Costoluto Fiorentino

[Nature's Babe]

Tomato Costoluto Fiorentino,
We had high winds yesterday and although I had 2 canes supporting each heavily laden tomato plant the canes snapped and several keeled over, fortunately no vines broken, so with help was able to resurrect them. First time growing these, I have been amazed by the sheer weight of the crops and their lush sturdiness. I haven't fed or watered them
just mulch on good soil that had seaweed meal, compost, and some rockdust when bed was constructed.
Interestingly I also add fish trimmings from the fish monger and bury it in my compost, Most commercial fertilisers have about 8 trace minerals, but apparently seafood contains all 72 trace minerals.
Geoff said he also tried these tomatoes for the first time this year, how did you find them Geoff , hope yours are doing well too?
Apparently application of seaweed/ fish fertiliser reduces fungal infections by 50%, so may help those who had that problem this year, ref -
http://www.acs.edu.au/courses/soil-management-181.aspx
you will need to scroll down to find the relevant bit.

[Geoff]

My second year, and several to come from an oversize Franchi packet. They are doing well again in cold greenhouse, only two plants (eighteen plants in all of ten varieties) but they represented a large proportion of the 13lbs gathered yesterday after the lovely weekend weather. Serious Tomato preserving starts here!

[Nature's Babe]

Hi Geoff, yes they are generous with their seeds, I notice tere is a costoluto genovese too, have you tried that ? ( from the real seed company )

[Geoff]

No not tried that. Best new one I've tried recently is Auriga that we got from Wallis. Worst is Stupice which, like Latah, has only earliness going for it. Still searching for early quality.

[Nature's Babe]

Geoff, I was considering trying this, for earliness and flavour,ToXV - 20 seeds £1.95 -

http://realseeds.co.uk/breedveg.htm

[Geoff]

Interesting idea but I only grow 10 plants, usually 2 each of 5 varieties, in heated greenhouse for early crops so I think while it is still variable it would be a bit of a pain.