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Garden Gate:  why are my beautiful tomatoes so bitter?  |
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Pamela Joy
True Blue Farmgirl
89 Posts
Pamela
Hesperus
CO
USA
89 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 16 2009 : 11:19:21 AM
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Hi everyone,
My tomato plants this year are very successful in most ways. The plants look great, the tomatoes are plentiful and beautiful. Many have ripened and no major pest problems. We did have some tomato hornworms, but only found less than a dozen in 10 plants and now they are gone. Rabbits and chickens have not even been an issue in the garden this year.
BUT... the tomatoes we are eating are mostly very bitter. Not just acidic, but bitter. Don't taste good at all. I think they taste toxic. We do not use any pesticides or fertilizers, other than compost. What a drag!! My daughter usually loves tomatoes, and loves to eat them right of the plant, but she is obviously not too excited this year. I always count on her eating tons of fresh tomatoes and being her super healty self.
Every once in a while, one is good, but it's risky to try them and more often than not get a terrible taste.
Any insights? Why? What might I do? Will they taste better in cooking and canning?
By the way, these are cherry tomatoes - mostly "gardener's delight", but also a hybrid that a friend of a friend of a friend developed. They are interplanted together.
Please help!! Thank you.
Pam
Peace, Love, and Joy |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2009 : 1:07:54 PM
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That's no fun at all. To work so hard and the anticipation then to have them taste awful. I'm so sorry. And I have no idea why. I hope you get some answers soon, though. Maybe something was bad in your compost? Do you change the place where you plant tomatoes each year?
I would ask a garden center expert. Maybe they can tell you more. Maybe take some in to be tested by them. Good luck and I hope you find out soon.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
3007 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
3007 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2009 : 2:22:05 PM
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Pam
Call your local extension office; they may have an answer |
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Pamela Joy
True Blue Farmgirl
89 Posts
Pamela
Hesperus
CO
USA
89 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2009 : 5:14:28 PM
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Actually, the tomatoes have stayed in the same spot for a few years. I rotate everything else, but I had read in "Carrots Love Tomatoes" that tomatoes actually like to be in the same spot from year to year. I liked hearing that because the spot we use is perfectly set up for them. I almost moved them this time, but figured "one more year".
We do have horse, goat, donkey and chicken manure in the compost. I am going to ask some gardening friends, and I will call the extention agent too. But I thought I'd also ask all you farmgirl experts. So thanks for your concerns and replies. I appreciate it and would love to hear from anyone who has experienced this before.
Peace, Love, and Joy |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
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Pamela Joy
True Blue Farmgirl
89 Posts
Pamela
Hesperus
CO
USA
89 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2009 : 6:01:23 PM
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No, I don't think so on the bugs. The only bugs we have seen on them are the hornworms. And I have only picked really ripe ones. I realized that it's just 'gardener's delight' that are doing the bitter thing. The slightly larger hybrid I mentioned are tasting good. I know other folks who bought from the same greenhouse. I will ask what they are getting.
Thanks gals!
Peace, Love, and Joy |
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Pamela Joy
True Blue Farmgirl
89 Posts
Pamela
Hesperus
CO
USA
89 Posts |
Posted - Aug 30 2009 : 09:04:10 AM
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Well, I finally just cut down the one plant that I knew had the bitter tomatoes and have not eaten a bitter one, since. I had not been sure that it was only one plant, but so far, so good. The rest are going strong and tasty.
Peace, Love, and Joy |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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Garden Gate: why are my beautiful tomatoes so bitter? |
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why are my beautiful tomatoes so bitter?
