Tasteless tomatoes

[critterland]

Trying to figure out why my tomatoes are so bland and tasteless this year. Same varieties I have grown for years, same location, same watering system but no flavor. only difference this year was that I refreshed the soil in the containers (12 gallon nursery pots) with composted straw and goat manure and used less of the commercial fertilizers. In late July deer got into my greenhouse and stripped the plants of about 3/4 of the fruit that was on them, and broke down a lot of the vines but the plants were not killed and were able to be re-trellised. The fruit that was left is now beginning to ripen, at the end of our growing season. We have only about another week or two before freezing. And the fruit that is ripening is so bland it's barely worth eating. 50 plants of 14 different varieties all with the same issue… Tasteless tomatoes. Any ideas?

 

[Mandy Onderwater]

I know for a lot of fruit, they can be blander if you didn't have anough sunlight and/or overwatered. You could try leaving them on as long as possible, and hope they ripen a little with time.
I know a farmer with fruit trees nearby doesn't fertilise in the growing season. He says that the rapid growth due to the fertiliser causes bland tasting fruit

 

[KIGardening]

Two things hat are crucial in my opinion about the issue.

1. Watering regime. Too much water, especially when the fruits are close to maturity, dilutes the fruit's flavour and texture.
2. Nutrient Imbalances. Insufficient or excessive nutrients, such as too much nitrogen or a lack of calcium, can hinder flavour development. However, since you grow in pots overwatering can also lead to nutrients being washed away through the holes in the bottom of the pot. Not sure if you have considered this, but when the deer ate your plants, have you fertilised the soil in your pots? It is possible if you haven't done this that there was not enough nutrients left for recovering and tasty fruit development.
   

 

[Berkeloid]

I have also heard that if the soil lacks certain micronutrients it can lead to less tasty fruit, which apparently is one reason why commercially grown food often doesn't taste as good as home grown produce, because commercial farms don't waste money applying fertilisers that don't contribute to the look of the final product. I think this is also one reason why home made compost is such a valuable fertiliser, because over time it builds up a lot of these micronutrients.

If you watch Mark's videos he uses various supplements like rock dust that contain many of these types of micronutrients so you could investigate something like this too to give the soil a bit of a boost.