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Growing Tomatoes

Why are my cherry tomatoes so tart?

marshmallowpies

15 years ago

I planted two tomato plants, a yellow pear and a red cherry, in an "Earth Box" which I ordered through the mail. When I water, I pour the water into a tube that runs from the surface of the planter to the bottom of the planter, where the roots are. I used the organic potting soil and the organic fertilizer that came with the kit. I water every day until the water flows out of the bottom of the Earth Box, as instructed. The Earth Box is on our sundeck, away from preditors and so far, from insects. The plants are very big, healthy, and are covered with green tomatoes and blossoms. All of the (ripened) tomatoes we have tried (from each plant) are very tart. Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong? Thanks.

Comments (6)

digdirt2
15 years ago
You aren't doing anything wrong. If you are sure they are fully ripe then it is most likely just the flavor of that particular variety. There are hundreds of cherry tomato varieties so can you give us the name of the variety you planted?

Taste is a very subjective thing - very personal - and what one might label tart another would call too sweet because they prefer the classic tart taste of a tomato. ;)

Dave
farkee
15 years ago
Sorry, you are disappointed with your cherries. The Earthbox is a great product so it may be just your variety choices as mentioned.

I also find with some tomatoes the flavors improve as the days pass.

While yellow pear may have some admirers there are many who find the taste bland and the texture yukky--I am in the latter camp. Can't imagine it being tart though--maybe it is just the first few off the vine. Hopefully you will like them better given a little bit more time.

A great SWEET red cherry available most everywhere is Sweet Million or Sweet 100--taste like candy (Psss, don't tell anyone but I like them better than SunGold). Hopefully you got that one and will like them more and more as they ripen. Not sure which other type of cherry you may have purchased??

I have read that tomato plants need full sun to develop maximum sweetness--hope you have those conditions.
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Last year was dry in Tennessee but I had a good crop of tomatoes. This year was very wet and I had an even better crop of tomatoes. (Celebrity) 20 plants. I put 1/2 bag of humas & manure compost from Wal Mart under each plant. I added about 8 ounces of triple fertilizer also. I use the tiller to mix it in. I also dug a post hole under each plant about 12 deep and part of the mixture was put in this hole. After the plant was set out I use about 3 table spoons of epson salt arount the plant. I had already limed the garden 2 or 3 time in fall and spring and I put lime under each plant before using the tiller. I had enough tomatoes this year for 4 familly. A lot of canning was done. I spray for diease and latter I have to spray because of stink bugs. I use concret wire for my tomato cages, about 24 inches i diamenter and maybe 30 inches high. I drive a stake at each cage to keep the wind from blowing the plants over and also to hang a 1 gallon water jug with a pin hole in the bottom to water with. I only filled the jugs 2 times this year because of all the rain we had. My ground has good drainage. Actually it drys up very fast. BasicPoke if you do what I've written I belive you will have plenty of tomatoes. Plant the tomatoes 4 1/2 feet apart and the rows 5 feet apart. Not very good picture.
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marshmallowpies
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you both for your replies. One of the tomatoes is called, "Yellow Pear Heirloom," and the other is a "Husky" cherry tomato. Perhaps I should leave the fruit on the plants a little longer?
macheske
15 years ago
I've noticed that the first few cherries of the year off a plant are not what you will have in taste later on. I was almost disappointed with my sungolds after the first couple until they really started producing. Now, the kids eat them like candy (rather than candy). I pick 50+ a day and leave them on the counter. By the end of the day, they're gone.
liz_h
15 years ago
macheske, you just reminded me why I want to grow cherry tomatoes! They are one of my favorite snacks, too. :)
triple_b
15 years ago
marshmallowpies,
You make me want to put on Sargent Pepper. (Lucy in the sky is my all time favorite Beatles song)

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