Hedge your bet with Tomatoes - Sep 02, 2009
Even today, I still get customers who will only grow Grosse Lisse Tomatoes. This aussie Icon has been around since 1938 but it was actually invented by the Germans. Its a great tasting tomato but if you only grow one variety you increase the chances that your entire crop could be destroyed by pests and diseases.
Your local nursery will have at least 25 varieties of tomatoes to choose from and I recommend that you choose at least 4 different varieties to grow in your garden.
The only fool proof tomato is the variety called " Sweet Bite". This cherry sized variety is so tough it often pops up in your compost and simply grows without any help from you. It has a leathery skin that makes it resistant to fruit fly so you will never have to eat this tomato in the dark.
One of the biggest and best eating varieties is one called "Taurus". This old stye tomato looks like your bottom. Yes it has a big crack. When you slice the fruit it has hardly any seeds and the flesh is super sweet and juicy. I grew this variety last year and some nights we just ate salted tomatoes in olive oil on fresh bread. They were delicious.
To guarantee you will be eating home grown tomatoes before Xmas plant an old favourite called "Apollo". This is still one of the earliest fruiting varieties available. Grab a " Grosse Lisse" too, just to keep your parents happy and you are ready to grow your own fresh tomatoes.
Don't forget the cow manure or the tomato stakes. All these varieties will grow at least 2 metres high.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.