tomato plants

[vab]

I am asking all you veterans who have lived here for hundreds of years Is it cheaper to buy Tomato plants in a Supermarket or from the delightful weekly markets. I am all for giving my money to the weekly markets but do not want to miss a bargain at Supermarket. As Super U have them in now I do not want to wait until next week to find the market is a lot dearer.

[Pierre ZFP]

I got mine at Point Vert simply because they looked better.  Lots of variaties and very strong and healthy.  Can't remember how much but I do remember thinking they were good value.  I'm all for supporting the market but frankly the ones in the market looked half dead. 

Why not get a few now and then look at the market?  Unless you're buying hundreds you will only be out a few euros at worst.

[vab]

Thank you for replying so quickly. Yes !! That is a good idea and if I do not like the look of the ones in the market next week at least I will have staggered the growing of them so not all ripe at once. Last year we were eating them every meal and in the end I made soup with the excess. Planted by the previous occupant I may add.

[Tony F Dordogne]

I grow some of mine from seed and the 'specialist ones' like the tiny pear shaped or tumbling red and yellows where I would only want two/three of each type for salads I buy at a local plant fair where you get the gardeners and nurserymen - there are thousands of these across France this time of year, look out for them, well worth a visit.

Last year I had about 12 plants, this year I'll have more cooking toms for sauces, pickles and mixed fruit chutneys.  And if you get seriously too many, you can always give some away. 

[vab]

Thanks Tony !  I am a bit of a novice at growing veg and the other half said he has enough to do cutting grass and hedges  etc. Can you give me the name of a good all round tomato plant as so many different varieties.

[cooperlola]

I, like you, am a complete tomato novice.  However, I've found that the "bargain" plants which work best for me are those from the "Bricos" (Brico-Marche, Castorama) as they tend to have outdoor sections and garden bits so I think the staff are better at caring for the plants.  They certainly have given me much better results than the Supermarket ones which don't seem to have had such a good start in life!

[daisymay]

Monfavet is on sale at present. It is an early variety. Good old marmande is a big tomato and a good all rounder. Pyrus is also a reliable variety. I found that when I grew plum toms like roma they were eaten by something - the actual tomatoes not the plants. I get mine from the plant fairs around the end of April/start of May the advantage being you can have one of those, two of those etc rather than a barquette of 6 of the same. I accidently got two Noir de Crimee last year. They are described as a black tomato. They are very dark and flavoursome. Rose de Berne are a large pinkish and very fleshy tomato. Now you are spoilt for choice!

[vab]

WOW !!!!!!  That has really blown my mind. I will go armed with all the names mentioned and I will look as though I know what I am talking about. Thanks to all who have replied as it has been very helpful.

[vab]

One more thing before I sign off with this topic. I live in Dept 79 so does anyone know if plant fairs are held near Melle or surrounding areas ?

[Llwyncelyn]

If you have a look at the web site of Ferme de Ste Marthe they have a large range of young plants and of course they are totally 'bio'  Again their seed range is rather large!

 

 

[vab]

Thanks for that advice but I am now the proud owner of tomato plants. Took Cooperlola advise and went to Bricomarche, a large shop and was pleased to see the plants were in such good condition and then, thanks to Daisymay, I chose two varieties recommended.  It pays to ask advise here and always nice to get such helpful replies.

 

 

 

[opas]

I went to a local market at the weekend and bought cucumber, courgettes, aubrgines peppers and tomato plants for my potager. I bought a couple of "black" tomato plants and about 6 other vatieties.

today my lovely elderly neighbour (who last year gave me all my tomato seedlings ) asked if I had planted any tomatoes yet, I told him which. He has just turned up with about 10 more seedlings !! so I am off to the potager again in a while to make another frame..........looks like folks herabouts will be having tomaato chutney later in the year.[:D]

[Tony F Dordogne]

I bought the more unusual toms on Sunday - those where you don't want to buy a packet of seeds - which were much longer and leggier than my own.  They're a nightmare to look after sans pot.  Rootbound, still in the small blocks and need 4/.5 times the water of those I've brought on and hardened off myself.  Obviously forced in a tunnel or greenhouse so planting them out today, only way of keeping them viable.