cool, rainy climate, yucky tomatoes

[tgplp]

Hello! I live near Seattle, Washington, known for its rain. Last year I grew lots of tomatoes, which started ripening in early august. They looked great, and seemed to be doing fine, but when I tasted them- YUCK! Even the supermarket's tomatoes were better! What do you think went wrong?! How can I get better tasting tomatoes?

Thank you!

Tgplp

[jcm05]

What varieties did you grow?

[tgplp]

I grew Stupice, Silvery Fir Tree, Kimberly, Glacier, and Green zebra. A couple others too, but I planted to late and they didn't ripen.

Tgplp

[tomc]

My guess is too wet, too cold. Maybe its time for a hoop house?

[tgplp]

Glad for you to mention that! In early September I did build a small hoophouse, and this year I can try it out. It has room for about 8 tomato plants.

Ok this is kinda off subject, but how would you grow tomatoes in an unheated hoophouse different than outside? Don't you think it will get too humid in there for tomatoes? Are there any recomended varieties for hoophouses?

Thanks everyone!

[jcm05]

I think its partially to blame on the varieties you grew tgplp. Try some better flavored varieties.

[blane]

Jan 12, 2011 6:53:16 GMT -5 jcm05 said:

I think its partially to blame on the varieties you grew tgplp. Try some better flavored varieties.

double that, so many others too choose from...

[tgplp]

Okay, thanks! Got any ideas? The problem is that I tried to choose varieties that work better in my climate, but I guess most of the tomatoes that taste the best grow mostly in warmer climates. Should I give some "warm climate" varieties a try in my hoop house this year?

[rintintin]

My experience in the Seattle area is that we do not get enough sunny, warm days in summer to grow a lot of the larger varieties. Late season tomatoes do not have a chance here either.
This year, my maple tree leaves began to change color before most of my tomatoes did, but it was an exceptionally "not warm" summer.

Yeah, yeah, I know it is a hybrid, but the one tomato that does well for me EVERY year is Sun Gold.
Cherries do better here than full sized tomatoes.

Because of our lack of a true tomato season, many people opt for the early tomatoes, and face it...few of the early tomatoes have much flavor. I suggest a mid/mid-late season variety, and make certain to start them indoors early enough to have a couple of blossoms by the time the soil warms up enough to plant outside.

Sweet Millions (a hybrid from Territorial Seeds in OR) is another one that does well for me here.
Since Territorial is based in OR, and they trial all of their varieties there, most of their seeds perform well here west of the Cascades.