Blog: Varieties for flavour and disease resistance!
There’s been a bit of upset in gardening circles recently about growing blight-resistant tomatoes. Their effectiveness was discussed on Gardeners’ Question Time recently, with doubts over their resistance.
Many varieties available to home gardeners have been bred by Burpee Europe. It just so happens I’m growing two of them this year, Veranda Red and Burlesque. I chose (and paid for them), so they aren’t on trial for any company. Let’s see how they turn out!
Despite being both blight-resistant, they’re very different tomatoes. Veranda Red is a small bush cherry tomato growing to just 30cm or so, ideal for those tight on space. Burlesque, however, is a cordon beefsteak tomato, so it needs staking and side shooting.
Both varieties have been grown on in Dalefoot Wool Compost for Tomatoes. For beginners, this means the stage between seedlings and where they end up. Veranda Red plants have the same growing medium in their final pots. Burlesque has been transplanted into Bathgate Composts’ Peat-Free Champions Blend. They’re both in great health (fingers crossed), and Veranda Red has been flowering for a couple of weeks.
Growing blight-resistant tomatoes – Veranda Red
I’m growing these small plants on the windowsill of my conservatory. They won’t block the light to the bigger varieties on the back wall. Later in the summer, a few may go outside if things get overcrowded.
- A very dwarf cherry bush tomato with great taste
- One plant can grow in a two-litre container
- Requires no canes, supports or side shooting
- Early ripening
- Fruit 12-16g each
- Ideal for outside, greenhouse container growing, balconies, or even a cool windowsill in late autumn.
Burlesque
I normally don’t grow beefsteak varieties, preferring cherries. However, Gary loves them, so that’s why Burlesque is here. There are only two plants, in tubs in the greenhouse. As the double doors are almost always open in summer, that’s scant protection against blight. These would seem to be the plants most at risk.
- Large, round, pure-red fruit
- 280–350g per fruit
- Flavourful, packed with heirloom aromatics and tangy tomato sweetness
- Ripening from early August
- Fruits hang in clusters of three to four per truss
- No cracking
- Ideal for outdoor growing in milder areas.
According to Which Gardening, Burlesque and Veranda Red make the list of Which Best Buys in the May 2022 issue. I’ll be reporting more as the season progresses!
