Tastless tomatoes

[Solarjunkie]

I'm not a gardener by any means, but this year I thought I'd have a go at a few tomatoes in the conservatory. I bought six little plants from a car boot sale, put them in leaf mould in big pots, and added water. Result! They've grown over a metre tall, and produced fruit. The first little tiny one was delicious. Now they're a bit bigger, they look lovely, but they are absolutely tasteless. Absolutely.
I presume it is too late to do anything for the little green ones that have yet to ripen?

[shylock73]

Leaf mould has no nutriuent for growing toms which need plenty of potash to get good tasting fruits. You would have done better to grow them in a growbag. The best way is to insert a fibre bottomlest ring about 10" dia into the bag, fill with compost and grow your plant in that thus giving the plant all it requires, but water regulary and feed at least 2-3 time a week when its growing well. Keep this info for next year. One more tip, never buy plants with a thin black leg (base of plant) make sure they are green.

[terambulan]

Grow your tomatos outside in the open (not greenhouse/conservatory) for better smell and taste.

Pickle the green ones or ripen them stored with the red.

[Solarjunkie]

I have been feeding them with manure. I may use a gro-bag next year, thankyou for your advice. However, it doesn't solve this year's problem! I can't put them outside for various reasons

[glasman]

Pick the green ones and place in a brown paper bag for a few days - they will have ripened.

[shylock73]

I have only just started picking my tom`s (4 so far) so there is still plenty of time for them to go red, as they will, so don`t pick them in a panic, just have patience and wait. To hasten them along put a ripe banana at he base of the plant or leave a couple of red ones on the vine. They emit a gas which helps to ripen the others.

[Solarjunkie]

They're ripening fine! They just don't taste of anything. The next few are red and ready to pick, but what's the point?

[shylock73]

Don`t give-up, just try a different variety next year, and buy from a reputable garden centre as boot sellers have probaly grown theirs from their own seed which can`t always be trusted to be af good value.

[hillary.bris]

Sorry about the late reply but I worked at a market garden when I left school and the old man used to feed the toms with dried blood and bone meal, fish meal. I don't have a greenhouse but when i did I had good results and tasty toms feeding this way.
Tomorite is good too.
Chris

[Solarjunkie]

Crikey! That sounds like you'd get non-vegetarian tomatoes! The last couple have had a little taste, but also a big white hard bit in the middle. Still, the chickens love them!