Garden Diary – Is it a record breaking tomato?

I’ve been watching this tomato get bigger and bigger, thinking, ‘this is definitely going to break my existing record’. But sadly it was 20g short.

The original record was set back in August 2017 by a ‘Brandywine’ tomato. Although they do get rather large, nothing has come close to that huge fruit.

Last year I ordered some seeds for a tomato variety called ‘Gourmansun’, but they were not what they claimed to be. Luckily the plant did produce some huge orange tomatoes that I named, ‘Orange Sunshine’, and they were delicious, so I saved the seeds and grew them again this year.

The plant has grown tall and thin like a well behaved cordon, hardly any side shoots, with very few fruits on, but that’s probably why one fruit in particular has grown into such a huge specimen.

I’m pleased to report that despite its huge size it tasted delicious, it was so big that a cut a big chunk off and gave it to a visiting relative.

As the temperature cranked up again we ate most evening meals outside, it’s lovely sitting there whilst the sun goes down.

I have a pot with carnations ‘dianthus’ in, on the patio and the scent is so lovely, especially in the evening, it’s surprising how far it drifts.

I don’t know whether it’s the sight or scent of the plants but somethings drawing in rather a lot of ladybirds. As I find them on clean bug free plants, I pick them up and move them to where aphids have gathered, and say, “Bon Appétit”.

After a comment made on twitter X, I googled them and discovered that they are found on every continent except for Antarctica. Isn’t that amazing! I love learning things like that.

Two plants having a second flush at the moment are my lovely purple rose ‘Rhapsody in blue’, and an Astrantia ‘Major Rubra’ which I’d moved. Bizarrely it had never come to much where it was but now in its new home it’s got more flowers than I’ve seen!

Watering the fruit trees, I bent to get the hose right to the base of the Victoria plum and discovered a rotten fruit on the ground. This was a shock as I didn’t think it had had any plums on this year.

I thought, if there was one, there might be more, so set about a thorough examination and I was over the moon to discover one perfectly ripe plum.

What a wonderful surprise to end the week on!

Monday 11th August 2025

Evening in the garden, with long reaching shadows 🌿🌸💛💕🧡

I know the dryness is a worry but it’s such a treat being warm enough to sit out later in the day when all the jobs are done.

#MagentaMonday #eveninginthegarden #bloomscrolling

Tuesday 12th August 2025

I really thought this tomato was going to break my existing weight record, set a good few years ago by a ‘brandywine’ at 716g, but it’s 20g short!

It was bought as ‘gourmansun’ last year but isn’t, so I’ve named it ‘orange sunshine’ & it’s delicious 🧡🙃🌿

#tomatotuesday #gyo

Wednesday 13th August 2025

I’m pleased to report that we have as many ladybirds as ever in the garden, despite the heat 🐞☀️🌿

When I find them on a clean plant like this begonia, I allow them to walk onto my finger & I take them to the aphids 😊🐞

#wildlifewednesday #ladybirds #insects

Thursday 14th August 2025

Took this last night but run out of time to post in time for #RoseWednesday 🌿💜🌿

A day late, a dollar short 😁

‘Rhapsody in blue’ having a full on second flush 💜💜💜💜

This Astrantia, I think ‘major rubra’, has never been happy where I put it. So, it now has a new home in the recently revamped hosta bed, & it’s rewarded me with a second flush 🌿🌺🌿

#RightPlantRightPlace #astrantia #bloomscrolling

Friday 15th August 2025

I wish you could smell these Dianthus 🌿🌸🌿🌸🌿🌸🌿

I’ve got them in a pot on the patio & it’s incredible how much scent drifts around as we sit there.

#flowersonfriday #bloomscrolling #pinkfriday #pinkflowers #flowers #scentedflowers

Saturday 16th August 2025

Pretty veg & seed head’s mixing it up with the late bloomers 🌿🧡🫑🌺💛🥒

#sixonsaturday #bloomscrolling #kitchengarden

What a fabulous surprise! I thought the Victoria plum hadn’t produced any fruit this year, but I spied a rotten one on the ground so had a good look & hey presto 😊🌿

The gardeners mate & I have just shared it, the flavour was out of this world 🩷🧡 #kitchengarden #plums

Sunday 17th August 2025

I popped into Aldi on Friday & all their plants were watered & well looked after. I couldn’t resist this stunning bi-coloured Rudbeckia for a fiver 🌿🧡💛🧡💛 #SundayYellow