I have had the most perfect tomatoes this year. No cracking, no blossom end rot, using exceptionally sweet varieties that I have grown for years. But the flavor is off in many of them.. especially in the early ones. Totally bland, watery, mushy, . All Well fertilized with organics with lots of calcium. No micronutrient deficiency signs .
Yet I have a pile of gorgeous tomatoes…. Why??? The Momotoros are the only ones I can really say are quite perfect.
The questions is, how did I go wrong this year?
by BeatzaBong
5 Comments
You could be overwatering during the fruiting phase. That leads to fruit that is mealy and, well, watery. How has your soil moisture been over the past couple months?
Anything different you did this year? And what’s your weather been like? Concur with the other comment that it sounds like maybe they’re just spoiled lovelies who’ve gorged themselves on water at the expense of flavor.
The best fruit is produced under juuuussstt the right amount of the right kinds of stress. Water stress increases sugar content and produces a firmer, more concentrated flesh, which is more flavorful. But there is, of course, a trade off between flavor and yields.
Alternatively… anyone else tasted them and agreed that they’re bland? Have you possibly had COVID recently?
watering is probably the culprit as others have said but I know soil pH, potassium, and magnesium can affect flavor as well. pH and potassium affect how well the tomato can take up minerals like magnesium and calcium – apparently more magnesium directly impacts flavor.
First of all, congratulations on your bountiful harvest. For best tasting tomatoes, I normally use grind egg shells and feed the plants a mixture of fish emulsion, bone meal, blood meal and a few table spoons of molasses for sweetness. Every year, my tomatoes taste delicious!
Maybe you’re eating them too soon? The first few tomatoes I picked this season were a little underwhelming, but now that I’m eating tomatoes that have been ripening on the counter for a couple of weeks, they’re in their full flavor. Most tomatoes will be slightly soft at full ripeness.