Poor tomato harvest 2017

[lazybloke]

Anyone else having a poor tomato harvest this year? Been growing them for nearly 20 years in the garden and greenhouse, plus more at the allotment. Never failed to get a huge crop each summer, but the harvest this year is only about 20-30% of normal.

Unless anyone else has observed the same thing, I reckon it's a pollination problem.

 

[Mugshot]

Anyone else having a poor tomato harvest this year? Been growing them for nearly 20 years in the garden and greenhouse, plus more at the allotment. Never failed to get a huge crop each summer, but the harvest this year is only about 20-30% of normal.

Unless anyone else has observed the same thing, I reckon it's a pollination problem.

Yep, rubbish this year, although I'd put mine down to poorer quality compost and a shite cold damp summer, my vines were groaning under the weight of toms last year, not this year

 

[slowwww]

Agree, and not only that my apple tree is down approx 60% on previous years too.

In fact the only things that have cropped above expectations are broad beans and we're inundated. Broad bean guacamole anybody?

 

[Dave 123]

I was growing Sungold this year. I got back from France 3 weeks ago and they weren't looking good(my diligent son....). They did have a bit of a crop which was tasty.
Once the rain came in July the plants went yellow and gave up.

@Mugshot What kind of compost do you use. A few years ago I used some 3 bags for £10. It was awful stuff. It was full of green slime and fungal growth. The toms didn't like that. I've stopped buying it now as its just yours and my green waste that the council collect, then sell on to the composting companies. It could have anyting in in.

 

[Mugshot]

I was growing Sungold this year. I got back from France 3 weeks ago and they weren't looking good(my diligent son....). They did have a bit of a crop which was tasty.
Once the rain came in July the plants went yellow and gave up.

@Mugshot What kind of compost do you use. A few years ago I used some 3 bags for £10. It was awful stuff. It was full of green slime and fungal growth. The toms didn't like that. I've stopped buying it now as its just yours and my green waste that the council collect, then sell on to the composting companies. It could have anyting in in.

Same as that, although it wasn't slimey in fairness. I built a large veg border last year and my raised beds needed filling. The cheapest way was a couple of pallets of cheap compost. But it seems there's just no goodness in it, I'll get some good stuff dug in over the winter now for next year and make sure the pots get some better stuff too. Like you my toms pretty much gave up a few weeks ago, although the Sungold are beautiful aren't they

 

[Mugshot]

Agree, and not only that my apple tree is down approx 60% on previous years too.

In fact the only things that have cropped above expectations are broad beans and we're inundated. Broad bean guacamole anybody?

My broad beans were/are pretty good and my peas were ok too, runners have gone nuts and are absolutely laden. As for my fruit trees, my wife and I shared the single cherry we had, and we're looking forward to sharing the single plum and the single apple that the bloody things have bothered to produce!

 

[vickster]

I'm growing for the first time...I'm surprised by how many my 3 plants have yielded I don't know if I've really had that many (loads still to ripen especially the beefsteak) but I'm happy with the experiment (probably would have been cheaper to buy the tomatoes from M&S though)

 

[Mugshot]

I'm growing for the first time...I'm surprised by how many my 3 plants have yielded I don't know if I've really had that many (loads still to ripen especially the beefsteak) but I'm happy with the experiment (probably would have been cheaper to buy the tomatoes from M&S though)

They taste soooo much better though vickster.

 

[vickster]

They taste soooo much better though vickster.

They do. Latest 'crop' of rather small cherry toms lol

 

[Levo-Lon]

Your joking.? ive had 100's off our half dozen grow outside plants..
They've been superb too..i tend to grow the cherry size mind

 

[Jody]

It's not been my best year but not done too bad this year. Plenty of Sungold to keep my lad happy and more than enough larger ones for curry base to see me through to next summer.

My chillies are going to have a poor harvest this year but not had much time to look after them like other years.

 

[smutchin]

Out tomatoes are doing fine, despite going in a bit late. Loads of fat green tomatoes starting to ripen - last few days weather isn't helping though, we need some more sunshine.

Runner beans, garlic, chillis and squashes have also done very well this year. We've had more squashes than we know what to do with. Broccoli was doing well until the bastard rabbits got it. We had some peas but not many.

The apples are all cropping heavily but the fruit is small - probably because the trees need serious pruning. The pear tree is so heavy with fruit that some branches are sagging to the ground.

 

[lazybloke]

You win some, you lose some.

The children's eyes are on the giant pumpkins. We managed to grow one to 40 kg at the last attempt; my back wasn't the same for ages after 'picking' it.

 

[Tail End Charlie]

Tomatoes poor. They are outside ones though and I've never had a great crop tbh.
Broad beans super, they always are.
Fantastic crop of blackberries.
Climbing and runner beans good.
Potatoes average.
Plums are going to be immense.
Apples looking pretty good.
Peas and mangetout poor.
Asparagus great.
Other crops as expected.

 

[smutchin]

Fantastic crop of blackberries.

If I had time to go out foraging in the local hedgerows, I could easily have enough to keep me in blackberries for a year.

Plums are going to be immense.