Which Tomato Variety to help combat Fruit Fly?? (forum)

Wazza McG starts with ...

Okay - Here is the situation. I live in Brisbane and last year I had fruit fly issues with most of the tomatoes I grew - Not happy Jan!.


Tommy Toe hardly had any issues as it is more plum size and must have a tough skin. So its on the books to plant again - the only problem is it's fruit are on the small side.

I believe most cherry/plum type have a better record against fruit fly attack than the larger soft skin types.


The larger tomato varieties 7cm fruit or larger did poorly and I don't think I will be planting out larger fruit varieties this year.


I'm thinking I need a determinate or inter-determinate that has 5~6cm fruit with a tough skin to help minimise the carnage the buggers do.

If you have any suggestions on a variety or other I would clearly like to hear from you.

Cheers,
Warren

Time: 10th August 2011 7:00am

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About the Author wazzamcg
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allybanana says...
I only bother with tommy toe for that reason. Im not sure if there is such a variety out there and breeders usually rely on spraying and thinner skin, developing such a strain with a thick skin is probably less of a priority. A very worthy backyard breeding project for someone to take on, i will gladly buy seeds of anyone who develops or already as such a strain.

Time: 10th August 2011 7:12am

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About the Author allybanana
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amanda says...
Diggers has a yellow one with a "fuzzy" skin that they claim the FFly don't seem to like.....the name is a shocker to spell but it's something like Wiscappicion Peach...(u will know when u see it! :D

Maybe it's worth looking for any others with a fuzzy skin..?

Time: 10th August 2011 8:56am

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About the Author amanda19
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BJ says...
I'd stick to the cherry types in summer, and grow the big ones in winter through early spring. There are lots of colours and varieties of small tomatoes that dont get stung - the black cherries are pretty good. I've not seen a large one of any colour that hasn't attracted the fruit flies , but I've not tried the furry peach type.

Time: 10th August 2011 9:55am

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About the Author Theposterformerlyknownas
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Brad says...
nets?

Time: 10th August 2011 3:09pm

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About the Author Brad2
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Julie says...
If they don't like 'fuzzy' skin on tomatoes, how come they love peaches?

Time: 10th August 2011 7:48pm

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About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
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Wazza McG says...
BJ
I think you are correct on what you are advising, however, with so many tomato varieties out there - I'm hoping to find a hard skinned one that might be a bit more resistant.

Stage one for me is to get a tomato variety with hard skin that is a bit bigger than the Tommy Toe (4cm round) >> Looking for around 5~6cm oblong or round.

After doing further googling today - crack resistant types might be the go as they are suppose to be tougher - makes sense.





Time: 10th August 2011 7:58pm

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About the Author wazzamcg
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amanda says...
Who knows Julie! :) It's probably the colour...my yellow tomatoes get heaps less hassle.
Not sure why you would want anything better than a tommy Toe Wazza - but good luck!

Personally - F.Fly don't follow any rules that I can see...

Time: 11th August 2011 12:34am

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About the Author amanda19
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Wazza McG says...
For those concerned about fruit fly and tomatoes - this is what I am doing this year to try to gain some success. Tommy Toe is a obvious proven performer.


I have bought 3 other types. They are in order what I believe will work after much googling research;

Tommy Toe - for the plum size.
Super Sioux - 5cm - yet to be proven
Eva Purple Ball - 6cm - yet to be proven
Deutscher Fleiss - another plum size - yet to be proven


This is based on that these tomatoes varieties are thick skinned and crack resistant - similar to Tommy Toe.

Also, during the rearch I found this advise;

"Recently given a recipe from an older fellow who lived near a commercial orchard. Apparently he didn

Time: 14th August 2011 7:57pm

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About the Author wazzamcg
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Diana says...
I have grown some tomatoes through winter and spring and just harvested most of them. About a quarter of the beefsteak and moneymaker tomatoes had fruit fly already, but none of the Italian paste tomatoes had any fruit flies or blemishes at all. They have thick skin (maybe bred that way so they are easy to peel?). I am sharing this because I have never heard that San Marzano tomatoes are fruit fly resistant before.

As well as Tommy Toe, broad ripple yellow currant tomatoes are resistant. The Eden seeds blurb says
'Found growing in a pavement in Broad Ripple Indianapolis. Mass of sweet yellow fruit to 10mm, grape like bunches, doesn't split when left on vine and is fruit fly resistant. It Still survives harsh conditions and resows itself.' I am growing these and I can confirm all of this. They have an intense flavour.

Diana.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 31st October 2011 9:55pm

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amanda says...
Tommy Toe is a legend! It's may favourite for these reasons. Can handle heat and humidity and still tastes good even when over-spoiled. When treated 'rough' - it's superb.
I am testing a couple of "brown" cherry toms at present....3 types. Will be sure to post results.
Have got those horrible tomatoe eating caterpillars on board - so I am testing which types they are not interested in (cos I just point blank refuse to use any 'intervention' on tom's at all - as we eat them mostly straight off the plant)

Time: 31st October 2011 10:26pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Wazza McG says...
Hi

Here are my Tommy Toes - so far so good, no sign of fruit fly and plenty of growth. I don't think my trellis will be high enough - Picture 3.

Picture 2 has Super Sioux (5cm) - its under trial for fruit fly resistance, it's an inter-determinate - hence the 3 tiers.

Picture 1 has Deutscher Fleiss - another plum size but its a determinate, also under trial - only 2 tiers.


You may like the tier system for the tomato's I made - it was based on a non-staking system that was in a gardening magazine yonks old (black & white) and when I saw it, I thought it was brilliant - no more tying up tomatoes, woohoo.


Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3

Time: 1st November 2011 8:03pm

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Original Post was last edited: 1st November 2011 8:13pm

About the Author wazzamcg
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Diana says...
That looks great with the horizontal mesh, except that it's hard to tell how tall the pickets are. If they are low enough to fall on, seeing sharp tops of star pickets without plastic caps on gives me the willies (I have a relative who lost sight in one eye due to a stake in the garden, and even worse things can happen).

Diana.

Time: 1st November 2011 9:01pm

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Wazza McG says...
Diana its plenty safe - the star pickets are over 6ft out of the ground.

The galvanised upright in picture 2 is my height (5ft 9"). The one in picture 1 goes up to my chin.

Time: 2nd November 2011 8:03am

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About the Author wazzamcg
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Diana says...
Lovely, and very healthy tomato plants. I like your lack of lawn.


Time: 3rd November 2011 9:45am

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About the Author Diana
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