?? The only outside tomatoes are SM and GD, and both have done very well indeed.
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Tony Hague
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I'd try different varieties next year; San Marzano is particularly suceptible to BER. I prefer Rio Grande for paste. I have personally yet to be delighted by Gardener's delight either, split too much for my liking.
I have not had a great year for tomatoes either. As you say, healthy enough plants but not a lot of fruit. I think that although we had a fair bit of sun, it came a bit early in the season, rather than when it is needed for good ripening.
I have not had a great year for tomatoes either. As you say, healthy enough plants but not a lot of fruit. I think that although we had a fair bit of sun, it came a bit early in the season, rather than when it is needed for good ripening.
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Geoff
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I think the answer lies in the soil or more correctly the compost. I suggest it is too light and does not retain its moisture for long enough. If you want to continue to use your own I would make up a heavier mixture with half soil and half compost. I cannot picture the tubs, perhaps they are not big enough either. If you have borders in the greenhouse consider taking the bases out of the tubs and using them as rings. If it has a solid base again make them into rings but stand them in growbags, two to a bag.
Hi Pongeroon,
I grow tomatoes in the greenhouse border direct and in the tunnel I use my own made growbags composed of soil and my own comfrey compost.
These grow bags are 25kg coal bags full of compost so considerably more compost than the normal bought growbag. To me BER is something I used to get but have not had for a considerable time now. My watering is only ever done after sunset and then they are always watered sparingly.
The designated feeding is with a Comfrey Concentrate solution and is done weekly after the set of the first truss. I have never had splitting of Gardeners Delight, which incidentally, started off life as a variety with tomatoes about an inch diameter but is now classified as a Cherry Variety so changed altogether.
JB.
I grow tomatoes in the greenhouse border direct and in the tunnel I use my own made growbags composed of soil and my own comfrey compost.
These grow bags are 25kg coal bags full of compost so considerably more compost than the normal bought growbag. To me BER is something I used to get but have not had for a considerable time now. My watering is only ever done after sunset and then they are always watered sparingly.
The designated feeding is with a Comfrey Concentrate solution and is done weekly after the set of the first truss. I have never had splitting of Gardeners Delight, which incidentally, started off life as a variety with tomatoes about an inch diameter but is now classified as a Cherry Variety so changed altogether.
JB.
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alan refail
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Hi Pongeroon
I think some of the answers are in your helpful reply: the word "pots" and "coir" made me wonder whether the greenhouse plants had had enough water. My tomatoes are all in the polytunnel border and are watered once a day in hot weather and when they need it in dull weather (which we Welsh have had too much of this "summer"). Even if the surface does dry out their roots are deep enough to keep them going without a check. Not so with your pots, which, if you have had a lot of hot greenhouse days, probaly need watering several times a day. It is significant that the same varieties you grew outside have done so much better.
Now for San Marzano: of all the problems I have growing tomatoes in the polytunnel - mostly due to my habit of packing the plants too close - blossom end rot is not something I see usually. But the San Marzano were where it would occur. Last year I started growing a different strain, San Marzano "Redorta", bigger plant, bigger fruit, very slow to ripen, but no sign of BER.
I think some of the answers are in your helpful reply: the word "pots" and "coir" made me wonder whether the greenhouse plants had had enough water. My tomatoes are all in the polytunnel border and are watered once a day in hot weather and when they need it in dull weather (which we Welsh have had too much of this "summer"). Even if the surface does dry out their roots are deep enough to keep them going without a check. Not so with your pots, which, if you have had a lot of hot greenhouse days, probaly need watering several times a day. It is significant that the same varieties you grew outside have done so much better.
Now for San Marzano: of all the problems I have growing tomatoes in the polytunnel - mostly due to my habit of packing the plants too close - blossom end rot is not something I see usually. But the San Marzano were where it would occur. Last year I started growing a different strain, San Marzano "Redorta", bigger plant, bigger fruit, very slow to ripen, but no sign of BER.
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Tony Hague
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Johnboy wrote:I have never had splitting of Gardeners Delight, which incidentally, started off life as a variety with tomatoes about an inch diameter but is now classified as a Cherry Variety so changed altogether.
JB.
Wev'e discussed the variability of Gardener's delight before, I think. The ones I grew (free seeds, of course) were about 3/4", and stayed green and acidic inside up to the point they spilt. I don't like my tomatoes that way. Actually, I don't much favour cherry tomatoes at all. Big fleshy ones for me.
Hi Tony,
The difference between the now Gardeners Delight and the original has been well debated over the years.
I do not think that I have ever had the trouble that you seem to be experiencing and my GD have never been prone to splitting or had difficulty with ripening. I simply cannot explain it. I would go so far as to say that a really ripe GD takes some beating but taste is something different to different individuals. Such a shame having gone to all the trouble to grow them. It actually sounds like a form of 'Green back'.
JB.
The difference between the now Gardeners Delight and the original has been well debated over the years.
I do not think that I have ever had the trouble that you seem to be experiencing and my GD have never been prone to splitting or had difficulty with ripening. I simply cannot explain it. I would go so far as to say that a really ripe GD takes some beating but taste is something different to different individuals. Such a shame having gone to all the trouble to grow them. It actually sounds like a form of 'Green back'.
JB.
Thank you all for your helpful replies. We have given some thought to the problem after reading your ideas, and have decided to (like JB) make up our own growbags using coir, home compost and soil, and plant through bottomless pots.
I don't like using bought growbags because (a) I am too mean and (b) I like to know what I am putting my plants into.
We are also planning to put up a small tunnel on the allotment this winter, so we will probably plant a few tomatoes in there too by way of an experiment.
Thanks again for your help everyone. I love this forum!
I don't like using bought growbags because (a) I am too mean and (b) I like to know what I am putting my plants into.
We are also planning to put up a small tunnel on the allotment this winter, so we will probably plant a few tomatoes in there too by way of an experiment.
Thanks again for your help everyone. I love this forum!
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oldherbaceous
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And i second that. 
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.
