View Full Version : Tomatoes
Richard
02-09-2008, 08:58 PM
In the thread "Members Yard Photos" there appears to be a great interest in Tomatoes!
I'd never heard of "Odoriko" either, but I'll have to try it! Here's my all-time favorites:
Azoychka
Big Girl
Cherokee Purple
Green Grape (Cherry) Hierloom
Palla di Fuoco
Persimmon
Sun Gold (Cherry)
I've tried many others. Here's a list categorized by size and taste: http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/guides/TomatoGuide.pdf
Of course there's always room on the list for more ... :)
D_&_T
02-09-2008, 09:16 PM
We will be starting ours late next month in pots to get early start. Forget what kind of seeds wife bought.
STEELVIPER
02-09-2008, 10:35 PM
Going to try these types this year.
Green sausage
cour di blue
mortgage lifter
omar's lebanese
german head.
:2181:
D_&_T
02-09-2008, 11:37 PM
wife got them out
Supersweet 100 VF, hybrid
Red cherry
she thinks more lost
plus might buy more
FOUND
Beefsteak
Ethan
02-10-2008, 12:54 AM
This year I'm just growing one vine of 'Juliets", they look like mini Romas. I grow them on a 5' tall by 10' long trellis and end up with a huge wall of vine covered in fruit.
-Ethan
bencelest
02-10-2008, 01:00 AM
Do you guys have problem with white flies with your tomatoes?
If so how do you control them?
Richard
02-10-2008, 01:16 AM
Do you guys have problem with white flies with your tomatoes?
If so how do you control them?
White flies have a generation cycle of 4 days. If you are using a chemical pesticide then you must spray 3 times, 4 days apart.
Pesticides that actually work on white flies:
1. Malathion
2. Bayer Powerforce "Cyfluthrin" -- a synthetic pyrethrene with napthalene for staying power.
Bio-vector:
3. Green Light Spinosaid or Green Light Fruit Tree Spray with Spinosaid. Spinosaid is a family of bacteria that attack many kinds of insects and their eggs. The law states that you can only use it six times per growing season. Please don't spray it on bees. This is the only product that will kill the citrus leaf miner.
bencelest
02-10-2008, 11:06 AM
Richard:
Oh, thank you very much maestro. You are great!
momoese
02-10-2008, 12:25 PM
I pretty much grow the same thing every year although I have grown lots of different heirloom varieties. I'm at the point now where it just seems easier and more fun to sample all the tomatoes at the Farmers Market and buy whatever tastes the best that week.
These are my normal choices for backyard tomatoes.
Sungold or Sunsugar - Hybrid orange cherry that seems to never stop producing and has superb flavor.
Brandywine- great for slicing
Stupice- really early, good flavor, small to medium sized
The last couple seasons a farmer at the Santa Monica Farmers Market has been selling a bright orange, roundish tomato he calls Caltrans. I can't find any info on them but they are really good!
bananeeee
02-10-2008, 12:26 PM
Do you guys have problem with white flies with your tomatoes?
If so how do you control them?
Long time ago my grandfather used to hang strips of adhesive paper over tomato plants in his greenhouse and asked us, children, to walk along the plants and to shake each one a bit - white flies were disturbed and landed right on the adhesive paper, however I was too small then to judge the effect (I wrote this in case you feel you could try a pesticide-free method)
bencelest
02-10-2008, 12:38 PM
Long time ago my grandfather used to hang strips of adhesive paper over tomato plants in his greenhouse and asked us, children, to walk along the plants and to shake each one a bit - white flies were disturbed and landed right on the adhesive paper, however I was too small then to judge the effect (I wrote this in case you feel you could try a pesticide-free method)
I tried this method before and did not work for me. They seem to be smart after a while they avoided them entirely and sometimes the wind made the sticky paper stuck to the tomato leaves.
I used the vacuum cleaner method and it helps a lot but after 5 days or so they are at it again.
bencelest
02-10-2008, 12:40 PM
Long time ago my grandfather used to hang strips of adhesive paper over tomato plants in his greenhouse and asked us, children, to walk along the plants and to shake each one a bit - white flies were disturbed and landed right on the adhesive paper, however I was too small then to judge the effect (I wrote this in case you feel you could try a pesticide-free method)
I tried this method before and did not work for me. They seem to be smart after a while they avoided them entirely and sometimes the wind made the sticky paper stuck to the tomato leaves.
I used the vacuum cleaner method and it helps a lot but after 5 days or so they are at it again.
It is a constant battle.
I am thinking that it maybe cheaper to buy tomatoes at the store in the long run because of the labor involve.
Richard
02-10-2008, 01:43 PM
... I am thinking that it maybe cheaper to buy tomatoes at the store in the long run because of the labor involve.
The Green Light brand "Spinosaid" or "Fruit Tree Spray with Spinosaid" is certified by OMRI. It is very safe, effective, and affordable.
...
The last couple seasons a farmer at the Santa Monica Farmers Market has been selling a bright orange, roundish tomato he calls Caltrans. I can't find any info on them but they are really good!
I will guess that he is selling Kellogg's Breakfast, or a seedling thereof. Its a great tomato that everyone should try!
momoese
02-10-2008, 05:14 PM
I will guess that he is selling Kellogg's Breakfast, or a seedling thereof. Its a great tomato that everyone should try!
They have a more deep orange color than the Kellogs. They look like the vests that the Caltrans workers wear, sort of a florescent orange. I'll ask him this season. He also sells another little oval shaped cherry that's light yellow in color, almost cream colored and they have a satin sheen to the skin instead of the normal shine. The flavor is very sweet with no acidity. Those are my wife's favorites.
Richard
02-11-2008, 12:48 AM
Hey, speaking of orange tomatoes - has anyone else tried Persimmon? It might as well be called Pumpkin. I fed it a cup of 3-12-12 granular and it produced tomatoes the size of cantelopes!
momoese
02-11-2008, 10:14 AM
Hey, speaking of orange tomatoes - has anyone else tried Persimmon? It might as well be called Pumpkin. I fed it a cup of 3-12-12 granular and it produced tomatoes the size of cantelopes!
Haven't tried growing them but we buy them and they are very good! We use them in veggie burritos.
modenacart
02-11-2008, 10:28 AM
The tomatos we use to grow in central NC grew very well but now I live about 30 minutes from the beach and the dirt is not so good here. We have had a really hard time growing tomatos. We have are in the process of improving the soil with compost from our house and horse manure from the farmers, but we still have a ways to go. Does anyone know of a tomato that will grow well in poor soil?
Richard
02-11-2008, 01:02 PM
Does anyone know of a tomato that will grow well in poor soil?
I guarantee my soil is worse than yours. You have to feed them. Check out page 2 of this flyer: http://www.plantsthatproduce.com/guides/TomatoGuide.pdf
the flying dutchman
02-11-2008, 02:57 PM
Here in the netherlands they use more and more grafted tomatoes.
They are more resistent against soil-diseases, grow higher and produce
more.
Some stems are used for more cold hardy tomatoes and others to prevent
fusarium-3.
It's easy to do. Just cut the under-stem and put the plant you want to grow straight on the understem and fix it with tape or so..
I haven't tried it yet, but it's interesting though.
Ron
bencelest
02-11-2008, 03:08 PM
Ron:
I did a lot of grafting on trees specially citrus but I never heard of grafting tomatoes till now.
Do you have a picture/drawing that you can download here?
You got me interested and I want to do it. I have all the equipments.
So for one tomato plant I can have different tomatoes in one tree.
Joe Real has over 60 different cultivars grafted in one tree. Imagine that. I think it is listed in Book Of Guinness Record.
the flying dutchman
02-11-2008, 04:40 PM
Benny, it is just a straight horizontal cut.
Here is a link to a dutch company that produce them. Click on the foto link
at the bottem of the site.
FortaPlant - Tomatenplanten (http://www.fortaplant.nl/NL_tomaten.html)
They use kind of plastic clips/tubes to hold the 2 parts together.
You have to use a sterile knife etc. ofcourse.
Ron
turtile
02-11-2008, 04:52 PM
Hey, speaking of orange tomatoes - has anyone else tried Persimmon? It might as well be called Pumpkin. I fed it a cup of 3-12-12 granular and it produced tomatoes the size of cantelopes!
I've tried Persimmon but did not get tomatoes that big! Most of them were around 1lb. with the biggest 2lb. Did you pull the suckers (branches) off?
Some of the Brandywine varieties that I tried produced bigger tomatoes but they did not produce as much per plant. The Persimmon variety had loads of tomatoes while the Brandywine only had a few.
The tomatos we use to grow in central NC grew very well but now I live about 30 minutes from the beach and the dirt is not so good here. We have had a really hard time growing tomatos. We have are in the process of improving the soil with compost from our house and horse manure from the farmers, but we still have a ways to go. Does anyone know of a tomato that will grow well in poor soil?
Try adding Fafard Growing Mix #2 or Pro-mix BX. It comes in 3.8 cu.ft. bails. The peat and vermiculite help hold moisture and nutrients in the soil and the perlite helps with aeration. Magnesium is also important for tomatoes which can be washed away in sandy soil.
Some of the heat resistant varieties may do better but I've never tried them.
The most popular tomatoes around here seem to be Empire, Jet Star, Supersonic, Celebrity, Big Boy, Better Boy, Rutgers, Roma, Beefsteak Cherry tomatoes, and Grape tomatoes (not sure of the exact variety for Cherry/Grape)
Richard
02-11-2008, 05:36 PM
I've tried Persimmon but did not get tomatoes that big! Most of them were around 1lb. with the biggest 2lb. Did you pull the suckers (branches) off?
Nope, I let it develop into a 6' x 6' mounding mass of vines and fruit. I was expecting 12oz to 1lb fruit, so the size was shocking.
If I could only grow 1 plant in a pot it would be Cherokee Purple in a 40 gallon tub. For my tastes, I haven't found a better tomato. Once you start taking slices off of it, the remainder will keep in the refrigerator for at least a week.
turtile
02-11-2008, 10:43 PM
Nope, I let it develop into a 6' x 6' mounding mass of vines and fruit. I was expecting 12oz to 1lb fruit, so the size was shocking.
If I could only grow 1 plant in a pot it would be Cherokee Purple in a 40 gallon tub. For my tastes, I haven't found a better tomato. Once you start taking slices off of it, the remainder will keep in the refrigerator for at least a week.
How long do your tomato plants last before dying? I always have loads of unripe tomatoes that never ripen due to frost.
I tried Cherokee Purple but it didn't grow well here. They barely produced any fruit and the fruit was webbed, ribbed and cracked after rain (which let slugs and insects in).
NanaNut2
02-11-2008, 11:00 PM
We have a short growing season here as well. When I grew tomatoes, just before the first frost, I would cut the vines, tomatoes and all, and hang them upside down on a line inside to ripen. That doubled my harvest. But still had tons of green tomatoes for green tomatoe relish. Yum.
NanaNut2
Richard
02-11-2008, 11:46 PM
We have a short growing season here as well. When I grew tomatoes, just before the first frost, I would cut the vines, tomatoes and all, and hang them upside down on a line inside to ripen. That doubled my harvest. But still had tons of green tomatoes for green tomatoe relish. Yum.
NanaNut2
:woohoonaner:
Yes, everyone should take advantage of this approach. I learned it from my aunt.
In my experience, the first fruits on Cherokee Purple are always knarly. It takes 100 or so days to produce fruit, so you need seedlings in the ground the first week of April. The harvest will be poor if the plant is not fed properly. I think most consumer "tomato" food has too much Nitrogen. Use a bloom formula that is something like 3-12-12. Feed it regularly once the plant is established in the ground.
I can tell you that this approach works in Newton, NJ.
bencelest
02-12-2008, 02:10 AM
Ron: Thanks for the idea grafting tomatoes. Gogooled has many threads that I found. I will try that this summer.
Yojinbo
02-12-2008, 04:53 PM
I am growing "Orange Strawberry" this year.
Ahava
02-12-2008, 05:22 PM
For some reason I cannot beat the plain ol' Roma but being where I am I love making salsa's and sauces from mine. And I haven't found a tomato yet for flavor that makes better salsa than the Roma, but I have a lot of fun trying. For robust earthy tomato flavor, I love the brandywine tomatoes. This year other than the roma's I don't know what I want to do. I need to figure out what to do with these darn gophers first. :2723:
bencelest
02-12-2008, 05:42 PM
Amber. I'll ask you a favor I'll PM you soon.
Richard
02-12-2008, 06:13 PM
This year other than the roma's I don't know what I want to do. I need to figure out what to do with these darn gophers first. :2723:
Here are two outstanding Romas:
Striped Roman from Underwood Gardens-Heirloom seeds, open pollinated and rare seeds. (http://underwoodgardens.com/index1.php)
San Marzano Redorta from Grow Italian (http://www.growitalian.com/)
The strain of Striped Roman they have at Underwood Gardens is unique.
Gophers.
The most effective way is to hire an agricultural service to pump flamable gas down all the holes in the neighborhood and ignite it, then you and your neighbors put strychnine down any new holes (sorry).
The alternative is to build an 18 inch high raised bed about 3 feet wide and with 3 feet of length for every tomato or equivalent plant. Line the bottom and the sides with 1/2 inch metal chicken wire so that the mesh extends 2 feet out of the ground all the way around to become a fence.
Ahava
02-12-2008, 06:53 PM
Here are two outstanding Romas:
Striped Roman from Underwood Gardens-Heirloom seeds, open pollinated and rare seeds. (http://underwoodgardens.com/index1.php)
San Marzano Redorta from Grow Italian (http://www.growitalian.com/)
The strain of Striped Roman they have at Underwood Gardens is unique.
Gophers.
The most effective way is to hire an agricultural service to pump flamable gas down all the holes in the neighborhood and ignite it, then you and your neighbors put strychnine down any new holes (sorry).
The alternative is to build an 18 inch high raised bed about 3 feet wide and with 3 feet of length for every tomato or equivalent plant. Line the bottom and the sides with 1/2 inch metal chicken wire so that the mesh extends 2 feet out of the ground all the way around to become a fence.
Dont' be sorry, hell I wanted to get a BB gun and wait for them to pop their heads out and take their little heads off. >.> But I'm on five acres, and we have animals that do hunt and eat them. It's a bigger problem because the guy across the street has only horses and they seem to be breeding the varmints. I've thought about doing the raised bed. My time is running out to figure out what I'm going to do. I'm tempted just to do all my veggies in barrels, and make a meshing for when I plant my bananas in ground. Also thanks for the links, I will look into those romas they sound awesome. And lastly Bence I'll be looking for your msg.
Richard
02-12-2008, 08:18 PM
Interesting thing about the gas-flame treatment: gophers and snakes will not reuse holes with ash in them. Any animal that eats a fried gopher suffers no harm. The larger problem is the breeding ground across the street. For that you need to find a fruit farmer that is raising six-toed cats to keep the gophers and squirrels to a minimum in his orchards. No joke, six toes on the hind feet and 5 on the front.
sandy0225
02-14-2008, 05:46 PM
This is a subject I love!
I grow about a million different kinds of heirloom tomatoes each year, and sell plants. I sell seeds too. I plant too many in the garden, last year, I think 125 plants I planted last year,and I sell tomatoes at the farmers market all summer too.
I have a list of the ones I grew out last year and sold on my website. Northern Tropics: Home (http://www.northerntropics.com)
It's on the second page, you look up at the top of the page and click the second tab. It says solutions I think, but I couldn't change the tab name on the website, so I just have to live with it.
I haven't heard of Caltrans, but it's not uncommon for people to "change" the names of tomatoes they're selling at the farmers market. Another vender with me, he calls Pineapple tomatoes "big stripeys" instead and people buy them because they're different. It could be Golden Jubilee, an great old timey deep orange one.
Kellogg's Breakfast is wonderful, so is Persimmon. I'm trying a new one this year, Woodle Orange. I love white tomatoes too, especially White Wonder and White Queen. I especially like the "peach skinned" fuzzy ones though--I grow Furry Red Boar, Pink Peach, Garden Peach, Elberta Peach, and Angora.
Sincerely,
D_&_T
02-14-2008, 08:27 PM
road trip !!! tomatoes and bananas
and met to 2 members!
harveyc
02-15-2008, 02:26 AM
<snip> I haven't heard of Caltrans, but it's not uncommon for people to "change" the names of tomatoes they're selling at the farmers market.
LOL, Sandy, think of the California Department of Transportation folks that where orange vests so they don't get run over by cars when their resting on their shovels!!! ;) (In case there are any CalTrans workers reading this, I'm just joking.)
NANAMAN
02-17-2008, 12:27 PM
I have a book by Charles Wilbur titled: How to grow world record tomatoes
The pictures alone are worth the $15.00 asking price of the book. It's a pretty good resource for verticle growth of tomatoes
NANAMAN
03-21-2008, 11:44 PM
I tasted this years Odoriko's on a bacon and tomato sandwich. I was looking at the sliced tomato on the counter, and thought I'd post a pic. They sure are great !!!
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=8832&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8832)
sunfish
03-27-2010, 07:27 AM
Tomatoes I'm growing this year.
San Mazano
Paul Robinson
Black from Tula Beefsteak
Hungarian Pink
Red Current
Marvel Stripe
Sweet Million
Green Giant
Black Cherry
Purple Calabash
Huge Black
Earls Faux
Purple Hillbilly
German Green
Heirloom Mix
Prudens Purple
Cherokee Purple
Red and Pink Brandywine and a few others
Jack Daw
03-27-2010, 11:34 AM
Tomatoes I'm growing this year.
San Mazano
Paul Robinson
Black from Tula Beefsteak
Hungarian Pink
Red Current
Marvel Stripe
Sweet Million
Green Giant
Black Cherry
Purple Calabash
Huge Black
Earls Faux
Purple Hillbilly
German Green
Heirloom Mix
Prudens Purple
Cherokee Purple
Red and Pink Brandywine and a few others
That's a lot of tomatoes. I too intend to plant 10+ varieties, all sizes, all colors and all shapes that have been grown in Panonia for centuries. Good luck to yours, sunfish!
:bananas_b
sunfish
03-27-2010, 12:16 PM
That's a lot of tomatoes. I too intend to plant 10+ varieties, all sizes, all colors and all shapes that have been grown in Panonia for centuries. Good luck to yours, sunfish!
:bananas_b
Thanks same to you.
On top of all the ones listed and some I missed ,I bought a mixed pack of 500 seed with 100 different heirloom varieties . Now to fined a place to plant them.
Dalmatiansoap
03-27-2010, 12:26 PM
I belive that all Croatian open market doesnt have 100 different tomato varieties:ha::ha::ha:
sunfish
03-27-2010, 12:31 PM
I belive that all Croatian open market doesnt have 100 different tomato varieties:ha::ha::ha:
There are many (around 7500) tomato varieties grown for various purposes.
Dalmatiansoap
03-27-2010, 12:37 PM
I just cant imagine (no meter how hard I try) 7500 differences in single tomato ;)
Jack Daw
03-27-2010, 12:51 PM
I just cant imagine (no meter how hard I try) 7500 differences in single tomato ;)
Yet they are soooo different. Texture, flavor (acidic, sweeter...), color, shapes, amount of seeds, flesh... and believe me or not, there are tomatoes you wouldn't like with half the meals you are having them now with and there are those you would eat everyday like apples and oranges.
Tomatoes can also highly contribute to your vitamin portfolio and can be as refreshing during a hot day as any cold liquid (without having to suffer from sour throat).
Besides, they look well, grow pretty fast and have been one of the most cultivated and eaten vegetables (?) for centuries. After they were brought to France, they quickly spread to the rest of the Europe and have been the dominant summer food for half the Europe...
It's like Olives Ante, there's a whole science around it. ;) :ha:
:bananas_b:nanadrink:
Thanks same to you.
On top of all the ones listed and some I missed ,I bought a mixed pack of 500 seed with 100 different heirloom varieties . Now to fined a place to plant them.
I just regret not being able to say what varieties I have. Some of them have been crossed so many times, that they are simply called Panonia 1... Panonia SR-7 or many others, which doesn't say much about their flavor or texture. So it's just many different nameless varieties. I especially like the orange, pear-shaped, sherry-sized tomatoes. They go with everything and to everything. Except ketchup of course. They add a strange color to each ketchup and it looks like some sort of very unpleasant and disgusting mixture of mustard and kari.
Abnshrek
03-27-2010, 04:49 PM
I just cant imagine (no matter how hard I try) 7500 differences in single tomato ;)
Well you see Ante its 7500 differences in 7500 types of tomato's. Some may seem simular to other's, but they just are not the same. :^)
saltydad
03-27-2010, 06:37 PM
I wish I had the room for a fraction of those varieties. I have a Patio in an urn, and Super Sweet 100's. I used to grow Supersonic, Big and Better Boy, Early Girl, etc. Now I'm contemplating what type of grape tomato to squeeze in. The upside down planter idea is sounding better and better.
Abnshrek
03-27-2010, 07:29 PM
The upside down planter idea is sounding better and better.
I have 2 of those off the back deck. I'm going to end up going to the 5gallon buckets since they support more weight.
Dalmatiansoap
03-28-2010, 02:34 AM
:pics:
I have 2 of those off the back deck. I'm going to end up going to the 5gallon buckets since they support more weight.
:woohoonaner:
sunfish
03-28-2010, 07:19 AM
How to Make an Upside Down Tomato Planter - wikiHow (http://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Upside-Down-Tomato-Planter)
Dalmatiansoap
03-28-2010, 09:15 AM
Is a 5 gallon size minimum or optimum pot size for a single tomato in upside/down growth? Can they be smaller?
sunfish
03-28-2010, 10:13 AM
Is a 5 gallon size minimum or optimum pot size for a single tomato in upside/down growth? Can they be smaller?
Depends on how large a tomato plant you grow.
sunfish
03-28-2010, 10:57 AM
Growing Tomatoes in Containers - Container Gardening (http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art19000.asp)
Abnshrek
03-28-2010, 11:53 AM
Is a 5 gallon size minimum or optimum pot size for a single tomato in upside/down growth? Can they be smaller?
I bet if you could find a real sturdy 1.5 gallon that's all you'd need since the root ball isn't tht large from the tomato's I've grown. You'd definately have to water it daily here..maybe twice a day since its so hot in the summer. :^) I was thinking about growing potato's upsidedown then all my taters are in the bucket just sift them out :^) That's what the 5 gallon was for.. Wah lah
turtile
03-28-2010, 01:57 PM
Is a 5 gallon size minimum or optimum pot size for a single tomato in upside/down growth? Can they be smaller?
Only the width is significant. Plant roots don't grow upwards.
Scuba_Dave
03-28-2010, 03:20 PM
I usually have 100+ plants grown from seed
On a good year they grown over 8' tall down by the stream
On a bad year maybe only 6'
Bad crops the past 2 years.....heavy rains...blight....hoping
I'm hoping for a better harvest this year
sunfish
06-07-2010, 07:33 PM
Jelly Bean
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=32597&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=32597&ppuser=2868)
Scuba_Dave
06-07-2010, 08:45 PM
Mine aren't even flowering yet....but I have ~173 plants :lurk:
PennyG
06-08-2010, 05:51 AM
173.....holy cow, thats impressive Scuba Dave.:woohoonaner:
That jelly bean tomato is neat........do you save seeds Sunfish
Jananas Bananas
06-08-2010, 11:04 AM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=32602&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=32602)
Those Yellow Pear heirloom tomatoes are very, very good though smaller than I thought they would be. Not impressed with the black ones. I know they don't look black to me either (JD's C Tex Special Early Black).
~JaNan
saltydad
06-08-2010, 01:34 PM
I actually ran out of room for my tomato/veggie garden this year. I'm growing 2 varieties with the upside down hanging method- Brandywine and Mortgage Lifter. In the past I always had a least 1 plant of Super Sweet 100's; they're delicious and very abundant.
sunfish
06-08-2010, 02:45 PM
First year growing super sweet 100's. Haven't harvested any but the plants loaded with fruit
PennyG
06-09-2010, 05:34 AM
Cool...good luck with them:waving:
I have been picking tomatoes since the end of May--mostly black plum so far as well as some sweet 100s--better boy is not yet ready, niether are hillbilly and belgian giant.
sunfish
06-12-2010, 09:58 AM
Speckled Roma
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=32716&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=32716&ppuser=2868)
Abnshrek
06-12-2010, 10:34 AM
I had 2 tomato (homegrown) sandwiches for lunch yesterday :^)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=32718&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=32718)
I have been having BLTCs all week--love those homegrown tomatoes and fresh cucumbers!
bananarama2
06-13-2010, 01:03 AM
This is intended for Scuba Dave....very impressed with the number of tomatoes you grow. I was just hoping you are aware of the problems of blight remaining in the soil (so don't plant in the same area as previous year), and that most times blight is transferred to plants by rain splashing up from the soil onto plants. Around here, many people plant tomatoes under some sort of plastic structure, both to hasten ripening by trapping heat, and to reduce the chance of blight splash. Regardless, hope this is the year that breaks your bad luck streak with the "maters".:08:
sunfish
06-19-2010, 08:30 AM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=32990&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=32990&ppuser=2868)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=32988&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=32988&ppuser=2868)
bananarama2
06-19-2010, 04:29 PM
You folks in the southern States have to lighten up and cut us "Northerners" some slack. Love all the stories and pictures, but it's a very short road from Impressed to Frustrated, with only a short stop-over in Envy! Brag if you will, but be gentle with the more climatically challenged. Thanks for the sharing,....have a great weekend all!:bananas_b
Scuba_Dave
06-19-2010, 06:25 PM
My Tomatoes have just started flowering
None growing yet as far as I can tell
But I haven't checked all 170+ plants :ha:
I moved about 2 dozen -too close together...not sure where some of them ended up
bananarama2
06-19-2010, 10:45 PM
Here on "The Island", we generally grow tomatoes under structure, both for the blight problem and to ripen fruit faster by intensifying the heat a bit, since we tend to have mild but not hot temperatures, and slightly cooler night temperatures. I built a small 8X12 hothouse/greenhouse, just for that purpose, and grow my tomatoes in large nursery pots. So far, I've had good success, with tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers all doing well in this little artificial environment. On top of which, I have zero problems with the rampant deer population devouring everything in sight! The cost of deer fencing is so prohibitive, even though I'd prefer to plant a mini-orchard of tomatoes outside myself. Sometimes it's difficult to keep some sort of balance between the passion to grow and the limitations of space and maintenance. As long as you are having fun, go for the gusto!:2181:
bananarama2
06-19-2010, 10:47 PM
Just thought I'd mention, lots of flowers, and one or two fruits developing. Tomatillo's seem happy and producing fruits as well. Can't wait to taste the results!
bananarama2
06-19-2010, 10:54 PM
This is going to be a challenge, since we don't all have the same growing conditions, based mostly on geography. But it occurred to me that there is a lot of "passion to grow things" happening on this site. So, if you all can control your own self-indulgences, what would be, say your top five, "gotta have'em's" in your yard, garden, home, etc.? Remember....we can't all grow or appreciate some of the more zone specific possibilities! :02:
Bananas being #1 of course!
sunfish
06-19-2010, 11:09 PM
Tomatoes
r3tic
06-19-2010, 11:34 PM
My plants are just starting to put out flowers. I planted a decent size garden this year, the first time in about 10 years. I have the following varieties...
Black Prince
Black Krim
Green Zebra
White Wonder
Jersey Giant
Snowberry
Juanne Flamme
Pink Caspian
Big Rainbow
This year I traded seeds to get as many heirloom varieties as I had room for. I have 1 plant each and I plan on limiting myself to the 3 varieties I like best next year plus trying 1-2 more new ones.
sunfish
06-24-2010, 11:44 AM
Volunteer in potted banana.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33171&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33171&ppuser=2868)
Abnshrek
06-24-2010, 02:42 PM
Fresh out of the garden. :^)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33183&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33183)
PennyG
06-25-2010, 06:06 AM
Yummy looking tomatoes, lots of little ones here, but none i can take off the vines yet.
sandy0225
06-25-2010, 06:27 AM
I picked a 10 lb box yesterday for farmers market. We cheat though and start large gallon size potted plants in the greenhouse and then move out 25 of them to the garden in May. So they already have some good tomatoes on them when we put them out. Then we plant the other tomatoes around the end of may when things settle down around here a little bit. So we have about 500 out right now. Mountain gold, mountain spring, pik rite and pineapple in the market garden, and heirlooms in my personal garden. Mostly rare ones, ones I'm trying for the first time, and ones I need seeds of. This year we've got all the new Brad Gates Wild boar farms ones like pink boar, michael pollan, black and brown striped boar, sweet carneros pink, and also some osu blue, Kumato f1, tomatoberry from park's, razzleberry, frankenstein black,and a new (to me) heirloom that's supposed to be yellow on the outside and red on the inside. Indian stripe, rose quartz multiflora, and millefleur yellow multiflora cherry. And then my old faves that I have to put out each year, Aunt ruby's german green, black krim, black cherry, snow white cherry, brown berry, chocolate cherry, ildi yellow grape, isis cherry.
We've been picking tomatoes in some form since March around here!
hammer
06-25-2010, 11:32 AM
Went to my garden this morning picked my first tomatoes I cant let them ripen on the vine because neighbors will steal them.
LilRaverBoi
07-01-2010, 04:59 PM
Nothing fancy, but I thought I'd share. I have some cherry tomatoes growing in a pot on the balcony outside my room. There are a ridiculous number of small green tomatoes and blooms on it right now and I just saw there are two starting to ripen! My first tomatoes of the season. And the growth this year has been phenomenal!
Here's what they looked like when I planted them May 14th.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=31589&size=1
Here's what they looked like a month ago.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=32432&size=1
And here's today....plant in the pot is over 6' tall and still growing fast. Well beyond the tomato cage....not sure how I'm gonna keep it contained!
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33556&size=1
Not too shabby for 1.5 months of growth!
Scuba_Dave
07-01-2010, 05:06 PM
Looks good
Yeah...tomato cages are usually not big enough
Sometimes they will work for cocktail tomatoes
Usually they will grow up over the cage & then back down
I'm still waiting on the 1st tomato from my garden
The biggest one is a little bigger then a golf ball
My plants are just getting taller then the cages - about 5' or so
I built an overhead support w/pipes at about 6' 6" to 7' tall
My tomatoes will actually grow up to this support & then keep growing
My tomatoes are done--all gone except for a few still on the kitchen counter. Plants still look good but we won't get any more to set until after Sept. I do have a cherry tomato that will provide a few for salads the rest ot the summer.
PennyG
07-02-2010, 05:11 AM
Wow everyone.....everything looks great.
sunfish
07-07-2010, 09:07 PM
ROMA SPECKLED
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33821&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33821&ppuser=2868)
saltydad
07-09-2010, 04:34 PM
My first ripening tomato. It's a Mortgage Lifter.
http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx151/saltydad/Garden/DSC02964.jpg?t=1278711245
The Hollyberry Lady
07-09-2010, 09:03 PM
That's a good one, Howard. I've got seeds for it, among many other heirloom varieties.
Here's my Tamarillo seedling from Beth...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI2999.jpg
Here's a close up...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI2997.jpg
It's already in my garden, as of late this afternoon, among other tomato plants I put out awhile ago. To me summer and gardening just aren't the same unless I grow a few tomatoes - and sneak them inside before my neighbors get up! :ha:
: )
Scuba_Dave
07-09-2010, 09:35 PM
Still waiting on my 1st tomato
Plenty growing, none ripe yet
Picked 1/2 dozen cukes & summer squash- I don't eat it - wife & MIL do
Also waiting on the 1st peppers...those are growing too
I soaked the garden today, its been dry...thunderstorms expected tomorrow
sunfish
07-10-2010, 11:23 AM
Brandywine
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33935&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33935&ppuser=2868)
saltydad
07-10-2010, 04:30 PM
Thanks for the pic of your Brandywine, Sunfish. I have one in an upside down planter. It's got around 10 fruit on it so far, all green. Can't wait to start tasting these guys.
Abnshrek
07-10-2010, 04:40 PM
Hey Howard does the mortgage lifter look pinkish or is it just the picture? :^) I think my neighbor is growing them as well.
saltydad
07-10-2010, 04:47 PM
Hey Migael- It indeed is somewhat pink at this point. It probably will red up some more, but this is my first try with this variety. It is still very firm so it has a bit more time on the vine before Mom and I have our fresh tomato sandwich!
Abnshrek
07-10-2010, 05:22 PM
Hey Migael- It indeed is somewhat pink at this point. It probably will red up some more, but this is my first try with this variety. It is still very firm so it has a bit more time on the vine before Mom and I have our fresh tomato sandwich!
I have one on the counter that was picked 3days ago and it gets color quite well. :^)
sunfish
07-11-2010, 09:03 AM
Burpee Heirloom
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33987&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33987&ppuser=2868)
Brandywines
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33986&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33986&ppuser=2868)
saltydad
07-11-2010, 02:46 PM
I went out this morning to water the hanging baskets on the front porch. As I'm watering the upside down tomato planter, I realize it looks different 9 of the 10 tomatoes are gone! Neatly picked off; no sign of damage to the plant's leaves. Thief? Deer? I lean to deer; who would want to steal 8 green small tomatoes? Needless to say, I'm really steamed. I moved it to a hook in the back by the patio, but it doesn't get very much sun there, so I'm pissed.
The Hollyberry Lady
07-11-2010, 06:39 PM
Wow - sorry to hear about that Howard. I sure hope you figure out who the culprit was and I hope even more that no more of your fruits go missing.
: (
sunfish
07-11-2010, 09:28 PM
Giant Green. Only one fruit on this plant
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34025&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34025&ppuser=2868)
PennyG
07-12-2010, 06:24 AM
Looks good Tony, hopefully though, there will be more than one :bananas_b
Jack Daw
07-12-2010, 06:29 AM
Tony, how do you manage the tomatoe part of the garden, so that the tomatoes remain 'pure-blooded'? I have many species, but they always cross-pollinate and I have to keep several plants away from the minigarden in order to control the pollination.
sunfish
07-12-2010, 07:46 AM
Tony, how do you manage the tomatoe part of the garden, so that the tomatoes remain 'pure-blooded'? I have many species, but they always cross-pollinate and I have to keep several plants away from the minigarden in order to control the pollination.
i don't
Dalmatiansoap
07-12-2010, 07:53 AM
So looks like we ll have "Giant Sunfish" F1, winning tomato hybride of 2011:ha:
:nanadrink:
Good done Tony
:woohoonaner:
sunfish
07-12-2010, 08:11 AM
I never saved seed before,this year I will. The volunteer tomatoes are the best looking ones in my garden.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34031&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34031&ppuser=2868)
sunfish
07-14-2010, 01:51 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34135&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34135&ppuser=2868)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34134&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34134&ppuser=2868)
saltydad
07-14-2010, 05:00 PM
I picked the Mortgage Lifter pictured earlier. Sliced it open; was it beautiful! And the taste....fantastic!
Abnshrek
07-14-2010, 08:47 PM
I picked the Mortgage Lifter pictured earlier. Sliced it open; was it beautiful! And the taste....fantastic!
I had mine yesterday for lunch it was pretty Delicious. :^)
The Hollyberry Lady
07-15-2010, 01:22 PM
No doubt they were good, you guys. I love heirloom tomatoes for their rich and full tomato taste. The flavor is incredible. I can't wait to harvest some heirloom "Red Currant" cherry tomatoes this season.
Here were some from last year that I grew in a hanging basket. Brought the basket inside in late October to protect it from frost and allow a late crop of cherries to ripen into November, in my very sunny living room. They were delicious. Here they were...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI1428.jpg
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/364.jpg
Here was the plant when it was outside in late Spring last year, just getting started...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI1128.jpg
Here's a pic taken after harvesting some of the fruits that ripened in my apartment, for a salad....
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI1447.jpg
They were absolutely delicious!
: )
sunfish
07-18-2010, 07:43 PM
Speckled Roma
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34446&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34446&ppuser=2868)
saltydad
07-18-2010, 08:09 PM
You other Mortgage Lifter growers- my plant only has a few tomatoes on it. One that is getting ready to be picked (the second from this plant) and one other. Is this unusual? Temps have been very hot during the day, and never below 55 F at night. They are watered almost daily. Remember they are in upside down planters. The Brandywine has no trouble setting; only with people or deer that steal them.
Abnshrek
07-18-2010, 08:23 PM
I don't have mortgage lifters in upside-down planters but the one's I do if they were in the ground would have a lot more production of larger tomatoes from my experience. :^)
sunfish
07-18-2010, 08:34 PM
Tomato yield or lack thereof - Oklahoma Gardening Forum - GardenWeb (http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/okgard/msg0601003811222.html)
sunfish
07-18-2010, 09:29 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34455&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34455&ppuser=2868)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34458&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34458&ppuser=2868)
sunfish
07-20-2010, 08:56 AM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34510&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34510&ppuser=2868)
sunfish
07-21-2010, 06:58 PM
Three in one
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34570&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34570&ppuser=2868)
Scuba_Dave
07-21-2010, 09:43 PM
Just picked a 2x summer squash - they grew together
saltydad
07-21-2010, 11:35 PM
Tony- that article was a big help. Sounds like the Mortgage Lifter is not the most prolific with tomato set. A shame, as it is delicious.
sunfish
07-22-2010, 03:19 PM
Giant Green only one on this plant
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34634&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34634&ppuser=2868)
sunfish
07-24-2010, 12:04 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=34701&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34701&ppuser=2868)
Scuba_Dave
07-24-2010, 01:48 PM
Maybe I should cut some tomatoes off the vine & let them ripen in the window
.......still waiting for a red one
soundofthemusic1
07-24-2010, 06:38 PM
Maybe I should cut some tomatoes off the vine & let them ripen in the window
.......still waiting for a red one
That's what I should have done with my first tomato before some pests (I don't know what) got it. Can any one on this forum tell me whether there is way to help tomatoes ripen on the vine? :)
sunfish
07-24-2010, 06:50 PM
That's what I should have done with my first tomato before some pests (I don't know what) got it. Can any one on this forum tell me whether there is way to help tomatoes ripen on the vine? :)
How To Ripen Tomatoes: Tips & Tricks : TipNut.com (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CBUQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftipnut.com%2Fripen-tomatoes%2F&ei=I3xLTJ6sDo36swPUuqhI&usg=AFQjCNHHFTlmvgc5LiHVokogUmkX5hbbGQ)
Ripening that huge crop of green garden tomatoes (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.colostate.edu%2FDept%2FCoopExt%2F4dmg%2FVeg Fruit%2Fripening.htm&ei=I3xLTJ6sDo36swPUuqhI&usg=AFQjCNHNEhyz--d1Ayn4tr2wK7bUm97wpA)
Scuba_Dave
07-24-2010, 07:20 PM
Its been a hotter summer then normal
So maybe that has been 1 cause
But appears that others in MA harvest their 1st at the end of July
So I guess I wait
Cooler September temperatures help fruit to ripen because the red tomato pigments, lycopene and carotene, are not produced above 85 degrees F nor lycopene below 50 degrees F
soundofthemusic1
07-25-2010, 11:21 PM
■Reducing water slightly can help speed up the ripening process.
Thanks, Tony. This tip from How To Ripen Tomatoes: Tips & Tricks : TipNut.com (http://tipnut.com/ripen-tomatoes/) does confirm what I observed. So long as I water the tomato plant daily, my first tomato just gets bigger and never turns red. I'll try watering less when my next tomatoe gets big enough.
sunfish
08-01-2010, 08:24 AM
Sweet 100
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=35096&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=35096&ppuser=2868)
Scuba_Dave
08-01-2010, 11:33 AM
I've also cut back on watering lately
I dig down about 3-6" & see if the soil is moist
If it is I don't need to water
The Hollyberry Lady
08-10-2010, 12:32 PM
Mmmmm, those look good, Tony!
Although I have several larger "Patio" tomato plants in my gardens, here is a small one I brought inside yesterday to grow indoors. This type is especially successful indoors and will even produce in the Wintertime as well. Here's my seedling...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3270.jpg
I'll show it, and the some others in the garden later when they have fruits...
: )
sunfish
08-12-2010, 09:52 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=35682&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=35682&ppuser=2868)
PennyG
08-13-2010, 06:18 AM
Those look pretty yummy, Tony.
soundofthemusic1
08-13-2010, 09:06 AM
Those look pretty yummy, Tony.
I second Penny's opinion. I picked my green tomatoes and left them in a paper grocery bag. Still, they don't turn red, or very slowly. When the garden center manager at Home Depot told me in May that it wasn't rewarding growing vegetables in Georgia, I should have listened to him.
sunfish
08-15-2010, 09:00 AM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=35742&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=35742&ppuser=2868)
soundofthemusic1
08-15-2010, 10:55 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=35742&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=35742&ppuser=2868)
Tony,
Do you fertilize your tomatoe plants? If so, what fertilizer and how often?
Rae
sunfish
08-15-2010, 11:05 PM
Tony,
Do you fertilize your tomatoe plants? If so, what fertilizer and how often?
Rae
I water twice a week with water soluble 15-10-30
soundofthemusic1
08-16-2010, 04:54 AM
I water twice a week with water soluble 15-10-30
Thanks, Tony.
I thought most fertilizers were to be applied every two weeks. Do you mix LESS water soluble with water? Sorry that my question is so basic.
It is verying interesting to find that Walter Reeves, the Georgia Gardener on PBS TV station, recommends fertilizing tomato as follows:
Q: I have a problem with my three tomatoes growing in one of those plastic Earthboxes. The plants grew to seven feet tall in three weeks but have only had five tomatoes between them. What do I do to get more fruit?
A: Stop fertilizing. A tomato will put all of its energy into vine growth and none into fruit production when it is overfed. I recommend fertilizing tomatoes once at planting, once when it has doubled in size and once again when a few fruit appear on the plant. If you have a big crop, fertilize again when you notice less vigorous growth in August.
sunfish
08-16-2010, 06:56 AM
Yes I just use a weaker solution .
soundofthemusic1
08-16-2010, 11:42 AM
Yes I just use a weaker solution .
Thank you very much, Tony.
Happy growing to everyone!!!
Rae
The Hollyberry Lady
08-16-2010, 09:11 PM
I also find that by pruning the new shoots and branches, it helps the plant to focus on it's tomatoes already present on the vines and through my experience helps them to ripen quicker.
In fact, once I've got a good crop, I do not allow the plants to grow anymore and keep them pruned.
: )
soundofthemusic1
08-17-2010, 08:44 AM
I also find that by pruning the new shoots and branches, it helps the plant to focus on it's tomatoes already present on the vines and through my experience helps them to ripen quicker.
In fact, once I've got a good crop, I do not allow the plants to grow anymore and keep them pruned.
: )
Thanks, Sherry, for the additional tip.
I didn't fertilize my tomato plants, except once, because I was told that's all they need by a the person who heard the gardening tip by Walter Reeves on the radio in May.
What you said about pruning also make sense to me. I have to keep that in mind. Hope to see you post some nice tomatoe plant's pictures soon.
Stay cool!!!
Rae from Georgia
:nanadrink:
The Hollyberry Lady
08-17-2010, 10:31 AM
You're welcome, Rae!
With tomatoes, there are no absolutes. In fact I find it often depends on the type and that not every variety likes to be treated the exact same.
A good example are my "Table" tomatoes, that get around a foot tall and produce tasty little cherries. The plant likes shade best and despises fertilizer of any kind.
No worries, I'll show some shots of fruits soon. Mine will be late season tomatoes this year. I grow them indoors in Winter too, so you'll see lots from me then too...
: )
sandy0225
08-17-2010, 05:59 PM
My market tomato garden is going crazy! I have 300 plants out there, pik rite and mountain pride.
Last week I picked 18--10#lb boxes of slicing tomatoes, med and smalls mostly, plus 3 bushels of canners (tomatoes not pretty enough to be slicers, or too small)
This week I picked 24--10#lb boxes of slicers, and 3 1/2 bushels of canners.
Hope everyone at the farmers market is hungry for tomatoes!
sunfish
08-18-2010, 06:24 PM
Volunteer Brandywine's
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=35789&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=35789&ppuser=2868)
PennyG
08-19-2010, 05:50 AM
Yummy!:woohoonaner:
The Hollyberry Lady
08-22-2010, 04:12 PM
Tamarillo is getting huge in my garden...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3356.jpg
Has anyone ever tried Tamarillo fruits before? Are they really like tomatoes? I'm sure looking forward to seeing some soon...
Penny, did you end up growing some?
: )
saltydad
08-22-2010, 04:23 PM
My end-of-August summary of growing 2 varieties (Brandywine and Mortgage Lifter) of tomato in the Topsy Turvy planter- very disappointed to date. While leaf growth is OK, all tomatoes are small in size. I can't blame the planter for substandard fruit set, but my experience with in-ground growth is quite different. If there is no room, and therefore no alternative, I'd do it again. But I plan on digging a new vegetable bed (somewhere?) for next season.
sunfish
08-22-2010, 04:31 PM
My end-of-August summary of growing 2 varieties (Brandywine and Mortgage Lifter) of tomato in the Topsy Turvy planter- very disappointed to date. While leaf growth is OK, all tomatoes are small in size. I can't blame the planter for substandard fruit set, but my experience with in-ground growth is quite different. If there is no room, and therefore no alternative, I'd do it again. But I plan on digging a new vegetable bed (somewhere?) for next season.
I see a lot of Topsy Turvy planters on freecycle and free stuff on Craigslist'.Looks like most people aren't having great success with them.
soundofthemusic1
08-23-2010, 02:48 PM
Because of the deer problem, this summer I try growing tomatoes and squash upside-down after watching some youtube videos, not with the Topsy Turvy planter, though. My own experience tells me that it is better to grow vegatables in the ground. At least, I am able to harvest some tomatoes and squash from the in-ground plants.
The Hollyberry Lady
09-03-2010, 11:51 AM
Yippeeeeeee...I've got blossoms on my indoor "Patio" tomato plant!!! :rolleyes:
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3491.jpg
You guys will be amazed at how wonderfully this type produces, for those looking for an excellent indoor tomato that will set fruit even in the middle of Winter!
This plant will be my winter tomato plant but it'll put on a Fall crop first...
: )
P.S. Yup, that's part of one of my gardens out the window & across the way...
The Hollyberry Lady
09-04-2010, 02:17 PM
Getting excited because I'm told once I taste Tamarillo fruits, I'll never go back to tomatoes again!!!
: o
That's quite a claim, so I'm very much looking forward to trying them and I'm told flowers will appear on my plant very soon...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3508.jpg
Might bring these ground grown "Patio" tomato plants inside over Fall to harvest over Winter continuously from my windows...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3510.jpg
: )
soundofthemusic1
09-05-2010, 03:05 PM
Sherry, I love how gorgeous your tomato and Tamarillo plants look.
I'm getting a few more green tomaoes, but there are no signs of a ripening tomato anytime soon...
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=36319&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=36319&ppuser=5961)
However, not to my surprise, cherry tomatoes ripen much quicker on the vine.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=36318&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=36318&ppuser=5961)
The orange ones are the the cherry tomatoes I harvested in August; they were green and slowly ripened in a paper bag. The red ones were harvested yesterday with less watering and a light fertilization - Tony's suggestion worked.
Before I finish my posting - a very slow writer I am, Sherry had already instructed me on how to help my tomatoes to ripen. I wish to share her comment with you all as some of us find her ways of growing plants to be truly amazing...
"Make sure they're getting good sun exposure and if lots of fruits are already present and you have a good crop, I find cutting the tops of new shoots and discontinuing the plant from growing any further, can help it to concentrate and focus on it's existing fruit and ripen a little quicker."
Thank you, Sherry. :)
The Hollyberry Lady
09-05-2010, 10:56 PM
Wow Rae...your tomatoes sure look yummy! ;)
Thank so much for your kind compliments. The truth is I was a little late starting my tomato plants this year bacause I've been so involved with banana plants, flowers, and Hollyberry shrubs. :ha:
I have the means to support tomatoes inside though, even in the colder months, so I'm not too worried.
I sure hope you can get yours to ripen really soon...
: )
sunfish
09-24-2010, 06:52 PM
Still blooming
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=36954&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=36954&ppuser=2868)
Patty in Wisc
09-24-2010, 09:03 PM
I haven't read here till now but just want to share my tomato story. I bought small plants last yr for the garden & WHEN IT GOT COLD, THE OVER RIPE ONES fell & rotted (oops) - my new laptop is hard to get used to...it just posted but I didn't click von it!
Anyway, I had tomato plants growing all over the garden from seed...most I pulled out like weeds. The bigger ones are not ripe yet but been picking ripe cherry & a smaller orange variety. I never even planted them LOL. Surprised the seeds survived winter!
The Hollyberry Lady
09-25-2010, 07:16 PM
The first of my indoor "Patio" fruits...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3669.jpg
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3667.jpg
This same plant will produce tomatoes all Fall & Winter long...
: )
soundofthemusic1
09-25-2010, 09:27 PM
Sherry,
That is really one great-looking tomatoe plant. It is amazing how nice and round your tomatoes are. Great job!!! ;)
Rae
bananarama2
09-26-2010, 02:07 PM
In my experience, volunteers of any plant tend to be the biggest, most vigorous producers. It's part of the whole natural selection process I think. The fact that the seed has survived a Wisconsin winter is impressive, considering tomatoes evolved as semi-tropical perennials. Whenever possible, these volunteers get special attention in my garden, just to see how they perform over the summer. :08:
bananarama2
09-26-2010, 02:13 PM
Having a bright, sunny window is always key to wintering over plants such as Patio tomatoes. I've successfully grown many types of cherry tomatoes, and even some Roma types as well as a few types of peppers in southern Alberta, where it can be -25C. It's always neat to put out a couple tomatoes and a pepper or two at Christmas, homegrown, when it's snowy and freezing outside! Horticultural adventures abound! You've got me enthused about trying some again this winter Sherry!
Blake09
09-26-2010, 06:55 PM
HBL, update on the Tamarillo plant?
The Hollyberry Lady
09-26-2010, 07:29 PM
Thanks, Rae! :)
So glad you are inspired, Rik! :rolleyes:
A couple Winters ago, my south windows were filled with ripening red fruits in the middle of January/February!!! Tenants were asking me if they were fake! I decided to do it again this Winter. It really is impressive to people who think tomatoes will only grow outdoors in Summer...seeing them red and beautiful in a Winter window.
Blake, I'll show a better shot in a few days but you can see the Tamarillo in this pic I took a couple days ago, just to the right of my pink daisy mums...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3655.jpg
It doesn't have any fruits on it yet, nor even blossoms, but Beth tells me that that it can be uprooted before frost and brought inside to produce over the Winter. It's growing beautifully for me.
Amazingly, she says that uprooting it even when fruits are present will not make them drop...which I was concerned about.
It's a very big plant though so I may bring it in long enough to harvest a fruit or two and then put it to bed...haven't decided just yet...
Apparently the root system will be shallow but wide.
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
09-28-2010, 01:41 PM
Rik said it was ok to post the pm he sent me the other night, because I thought it contained some very interesting information that I didn't know...
Quote:
Originally Posted by bananarama2
In Reply to your Post Re: Tomatoes:
Hi Sherry, Rik here.......I didn't want to throw this out before the membership just now, before I could clarify what it is you are anticipating from the tomatillo plant you have. It's a wonderfully healthy looking plant, but what I saw on Wikipedia suggested that it fruits in it's second year, originally from New Zealand and the south Pacific, so you'll have to bring it in to survive the winter in Ontario I'm thinking. Fruit eaten much like a kiwi fruit (skin is tougher and bitter), tastes like a cross between a passion fruit and a sweet cherry tomato. I'm presently growing some tomatillo's, also known as husk tomatoes, often used in salsas and Mexican cooking. They're very productive, taste like a mild tomato and what I can only describe as a mild citrus taste. At first I thought we were talking about the same thing until I saw the picture you posted. So, one's a tropical shrub, the other a semi-tropical perennial (although I doubt it will survive overwinter here). One other thing, the bees absolutely love the tomatillo flowers, and I'm a big advocate of supporting bee populations. Love your input to the site lady, a nice, fresh and lively woman's energy sort of thing. Thanks a bunch! Rik
I can't wait to see pics of yours too Rik, that you were mentioning today. So Tamarillo and Tamatillo are two different plants?
Thanks for the great information in your pms. I knew there was a reason why my plant wasn't flowering and producing yet. I will definitley take it inside before frost and will show another shot soon...
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
09-29-2010, 01:09 PM
Ok Bananarama2 and others:
Here's some shots I took this afternoon of my thriving Tamarillo plant that I am told will not produce fruits until the second season...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3685.jpg
It really is an attractive sort of plant and I hope Rik posts more information like he's been sending me in pm's because it's extremely interesting. I also saw your shots today of your very different Tamatillo plant and hope you'll post it here so the difference between the two can be seen as well...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3709.jpg
I really enjoy the purplish center where the leaves sprout from...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3687.jpg
Definitely bringing it inside this season and putting it back outdoors in Spring...
: )
sunfish
09-29-2010, 03:44 PM
Tamarillo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamarillo)
The Hollyberry Lady
09-29-2010, 03:51 PM
Thanks Tony...Rik was mentioning this in a pm as well.
Here's one of my outdoor "Patio" tomatoes today...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3688.jpg
Gonna bring this plant inside for the Winter.
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
10-03-2010, 08:40 AM
More indoor fruits...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3731.jpg
: )
PennyG
10-07-2010, 06:02 AM
Well done, Sherry:woohoonaner:
The Hollyberry Lady
10-08-2010, 09:13 AM
Thanks, Penny!
They're developing and growing very quickly in my south window...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3747.jpg
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
10-12-2010, 08:41 AM
Tips on Growing Determinate Tomatoes Indoors
Here's my "Patio" tomato plant this morning, loaded with fruits...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3809.jpg
Notice I keep a little mini tomato cage around the plant to support it? This will prevent it from leaning or falling over completely as it grows about two feet tall in a pot.
No pollination is required indoors to get fruits on your plant...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3815.jpg
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3814.jpg
One thing you should know if you're growing tomatoes indoors though is that edible plants attract pests like no other plants, for obvious reasons, so you must take measures against them, most especially inside.
Here's what I do to ward off leaf-sucking spider mites...
Once a week, I take my two foot tall tomato plant straight to the bathtub...and I lay it right down on it's side and fill the tub up a bit with water, making sure some of the leaves are submerged down in the water.
Before laying the plant down I bag the pot and tie it off, so the soil doesn't seep out into the tub. I swish the leaves around and even use a cup to pour water over them and I turn the plant in the water so that all sides get submerged.
Showering your plant once a week will keep mites away for good & your plant will fourish with tomatoes all Fall and Winter long...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3811.jpg
with more on their way...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3817.jpg
As you can see from my previous pics, "Patio" tomatoes grow very quickly...and they ripen fast too...and they're absolutely delicious!
I use a good well draining soil-less medium (Sunshine Pro-Mix #4) and I fertilize regularily with a organic water-soluble formula called DNF (Dutch Nutrient Formula). I also mix some Blood & Bonemeal into the soil when I first pot the seedling up into it's larger home container.
Fertilizing your tomato plant is extremely important if you want want an abundance of plump fruits, so this is something to pay special attention to. Mine gets a dose each week without fail.
I'll show more shots soon...
: )
soundofthemusic1
10-13-2010, 01:46 AM
Sherry, a big <a href="http://s246.photobucket.com/albums/gg90/fredray15/?action=view¤t=thumbsup2.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg90/fredray15/thumbsup2.png" border="0" alt="thumbs up smiley"></a> to you for posting great information on how to grow tomatoes indoors.
When you say, No pollination is required indoors to get fruits on your plant... Do you mean all varieties of tomatoes are self-pollinating, whether grown indoors or outdoors?
Rae
The Hollyberry Lady
10-13-2010, 07:10 AM
Yes Rae, that is precisely what I'm saying. All types of tomatoes will produce fruits indoors (and outdoors) without any pollination whatsoever. :D
Showering your tomato plant consistently and regularily will not only discourage spider mites, but whitefly and aphids as well.
Sun, nutrients, good well draining soil, & regular pest control, are the four key things to be concerned about when growing tomatoes inside. It really isn't difficult at all and if you're determined to do it and pay close attention to your tomato plants needs, it's as easy as pie. ;)
I intend on harvesting red delicious fruits from my winter windowsill all winter long and have done so in previous years.
I'll continue to show the plant as it grows and ripens...
: )
sunfish
10-13-2010, 08:00 AM
This may help
Tomato Pollination Graphics (http://google.ad.sgdoubleclick.net/pagead/nclk?sa=L&ai=1&fadurl=googleads.g.doubleclick.net&u=http%3A%2F%2Fgoogle.ad.sgdoubleclick.net%2Fpagead%2Fnclk%3Fsa% 3DL%26ai%3D1%26fadurl%3Dgoogleads.g.doubleclick.net%26u%3Dhttp%2 53A%252F%252Fpollinator.com%252Ftomato.htm&aclck=http%3A%2F%2Fsearchbaronline.com%2Fsearch.php%3Fkeyword%3D tomatoes%2Bself%2Bpollinating)
The Hollyberry Lady
10-13-2010, 09:40 AM
Took this shot early this morning...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3823.jpg
Can't wait for them to get a bit bigger and turn red...
: )
soundofthemusic1
10-13-2010, 12:18 PM
This may help
Tomato Pollination Graphics (http://google.ad.sgdoubleclick.net/pagead/nclk?sa=L&ai=1&fadurl=googleads.g.doubleclick.net&u=http%3A%2F%2Fgoogle.ad.sgdoubleclick.net%2Fpagead%2Fnclk%3Fsa% 3DL%26ai%3D1%26fadurl%3Dgoogleads.g.doubleclick.net%26u%3Dhttp%2 53A%252F%252Fpollinator.com%252Ftomato.htm&aclck=http%3A%2F%2Fsearchbaronline.com%2Fsearch.php%3Fkeyword%3D tomatoes%2Bself%2Bpollinating)
Tony,
I can't get to the above web site in your posting. I believe this is the link, Tomato Pollination Graphics (http://pollinator.com/tomato.htm), that you have in your reply.
I did googled the answer before asking Sherry the question and found inconsistent or vague conclusion. I'll read more on this. Thanks!
Rae
The Hollyberry Lady
10-13-2010, 03:47 PM
Thanks, Rae. :03:
Another tip on growing tomatoes inside:
Be sure to turn your plant a bit every couple of days, to ensure it gets an even amount of light on all the fruits...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3843.jpg
More shots when things begin to turn red...
: )
PennyG
10-14-2010, 06:44 AM
Very nice, Sherry.:08:
soundofthemusic1
10-14-2010, 09:12 AM
Yes Rae, that is precisely what I'm saying. All types of tomatoes will produce fruits indoors (and outdoors) without any pollination whatsoever. :D
Showering your tomato plant consistently and regularily will not only discourage spider mites, but whitefly and aphids as well.
Sun, nutrients, good well draining soil, & regular pest control, are the four key things to be concerned about when growing tomatoes inside. It really isn't difficult at all and if you're determined to do it and pay close attention to your tomato plants needs, it's as easy as pie. ;)
I intend on harvesting red delicious fruits from my winter windowsill all winter long and have done so in previous years.
I'll continue to show the plant as it grows and ripens...
Sherry,
I'm amazed by how much care you give to your tomato plants, and what a great difference in looks and fruit setting there is between your plants and mine.
Thank you for sharing those beautiful photos with us.
What I observed in my volunteer Roma tomato plants in the basement in winter, 2008 does confirm your saying. They were flowering and setting fruits. According to the article Tony sent me, it was not the fruit flies or whatever that were in my basements if I understood the article correctly. :confused:
This year in Georgia, it rained maybe once in August and twice in September. The weather forcast predicts pretty much no rain in October. I have been harvesting some, but not many, grape tomatoes, and four green regular tomatoes. By the time I picked them, either green or red, the skin is already hard.
I'm glad to see that your tomato plants are doing outstandingly well.
:o
The Hollyberry Lady
10-16-2010, 11:10 AM
More Tips on Growing Tomatoes Indoors...
When tomato plants are grown in containers, even in the Wintertime, in a warm south window, require a whole lot of water. In fact, my plant currently requires water daily, as it's in sun all day long and producing fruits rapidly.
Be sure to water your tomato plants regularily and not let the pot dry out, or it could be at the expense of your new blossoms which will drop off, or your tomatoes will be sunken-in looking and therefore destroyed.
As you can see by this pic I took today, the fruits are getting very plump, very fast...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3876.jpg
They cannot ripen soon enough for me...
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
10-25-2010, 11:40 AM
Well, here they are today...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3960.jpg
Be sure to check out Ante's great new thead, too...
http://www.bananas.org/f8/growing-potted-vegetables-12768.html
Hoping more people will get into growing potted veggies and be inspired to even try some indoors...
: )
bananarama2
10-25-2010, 03:35 PM
I'm envious....got to get myself inspired and get something going myself. Have tried rooting slips from my summer plants, but they're not cooperating so far. I have a couple late volunteers I may pot up, but not sure what varieties they are. Very impressive looking plant and fruits!:goteam:
The Hollyberry Lady
10-25-2010, 04:53 PM
You know something Rik? If I was feeling really nice, I could mail you a mature "Patio" plant straight from my garden! I have some with fruits on them even! :eek:
I'd have to bring one inside for you within the next couple days before hard frost hits but I would if you seriously want it ???
Reply here in the thread if you don't mind and let me know, and if you're interested, I'll pm you in a couple days. Just too busy with many pm's right now.
The only reason I'm offering is because you're in Canada and the cost would be minimal to send it. Bob has already bilked me for enough shipping costs this season! :ha:
Anyway, let me know...
: )
saltydad
10-25-2010, 08:28 PM
Well I was certainly surprised yesterday. My hardy begonias have become quite tall and are blooming a sea of pink. When I went to turn on the water hose, I discovered a nice pink Brandywine tomato of medium size from one of my hanging plants hidden inside the bed. I brought it in, but haven't cut it yet as it represents the last taste of fresh tomatoes until next summer. I'll let you know how good it is. What a pleasant surprise!
The Hollyberry Lady
10-25-2010, 09:49 PM
Congratulations, Howard! :goteam:
I can see why you're so excited. I am too. I can't wait to show how super red and juicy the inside of my "Patio" tomatoes are, even in the dead of winter!
Be sure to let us know how good yours was Howard...even though we're all jealous! :ha:
: )
Patty in Wisc
10-26-2010, 12:15 AM
I have tomatoes coming out of my ears LOL. Not enough to cook down to make sauce, but they are here. Like I said, I never planted them ... just came up from last year. The red cherry tom's are not very good... not juicy & tough skinned. Romas are OK but not good to eat raw -- best for cooking down. There is a bigger red - don'[t know what it is but it's just OK, & then there is a med size orangey one that is really juicy & tastes great.
I know someone that plants a small plant in 1 bag of compost/manure bought from a nursery, & they grow HUGE LOL. They poke a few holes in bottom of bag for drainage.
Funny that MG fert for tom's is lower in N (nitrogen) but they grow so well in high N.
The Hollyberry Lady
10-26-2010, 11:27 AM
Very cool, Patty! :goteam:
Gawd those ones in the grocery store in winter are gross aren't they?! :eek:
They look so perfectly red on the outside but when you cut into them they're white and unripe! Blech! :(
This is definitely what motivates me to produce a crop or two indoors over the cold months. I just can't stand those awful sawdust tasting ones at the store. I'd rather even eat summer canned tomatoes than those, any day. They're just disgusting and totally expensive, to boot!
I hope people with sunny sills will consider doing what I'm doing and produce some fruits inside over winter. You won't be disappointed.
Here's a 7 year old blurry pic of some "sweet million" cherry tomatoes I grew in a pot outdoors against a wall. I had them staked in the pot to support them and I harvested fruits all summer long.
You can also see some red flowers in the pic from my "scarlet runner" pole bean vine I had also growing in a pot near the tomatoes...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/scan0004.jpg
: )
bananarama2
10-26-2010, 03:14 PM
I don't mean to step on any toes, but I was re-reading the whole growing tomatoes indoors topic, and came across something that I think needs some clarifying, although it won't really change anyone's results. Tomatoes, like all flowering plants do need pollination to produce fruit. They are, fortunately, self-pollinating, so do not require another plant nearby to produce fruit. Both male and female reproductive organs (stamens and pistil) are enclosed inside a central calyx, which insects force open to affect cross-pollination. Yields can be increased and somewhat guaranteed by gently shaking the flowers, especially when there is little air movement to distribute the pollen to the pistils. I make a point when in my greenhouse to simply shake the flower sprays a little, or gently tapping each flower with my index finger, snapping it off my thumb, just like you'd "flick" someone's ear. Like everyone, Mother Nature appreciates a little help too!:witchnaner:
bananarama2
10-26-2010, 03:26 PM
Well thanks so much for the offer Sherry! That's very kind and considerate (who would expect anything less from you anyway), but where would the challenge and resulting pleasure be there, other than the plant surviving Canada Post? So, I'll gratefully decline your offer....hopefully so I can post a picture or two of my own success with growing indoor tomatoes again. But you definitely get a nod for incentive and inspiration. Thx a bunch!:bunchonanas:
The Hollyberry Lady
10-26-2010, 03:28 PM
Your information is exactly correct Rik, however when I stated that tomato plants don't require any pollination I only meant it in the sense that they are somewhat self-pollinating, unlike squash and cucumber plants which will not produce fruits indoors even with a light "flick" of the blossoms and actually require hand-pollination with a soft paintbrush.
With tomatoes though, you don't need to do anything at all to get fruits, and I just didn't want to confuse or discourage new gardeners wanting to try this for the first time with too much information about pollianation.
It is true though that when tomatoes are naturally pollinated they tend to be larger in size with bigger yields on the plants as well. I sometimes tap my tomato blossoms just to make sure the pollen spreads around.
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
10-26-2010, 03:48 PM
No problem Rik..I totally understand. Is there anyone else in Canada that might like an already mature "Patio" tomato plant sent to them?
I should also point out that when beginning a tomato plant from a seed, this late in the year, it is best to use a grow light of some kind to get it going. If the plant is already mature and producing fruits however, you may stick it right into the window like I have.
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
10-30-2010, 10:27 AM
Here they are today, getting really fat...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3963.jpg
: )
sandy0225
10-30-2010, 04:59 PM
if you still have any tomato plants that haven't been frosted, you can do cuttings and root them in a glass of water. Then the plants you bring inside will be smaller, but they will think they are older and start blooming right away. FYI, I know it's too late for most folks.
saltydad
10-30-2010, 05:06 PM
We ate the last tomato of the season, a pink Brandywine. Damn, was it good!
The Hollyberry Lady
10-30-2010, 07:12 PM
Great it was a tasty little bugger for you, Howard! :08:
Yes yes Sandy, what you are saying is exactly correct and I've actually done what you've described...it works like a charm!
Thanks so much for bringing it up here. Tomato cuttings are super easy to root. My tomato plants still aren't dead yet in the garden, and you've inspired me to repeat this familiar process again, so I can grow three plants this year indoors, instead of one. :goteam:
: )
Jananas Bananas
10-30-2010, 08:47 PM
We have two growing seasons here, so our big box stores are selling veggies starts again. I think I am going to get me another batch of tomato starts, THEN I will take some cuttings inside for the winter. I NEVER knew you could do that with them and I am darn sure going to try it. I would like tomatoes all year round that I have grown. For some reason the ones in the grocery store taste like cardboard in the winter time to me. I will definitely be giving this a shot! Thanks! :2181:
~JaNan
PennyG
10-31-2010, 06:53 AM
No problem Rik..I totally understand. Is there anyone else in Canada that might like an already mature "Patio" tomato plant sent to them?
: )
Sherry.....are you offering a plant :woohoonaner:......let me know ok :waving:
The Hollyberry Lady
10-31-2010, 12:42 PM
Yes Penny, I am offering a "Patio" tomato plant from my garden that will keep producing for you in a sunny window sill all winter long...
I was going to cut the tops off of the two plants I have tonight, but I'll bring one of them inside for you and get it boxed up sometime next week to send off.:08:
I should have thought of you already but I wasn't sure if you'd be interested in something like this over winter, or if you had the means to support a veggie plant. Cool that you want one. ;)
I may have to cut it back a bit to fit it in the box but it will continue to grow once you get it...
That's the great thing about tomato plants....you can cut them, prune them, and remove many leaves, yet they still keep growing and thriving.
I'll be in touch soon Pen, about your new patio plant...
: )
PennyG
11-01-2010, 06:28 AM
Thank you sooooooo much, Sherry!!:08::08::08:
The Hollyberry Lady
11-01-2010, 01:25 PM
:goteam: Today is the day!!! :goteam:
A picture says a thousand words...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3975.jpg
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
11-02-2010, 10:09 PM
Even more ripe today...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3989.jpg
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
11-08-2010, 05:18 PM
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI3993.jpg
I picked the two you saw on the vines earlier and gave one to my mom and here's the one I'm putting in my bowl of salad tonight...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI4006.jpg
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI4007.jpg
: O
More of the smaller ones are beginning to turn red now too...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI4005.jpg
:D
Blake09
11-08-2010, 07:11 PM
The pictures may not be verry good...
Some of the tomatoes that I picked out off the garden today, the ones that survived the first frost and temps down to 28F... :bananas_b
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=38276&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=38276)
The ones Ive been chowing down on for a couple days...
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=38277&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=38277)
There are about double that amound of tomatoes that are frostbitten. All comes from 1 tomatoe plant, the vines got so long I had to use 2 big and 1 small tomato cage!
All the tomato plants are dead now so no tomatoes more for me! :(
.
The Hollyberry Lady
11-08-2010, 09:03 PM
Did you say your pictures might not be very good, Blake?! :eek:
You've got to be kidding me!!! :ha:
I'd just love to have a container filled with those! I think you've successfully shown me up and your post should be called...
"How to show Sherry up and make her VERY jealous"!!!
Show off!!! http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/emo1.gif
Talk to me when you're harvesting tomatoes in February!!! :08:
: )
Blake09
11-08-2010, 09:12 PM
Talk to me when you're harvesting tomatoes in February!!! :08:
: )
Well, looks like I need to sow some seeds and see if any part of the tomato plant is still alive so I can take a cutting! ;)
:ha: :ha: LOL :ha: :ha:
:D
:bananas_b
:0519:
.
Jananas Bananas
11-08-2010, 09:36 PM
I am gleeking here you guys. Wait let me wipe the drool. GEEZ! Have you ever had fried green tomatoes???? YUMMY!
Blake I had to run to the box store and buy a couple more tomato starts so I can grow some in the house too! :ha:
I've got to go get something to eat now. So much for posting!
~JaNan
Blake09
11-09-2010, 06:27 PM
Talk to me when you're harvesting tomatoes in February!!! :08:
: )
Well, looks like I need to sow some seeds and see if any part of the tomato plant is still alive so I can take a cutting! ;)
:ha: :ha:
:D
Blake I had to run to the box store and buy a couple more tomato starts so I can grow some in the house too! :ha:
~JaNan
Uh-Uo Sherry, looks like you now have tomato growing competition for over the winter! :ha: :D
:)
P.S.
Who els' wants to grow some tomatoes over the winter and get fruit?!? :-D
.
sandy0225
11-09-2010, 06:57 PM
I've had some going since August.
Blake09
11-09-2010, 07:31 PM
An interesting video...
YouTube - How To Prune Tomatoes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3VTkxPSYn0)
The Hollyberry Lady
11-10-2010, 10:00 PM
Here's some shots I took today of 7 new ones beginning to ripen...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI4026.jpg
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI4024.jpg
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSCI4022.jpg
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/emo1.gif
PennyG
11-11-2010, 07:04 AM
Its almost salad time, Sherry :08:
The Hollyberry Lady
11-19-2010, 05:39 PM
It sure is Penny! I just took this shot a few minutes ago on my new camera...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC00003.jpg
: )
New camera takes great shots! Well done!
Blake09
11-19-2010, 09:30 PM
What kind of new camera did ya get?? :D
.
The Hollyberry Lady
11-20-2010, 12:44 AM
I've posted all about it in the Insomnia Thread, Blake...
: )
PennyG
11-20-2010, 08:10 AM
Nice!!
The Hollyberry Lady
11-21-2010, 07:34 AM
Made this little video just for Bob!!! :ha:
Here's what I had with my dinner last night...
YouTube - MOV00054.AVI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu9QIcPjRIk)
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/emo1.gif
I USED to like you HBL!!! Hope you didn't choke on them for dinner!:ha:
Seriously , I am jealous and miss my fresh tomatoes already.
The Hollyberry Lady
11-21-2010, 08:04 AM
So glad you liked the video I made for you, Bob! :ha: Too funny!
I'll be sure to show more red beauties throughout winter...
: )
tbaleno
11-21-2010, 06:30 PM
That video is so funny. I think you have streak of evil in you!
On another note, my tomatoes started out with ber. I added about a table spoon of epsom salt to the nutrient solution and I'm hoping that takes care of it. They are really tiny right now. The new ones look like they might not have it. I'm crossing my fingers.
tbaleno
11-21-2010, 07:22 PM
Here are the little tomatoes with some BER (Blossom end rot).
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5196123273_676c750d07.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5196123273/)
Tomato one (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5196123273/) by mysimplehomegarden (http://www.flickr.com/people/34712576@N08/), on Flickr
Here is the full plant
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5196724318_e46c165723.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5196724318/)
Tomato two (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5196724318/) by mysimplehomegarden (http://www.flickr.com/people/34712576@N08/), on Flickr
Bet you don't have one of these growing inside.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/5196725134_660004807e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5196725134/)
Pumpkin (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5196725134/) by mysimplehomegarden (http://www.flickr.com/people/34712576@N08/), on Flickr
Blake09
11-21-2010, 07:24 PM
Wow TB they have grown alot!! :)
.
tbaleno
11-21-2010, 07:46 PM
Well, I showed them pictures of yours and said "live up to that or you get ripped out and I start over." I'm sure thats what prompted the growth.
The Hollyberry Lady
11-21-2010, 07:48 PM
That video is so funny. I think you have streak of evil in you!
But only when it comes to Bob, who's a close friend, and who would expect nothing less from me. :)
Don't think he doesn't like to rub things in real good also, when given the chance. :ha: Mr Banana King, indeed! http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/emo1.gif
Plants look good, but sucks about the blossom end rot problem. I tuck a few "Tums" anti-acid tablets into my tomato soil because I heard it helps with this problem, but I've never had it
myself. :(
Is that a pumpkin plant?! :eek:
I once grew a Jack-be-little pumpkin plant indoors but I had to hand-pollinate the blossoms and by the time I put it outside in Spring, it already had little fruits on it! :D It was a way-cool experience, so good luck with yours also, Tbaleno. ;)
: )
The Hollyberry Lady
12-13-2010, 08:35 PM
My newest seedlings:
"Patio"...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC00700.jpg
"Table"...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC00703.jpg
The table variety is a small little 6-8 inch shrub that produces surprisingly sweet cherry tomatoes even indoors in winter. :D
: )
PennyG
12-14-2010, 08:59 AM
Awwww, what cute wee babies!!:woohoonaner:
tbaleno
12-14-2010, 08:39 PM
The tomato plant I'm growing in hydro-culture has a tomato the size of a pea. This tomato plant produces full sized tomatoes. I'll take a picture later tonight.
The plant was started August 23, 2009 so it is over a year old. I guess it shows how bad a gardener I am if it takes me over a year to get a tomato plant to produce fruit.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5262484974_23fda28773_t.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5262484974/)
CIMG_2010-12-14-205150 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5262484974/) by mysimplehomegarden (http://www.flickr.com/people/34712576@N08/), on Flickr
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5046/5261879969_f58022782f_t.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5261879969/)
CIMG_2010-12-14-205230 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34712576@N08/5261879969/) by mysimplehomegarden (http://www.flickr.com/people/34712576@N08/), on Flickr
sunfish
03-07-2011, 04:41 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=40630&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=40630&ppuser=2868)
sunfish
03-14-2011, 07:27 PM
Last seasons cherry tomato still going strong
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=40802&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=40802&ppuser=2868)
Jananas Bananas
03-19-2011, 05:40 PM
Getting a good early start this year! :goteam:
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110319085.jpg
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110319083.jpg
~JaNan
The Hollyberry Lady
03-19-2011, 05:46 PM
Why you!!! http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/emo2.gif
What kind are they?
: )
Jananas Bananas
03-19-2011, 05:55 PM
I bought the plants a few weeks ago, I think when Lowe's or Home Depot first put them out. I thought it was "Patio" but I can't rely on my memory and will check for you when I go outside to feed. I bought three or four different starts, though the ones I started in the AeroGarden are as big now as the starts I bought from them. I know I bought two "Celebrity" because they said they were early. ~J
Richard
03-19-2011, 09:07 PM
Celebrity works early because it is vigorous. It's one of the best choices of a red tomato spring through summer.
nannerfunboi
03-19-2011, 09:31 PM
my tomato seedlings are going great!! :08:
i'll need to transplant them to 4" pots in couple weeks..
im growing mostly heirlooms.. mostly mid sized..the big ones
dont ripen here till sept.. to long for me to wait ..LOL
im so jealous of you all down in texas..and southern states..
i lived in houston for 3 yrs while ago.. 1st time in the south..
i couldnt get over when to plant down there..
it seemed like they grew 6" over nite.. guess those warm nites
humidity helped alot..
The Hollyberry Lady
03-19-2011, 10:11 PM
Celebrity is a cool variety, JaNan. :03:
My mom & I grew them one year in 5 gallon containers. They produce an abundant yield. I have seeds.
: )
Dean W.
03-19-2011, 10:21 PM
Yeah, I've heard of Celebrity recommended a number of times.
I tried growing monster tomatoes in the past and had no luck with them. I forget what the name was and forgive me for changing the subject.:bananas_b
The Hollyberry Lady
03-19-2011, 10:25 PM
The subject is tomatoes, so no worries Dean. Wonder why you didn't do well with the mammoth type. That sucks. :(
I'm going to sow a couple "table" tomato seeds tonight...the plants get 8" tall and are covered in cherry tomatoes.
: )
Dean W.
03-19-2011, 10:30 PM
I guess it was to hot of weather for it.
I think it's this one.
Delicious, Delicious Tomato, Red Delicious, Red Delicious Tomato, Burpee Delicious Tomato, Guinness World Record, Tomato, Tomato Seeds, Tomatoes, Seeds, Seed Catalog, Vegetable Seeds, Lycopersicon esculentum, Heirloom Tomato, Heirloom Vegetables - Re (http://www.reimerseeds.com/delicious-tomato-guinness-record-holder.aspx)
Good luck, Sherry.
Dean W.
03-20-2011, 11:50 PM
I got some Beefsteak tomatoes. I was wondering how big of a pot should I use to grow them in? I'm using garden space for peppers and maybe some okra, so I'm limited on what I can plant in the ground.
Richard
03-21-2011, 12:06 AM
I got some Beefsteak tomatoes. I was wondering how big of a pot should I use to grow them in? I'm using garden space for peppers and maybe some okra, so I'm limited on what I can plant in the ground.
20-25 gallon pot per plant.
The Hollyberry Lady
03-25-2011, 05:34 PM
Dean, here's that little Micro-Tom seedling in my aero-garden tonight...
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/DSC02952.jpg
I can likely send you 4 or 5 seeds but more later when the fruits develop. This plant grows really fast, like most tomato plants, but because it only ever reaches 6" tall, it sets fruit super quickly. :D
You'll see soon...
The problem is when I get seedlings, my friends beg them out of me! :ha: My one girlfriend is nuts over little mini tomato plants so I give a lot of them to her and her cousin. She won't be getting this one out of me though, nor my next "Table" seedlings either.
: )
Jananas Bananas
03-25-2011, 06:32 PM
These are Husky Red tomatoes:
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110323048.jpg
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110325018.jpg
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110325017.jpg
I have four of the "Celebrity" - they aren't very tall and one already has little blossoms on it. You guys think that it seems to be a good choice. :)
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110323010.jpg
Have one patio that is a volunteer, and lots of cherrys and several Beefsteak that I started from seed. :2181:
~JaNan
The Hollyberry Lady
03-25-2011, 06:35 PM
Oh just quit showing off, will ya! :ha:
: )
jeffreyp
03-26-2011, 01:42 PM
if you have problems growing veggies, my suggestion is use an earth box or build a global bucket...the results are fantastic.
Worm_Farmer
03-27-2011, 07:19 AM
Has anyone ever tried the Tomatoe Tree? I just ordered some from TV, I seen how good they did at Disney.
The Hollyberry Lady
03-27-2011, 08:16 AM
I have seeds for that "tomato tree" but I haven't sowed them yet. Let us know how they do
for you, Mike. ;)
: )
Worm_Farmer
03-27-2011, 09:31 AM
I have seeds for that "tomato tree" but I haven't sowed them yet. Let us know how they do
for you, Mike. ;)
: )
They came in these little peat pots that say just add water and wait 1 - 2 weeks. The box is label China, should I bet scared? Do you know if I will be able to keep the seeds and regrow them?
At Disney they have a BIG one, it really looks like a tree trunk.
I have been a big fan of beefsteak, or anything else that had "Beef" in the name. Right now I have a Beefmaster going that has already set fruit.
Lagniappe
03-27-2011, 09:34 AM
Isn't 'Tomato Tree' another type of fruit? I read that somewhere it seems.
Lagniappe
03-27-2011, 09:38 AM
Found it:
Q. What is a tree tomato?
A. The treelike plant sold as a "tree tomato," is a different species from garden tomatoes. It is a woody tree that grows 8 feet or taller and bears after 2 years. The tree tomato is a tropical plant and does not overwinter outside anywhere the temperature drops below freezing. The fruits are small (1 to 2 inches in diameter) and are used primarily in stews or preserves rather than in salads. Some of the common, vigorous, indeterminate garden tomato varieties that are suitable for training and pruning (such as Ponderosa) are also sold as climbing or "tree tomatoes" by some seed stores.
I would love to have one in a GH.
The Hollyberry Lady
03-27-2011, 10:25 AM
No doubt you can collect the seeds Mike, and they should grow true. Don't be scared...they're likely as easy as pie to grow. Now you've got me wanting to sow some of my seeds! :ha:
Be sure to show lots of shots as they grows for you...
: )
sunfish
03-27-2011, 11:10 AM
Greenhouse volunteer
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41111&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41111&ppuser=2868)
Patio Tomato
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41112&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41112&ppuser=2868)
Worm_Farmer
03-27-2011, 11:17 AM
No way, its real tomatoes. I dont know how good they taste, but I hope they are good. I believe its know as The Italian Tomato Tree, Grows up to 25ft
This picture is from Epcot at Disney, if you go on the ride called "The Land" You will get a short boat tour of their green house. I did not take this picture but this is exactly what is it. But it was ordered from TV and shipped from China, so WHO knows what was really in that box. LMAO
http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/4222/tomatotree.jpg
sunfish
03-27-2011, 11:52 AM
http://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=CJOxNTWqPTfjiBoimsAPZiq2UC92rvq0Bh8mR7RPRnrSWAggAEAIgtlQoAlDD jZes_v____8BYMne-IbIo-gZoAHp0rb_A8gBAaoEFk_Q6YveoRl73Umc8EH4RJZham7jjLqABZBO&sig=AGiWqtwby8kBMBj41kjvZrmGoh_pE99-WA&ved=0CBsQ0Qw&adurl=http://www.bigtreetomato.com/%3Ftid%3D3760&rct=j&q=TOMATO%20TREE&cad=rja
Dean W.
03-27-2011, 12:29 PM
Wow Mike, now that is a tomato!
Worm_Farmer
03-27-2011, 12:38 PM
http://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=CJOxNTWqPTfjiBoimsAPZiq2UC92rvq0Bh8mR7RPRnrSWAggAEAIgtlQoAlDD jZes_v____8BYMne-IbIo-gZoAHp0rb_A8gBAaoEFk_Q6YveoRl73Umc8EH4RJZham7jjLqABZBO&sig=AGiWqtwby8kBMBj41kjvZrmGoh_pE99-WA&ved=0CBsQ0Qw&adurl=http://www.bigtreetomato.com/%3Ftid%3D3760&rct=j&q=TOMATO%20TREE&cad=rja
This is exactly who I ordered it from. DONT DO IT! Don't order from them. I was suppose to get 3 of them and 3 early girls for $10, but they charged me a lot more and sent me more then I ordered. I got billed for a shipping 12 Tom tree / 12 early girl, 3 tom tree / 3 early girl, 3 Sugar baby's / 3 indoor tomato.
I didn't order all this, and their answer was "Refuse the package" and NONE of them were live plants they are all peat pots filled with a potting mix and im Guessing 1 seed in each pot.
Worm_Farmer
03-27-2011, 04:34 PM
Here is how the Tomatoe Tree"s were shipped.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41138&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41138&ppuser=4277)
Set the pots out and let them soak, now waiting for some action. This is what their potting medium looks like.
<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41136&ppuser=4277><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41136&size=1 border=0></a>
Here is my current Beefmaster,
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41137&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41137&ppuser=4277)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=41135&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=41135&ppuser=4277)
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