TOMATOES

From garden classics to modern marvels, Rob Smith surveys the wonderful world of one of summer's most popular crops

- 

There's something undeniably cheerful about chatting over the garden fence, especially when the topic turns to a favourite of home-growers everywhere: tomatoes. Their tangy sweetness and juicy goodness are the epitome of summer, aren't they? Whether it's memories of sun-soaked Mediterranean holidays or laughter-filled lunches al fresco, tomatoes have a way of bringing joy to any occasion.

The varieties of tomatoes we can grow are astonishing - there's a type for every taste and purpose. Need a robust cooker or a handful of sweet cherries to nibble while you potter about in the greenhouse? You're spoilt for choice. Yet, among this abundance, there are those steadfast classics that have a special place in our hearts and gardens.

SOME OLD FAVOURITES

Take 'Gardener's Delight', for instance. This little cherry tomato is a name many of us have come to know and love. It's a shame, though, as it seems to have lost a bit of its former glory. If you've noticed it's not quite the taste sensation it used to be, you're not alone.

Sadly, it's not just us - it even lost its RHS FGM award. Perhaps it's time we looked for a fresh favourite? 'Moneymaker' is another household name, known for its reliable crop of standard red tomatoes. They might not be gourmet, but they're a dependable old friend in the tomato world, easy to grow and a familiar sight in any salad. Then there's 'Sungold F1', with its golden hue and a sweetness that's hard to beat - if you can get to them before they split or mould, that is.