Tomato Talk

[POTAWIE]

Thought it was time for a proper thread.
So what's everyone growing this year and what are your favorites? I still have to go through mine for 2008 but I'll make a list soon. Just like peppers, too many varieties to choose from.:)

[cheezydemon]

I think we have decided to cut back a little.

I plan to grow:
Bob hill's 3 mile wonder Roma
Petty Petrovich's patented 3 bud tom tom Cherry
1 Heirloom red and yellow Cat scatch bavarian.


......just kidding, I realize that you are all much more of conniseurs than me and I became ashamed of my simple "1 cherry, 1 roma, and one heirloom" post!lol

[Daisy7117]

This year:
Amish Rose (heirloom)
Summer Cider (heirloom)
Omar's Lebanese (heirloom)
Haven't decided on my cherry tomato varieties yet, but usually use Tomato Growers, Cooks Garden, or Nichols Garden Nursery....they're all good.

[Pam]

I keep thinking I've decided, then a new catalog comes in, and I commence to fondling. Next thing you know, I've got a couple of new varieties on my grow list.

I've started my Stupice tomatoes, they're the best early tomatoes I've ever found, and I've tried several of the others. They're hardy and the flavor is great.

I will be growing Tropic, Rose, Stump of the World, Brandywine, Mule Team, Eva Purple Ball, Uncle Mark Bagby, Top Gun Hybrid(TSWV resistant), Bella Rosa Hybrid(TSWV resistant), and um...I forget. I will be growing Yellow Current whether I want to or not, cause it comes up all over the garden.

Has anyone ever tried Andrew Rahart's Jumbo Red? It tempts me, but I was looking for some feedback first. Tomato Growers Supply describes it as "2 to 16 ounce beefsteak fruit has intensely red skin and flesh. This is the kind of delicious, juicy tomato to eat over the sink or out in the garden where the juices can run freely. Sturdy vines with good disease resistance bear very abundantly. Indeterminate. 92 days."

[Daisy7117]

Stump of the World is excellent, so is Big Rainbow
Andrew Rahart's Jumbo Red really does sound tempting, and TGS's descriptions are pretty accurate...I'm sure its worth a try.

[POTAWIE]

This is pretty much it with probably a few more additions.

Cherries/small: Patio F Hybrid, Redrobin, Florida basket, Sungold
Paste: Opalka,
Large: Omar's Lebanese, Supersteak hybrid, Zogola
Others: German red strawberry, Powers heirloom

[Pam]

I used to always grow the Silvery Fur Tree, but all it has to do is hear someone say "Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus" and it dies. Now that I have the *spit* thrip situation under better control, maybe I should try it again.

[POTAWIE]

They don't grow the best for me either but Its a favorite of one of my buddies who I supply plants to.
Pam, how did the Marianna's Peace turn out for you last season?

[Pam]

They don't grow the best for me either but Its a favorite of one of my buddies who I supply plants to.
Pam, how did the Marianna's Peace turn out for you last season?

Poorly. They seemed to have no disease resistance whatsoever. If any plant in the garden had a problem, the Marianna's Peace tomatoes had it, too. Most of the tomatoes the vines produced split after a heavy rain or had blossom end rot. Won't grow them again.

The other one I grew last year that really disappointed me was the Black Cherry tomatoes. They grew well enough, but the tomatoes had very little flavor.

[POTAWIE]

I didn't like the flavor of the black cherry too much either, but this is a favorite of another friend that I supply to. It was very productive for me.
Another one I forgot to mention was the Principe Borghese which is great for sun drying and apparently bruschetta too.

[Pam]

I didn't like the flavor of the black cherry too much either, but this is a favorite of another friend that I supply to. It was very productive for me.
Another one I forgot to mention was the Principe Borghese which is great for sun drying and apparently bruschetta too.

Heh, I'm glad I'm not the only person who gets roped into growing things for friends. People show up here in the lab sometimes with packs of seeds which they will generously share with me if I'll grow them.

[wordwiz]

Copied from a Pepper Thread:
I'm trying a few different tomatoes this year, as I like to can them - either whole of as juice.
From RareSeeds.com:
Roma
Beefsteak
Delicious
Jersey Giant
From Tomatogrowers.com:
Bulgarian
Giant Belgium
German Pink

Last year, I canned 120 quarts of juice and 20 quarts of whole tomatoes. I would have doubled that, but a late summer drought with intense heat (for our area) did them in. Plus, I didn't stake them, which I will this year, though I may need to use trees to hold up the Bulgarians and Belgiums.

Mike

[POTAWIE]

I heard the Delicious isn't very delicious just big but I've never tried it personally. I think it is still the record holder for largest tomato variety.

[wordwiz]

Potawie,

For eating whole tomatoes, the family loves Romas. I like the Delicious and Beefsteak for juice - Romas are almost as useless and Cherries for this. The only reason for a couple of the types is that I'm heavily involved with the local county fair and would love to exhibit a 5-pound tomato. I even canned a couple quarts and pints of yellow tomato juice - I'm planning on fixing some chili in some in the near future.

Mike

[GrumpyBear]

i don't exactly have my list finalised yet, i know i'm growing bonny best for smaller early producing tomatoes, and mum demands large tomatoes so i'll probably end up with beefsteak cuz i haven't found anything else that sounds as reliable for my kind of season.
For cherries i already bought these cute little red pears, last year i did tiny tim so that might be in there even tho i said all heirlooms, and i wanna find a yellow cherry too. just for fun i was gonna do a yellow brandywine but it just doesn't sound right for my climate so maybe green zebra, or i might scrap the 'fun' section altogether.
i'm also only doing one variety of eggplant (as opposed to last years five...) and that's diamond.

[thepodpiper]

This will be my first year for growing tomatoes from seed and I have traded some pepper seeds for a number of tom seeds could I get you guys to give me some input on this list I am not sure which ones I am going to grow yet but probably around ten varieties. Could i also get everyone to put thier top three to five toms that they grow I think that would be interesting to find out some of the top tomatoes.


Marianna's Peace
Omar's Lebanese
Black Krim
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Black Cherry
Cherokee Purple
Kelloggs Breakfast
Hugh's
Biggun's
Great White
Mortgage Lifter
Snow White
Red Barn
Evergreen
Costoluto Genovese
Ailsa Craig
Tidwell German
Polish

Dale

[AlabamaJack]

Will only have 6-7 tomato plants in my caged area and the Tomato Seeds I have are:

Moneymaker from Thompson and Morgan

Ferline F1 Hybrid from Thompson and Morgan

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/7310/011408004kc9.th.jpg (http://img100.imageshack.us/my.php?image=011408004kc9.jpg)

Marianna's Peace from Tomato Growers (now what did I read in another thread about Marianna's peace above....they were a disease magnet?)

OK...should I get some more seeds in case the Marianna's peace don't work for me too? If so.....suggestions?

[wordwiz]

I hope, that come September, everyone will post the results of their experience and how the tomatoes turned out. Specifically:
Number of fruits
Resistance to heat and disease
Juiciness
Taste
How they taste when harvested green (my wife loves, and I mean loves, Fried Green Tomatoes. Put them in flour and fry them, then let her cover them with as much sugar as she wants, and she is in 7th Heaven.

Mike

[habman]

Cherry:
1)sungold
2)Hawaiian Currant
3)Matt's Wild Cherry Tomato


Big :
4)Ugly Tomato
5)Costoluto Genovese Tomato
6)Omar's Lebanese
7)Marmande
8)Kellogg's Breakfast

Early :
8)Stupice
9)Sophie's Choice

Exotic :
10)Green Zebra

Black :
11)Cherokee Chocolate
12)Black from Tula

Maybe :
Orange Cherry
brandywine
white queen
black krim


Would trade for :
----------------
eva purple ball
black cherry
Opalka
banana red (forgot the name)
Aunt Ruby’s German Green


<<scraches head>> how the hell will I grow all those seedlings?:(

[habman]

This will be my first year for growing tomatoes from seed and I have traded some pepper seeds for a number of tom seeds could I get you guys to give me some input on this list I am not sure which ones I am going to grow yet but probably around ten varieties. Could i also get everyone to put thier top three to five toms that they grow I think that would be interesting to find out some of the top tomatoes.


Marianna's Peace
Omar's Lebanese
Black Krim
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Black Cherry
Cherokee Purple
Kelloggs Breakfast
Hugh's
Biggun's
Great White
Mortgage Lifter
Snow White
Red Barn
Evergreen
Costoluto Genovese
Ailsa Craig
Tidwell German
Polish

Dale

Nice list dale

Top 5 on your list IMHO:
Mortgage Lifter
Kelloggs Breakfast
Marianna's Peace
Omar's Lebanese
Black Krim
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Black Cherry
Cherokee Purple

humm ok that's more then 5 :oops:

[thepodpiper]

habman, the top 5 do not have to be from my list they should be whatever your own top 5 are or top10. Would you care to trade some of the Green Zebra for the Aunt Ruby's German Green? I only have about 15 seeds but i'll split them with you.

Dale

[habman]

habman, the top 5 do not have to be from my list they should be whatever your own top 5 are or top10. Would you care to trade some of the Green Zebra for the Aunt Ruby's German Green? I only have about 15 seeds but i'll split them with you.

Dale

yeah I know but your list is spot on!
The only thing missing is sungold.

Sure let's make a trade.
I'll add a few seeds of sungold too.

Pm sent :)

[POTAWIE]

Would trade for :
----------------
eva purple ball
black cherry
Opalka
banana red (forgot the name)
Aunt Ruby’s German Green


<<scraches head>> how the hell will I grow all those seedlings?:(

I should have extra black cherry but I'm likely low on Opalkas but I'll check. The Opalkas have a very low amount of seeds

[Pam]

Ok to rate last year's...

1. Black Cherry: Grew well, prolific, very poor taste

2. Marianna's Peace: Grew poorly, few ripe fruits, problems with splitting and blossom end rot, taste excellent

3. Mexico: Average growth and production, very tasty fruit

4. Box Car Willie: Excellent growth, prolific up until temps skyrocketed. Very tasty fruit. One plant did have trouble with early blight.

5. Bloody Butcher: Poor growth, poor production, ok fruit

6. Stupice: Great early tomato, usually have ripe fruit in May without a greenhouse. Very tasty smallish fruits

7. Amelia: Dependable grower and producer, average taste. TSWV resistant.

8. Brandy Boy hybrid: Average growth, had some trouble with early blight, excellent production, tasty fruits, but not as good as the real Brandywine.

9. Abraham Lincoln: Huge plants, average production, excellent fruit

10. Ponderosa: Average growth, average production, very tasty fruit

11. Uncle Mark Bagby: Good growth, had some trouble with early blight this year, excellent production up until the extreme heat hit, very tasty fruit.

12. Mule Team: Excellent growth, steady production right up until frost, tasty fruit

13 Nepal: Very bushy growth, average production up until extreme heat, tasty fruit

14. Tropic: Very tall viney growth, great production, picked ripe fruit in December after long drought and several frosts, tasty fruit

15: Yelllow Current Tomatoes: All volunteers, grow like crazy, produce like crazy, excellent taste, but be sure fruit is ripe for best, sweetest flavor.

[POTAWIE]

Has anyone tried German Red Strawberry? I've heard many good things but haven't grown it yet.

[Pam]

Has anyone tried German Red Strawberry? I've heard many good things but haven't grown it yet.

*sigh*

There are so many out there that sound so good. That's why I get in trouble with catalog fondling. And now you're dangling yet more temptation in front of me, cause now I'm I'm going to have to go and look that one up to see what it is.

You're a pal, Potawie.

[POTAWIE]

I better not tell you about the tomatoville forum then.

[imaguitargod]

I WAS going to grow Super 100 (a cherry tomato) but now I moved and will not be able to.

[AKButch]

I want to try making my own tomato sauce / paste this year so am growing a few different varieties of paste tomatoes to see which one I like best.

Paste Varieties

DeBarro II -Siberian
Belstar
Classica Hybred
Hally 3155
Heinz 1439
Heinz 1350

For Salads, etc

Galina - Siberian - Cherry tomato
Applause
Polar Baby

Beefstake types

Omar's Lebanese
Ispolin - Siberian

[thepodpiper]

Pam, I am dissapointed that you did not like the Black Cherry i have seen alot of good reviews on it and I was thinking that it was a for sure thing for my garden this year. What is it that you did'nt like about it. Remember i have not grown any toms other than one or two varieties from HD.

Dale

[POTAWIE]

For me it was a mushy texture and just not a great flavor, hard to describe but Its also my neighbor's favorite

[Pam]

*shrug*

Black Cherry just didn't have much flavor. I grow mostly heirlooms, the only hybrids are because I don't want to be caught tomato-less if we have a bad TSWV year. Heirlooms have such great flavor that the Black Cherry lack of flavor really stood out.

[thepodpiper]

Well then, now you have me wondering if there may be a better choice to take that ones place. Could I get some suggestions out there for some cherry toms if you guys don't mind. I would like it mainly for taste but uniqueness would be a plus. Is there a striped cherry tom?

Dale

[POTAWIE]

Hey Pam, did you get your Black cherry seeds from tomatogrowers. Apparently they have their own exclusive variety, which might vary from what's been reccommended by many people.

[Pam]

Hey Pam, did you get your Black cherry seeds from tomatogrowers. Apparently they have their own exclusive variety, which might vary from what's been reccommended by many people.

You know, I don't remember? Probably, as I almost always order from there. I like their variety of Corno Di Toros a lot.

Let me get a bit more caffeinated and think about this. I remember the description nattered on about it being the first true black cherry.

Who else carries them?


Edit and Addendum: Ok, I just read the description at Tomato Grower's Supply.

"Black Cherry #6148 (20 seeds) $2.85
This is the first truly black cherry tomato we've found, and our own exclusive variety. It is not a plum, but a perfectly round cherry with classic black tomato flavor, sweet yet rich and complex. Fruit picks clean from the stem and is produced in abundance on vigorous, tall plants. These cherries are irresistibly delicious and a unique addition to the color spectrum of cherry tomatoes now available. Indeterminate. 65 day"

That's the ones I grew.

[habman]

Well then, now you have me wondering if there may be a better choice to take that ones place. Could I get some suggestions out there for some cherry toms if you guys don't mind. I would like it mainly for taste but uniqueness would be a plus. Is there a striped cherry tom?

Dale

Black cherry is it or miss from what I've read. Those who like it swear it's the best cherry ever.
Tomatoes are very sensitive to growing conditions and the taste can vary greatly from year to year.

If you want to play safe I would recommend :

Sungold - very prolific and very sweet

Sweet 100 / Sweet Million - very prolific a bit less sweet then sungold

Red currant - wild variety very prolific and a bit tart and strong taste.


But for sure try the black cherry.

[DevilDuck]

I'm still looking for a tomato that will do well in a high altitude (5,000' +) and an arid climate. Two years running, I've had really crap tomatoes...lots of blossom end rot, small fruit, tall but crazy looking plants.

Since I grow peppers everywhere in the yard, I have two 1/2 wine barrels for tomatoes for my wife to try to enjoy. I'd really like to give her some good plants this year.

[Pam]

I'm still looking for a tomato that will do well in a high altitude (5,000' +) and an arid climate. Two years running, I've had really crap tomatoes...lots of blossom end rot, small fruit, tall but crazy looking plants.


Were you fertilizing them with Miracle Grow, too? Try some of the fertilizer the nursery guy gave you for your peppers.

Another suggestion is to go to http://vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu/ and register. You can do searches on what varieties other gardeners are growing in your area.

[thepodpiper]

DevilDuck try this link.

Dale


http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/tomato/?19025

[DevilDuck]

Thanks! I checked it out and did a search. Lots of really good information there, just not what I was looking for. I guess I better make a trip over to that nursery that saved my pepper crop last year. They really know about our crappy "desert dirt"...even though where I grew my tomatoes didn't have any native soil.

[thepodpiper]

DevilDuck, maybe if you go on there and ask the question directly to them, they seem to really know thier toms.

Dale

[GrumpyBear]

I'm pretty sure blossom end rot is just a symptom of calcium deficiency, check the micronutriends in you fertilizer.

[Pam]

I'm pretty sure blossom end rot is just a symptom of calcium deficiency, check the micronutriends in you fertilizer.

Yes, it is a calcium deficiency, but it can occur when there is plenty of available calcium. It happens around here when the weather goes extremely hot and we have frog drowner thunderstorms in the evenings. I mulch and try and even out the watering by giving them some early in the day, but that nasty holding down a job business gets in the way, and then sometimes blossom end rot just happens.

[GrumpyBear]

frog drowner?

[Pam]

frog drowner?

A folksy expression to describe a very hard rain that drops a couple of inches in a short time. Usually a thunderstorm, but not always. As in "It rained so much at my house last night the frogs drowned."

[wordwiz]

Sounds akin to a "gulley washer."

Mike

[GrumpyBear]

i guess we just call it heavy rain here... we certainly get it tho, they were coming really regular the year before last and ever since we have not been able to get rid of the moss it washed in.

[Pam]

Sounds akin to a "gulley washer."

Mike


Yes, a downpour, a cloudburst, a monsoon, a tempest, a squall...well, you get the picture.

[Canuk Pepperhead]

Ok reading this guess tomatoes span out as much as peppers...What would be a good tom for me to grow this year big with flavor...thx

[wordwiz]

Canuck,

The best way I have found to grow tomatoes is to stake them (unless you have unlimited room and don't mind throwing away some fruits). My uncle use to do this and had to use a ladder to pick some of them - and he was well over 6' tall!

Not counting cherry tomatoes, everything I read says a decent indeterminate plant will produce a bushel of tomatoes if taken care of.

Mike

[wordwiz]

I got some seeds from TomatoGrowers today. German Pink, Large Pink Bulgarian and one I am really curious about - Giant Belgium. Suppose to grow to about two pounds but have been known to weigh 5 pounds. My office is on a street that gets a decent amount of foot traffic (and a lot of afternoon sun) so I might as well try growing one there once I get a good seedling. If I can get one to sprout and grow large enough to transplant quickly, I can probably beat the hot afternoon sun.

Mike

[POTAWIE]

Belgium giants didn't grow the best for me last year with only medium sized toms. I'll try it again but not this year. Probably better in warmer climates.

[habman]

Ok reading this guess tomatoes span out as much as peppers...What would be a good tom for me to grow this year big with flavor...thx

The choices are even more difficult then peppers....
Also the amount of sun and heat will greatly impact the taste so you got to try them at least 2-3 years before making a final decision to keep growing it or choosing a different one.

This is a good start:
1) one early : Sophie's choice
2) one late : Brandywine OP (Great taste, late tomato, not very productive)
3) one large : Kellogg's Breakfast OP
4) one cherry : Sungold F1
5) one to can/sauce : Opalka OP
6) one black : Cherokee Chocolate

Other good ones :
Aunt Gertie's Gold
Cherokee Green
German Red Strawberry
Black Cherry
Cherokee Purple
Omar's Lebanese

[wordwiz]

Belgium giants didn't grow the best for me last year with only medium sized toms. I'll try it again but not this year. Probably better in warmer climates.
Ah, but these toms were developed in OHIO, which just happens to be where I live! I'll be disappointed if I cannot fill a skillet with a slice of a green one to fix for my wife.

Mike

[POTAWIE]

I'm starting to get some tomatos on my little Redrobin plants. I'm growing a few different determinate varieties this year that fit under fluorescent lights. I'll be starting the rest of my tomato seeds in the beginning of March.

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/6796/2262885518ea89b64a79yl1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[POTAWIE]

Is anyone going to grow their free "sprite" seeds from tomatogrowers?

[wordwiz]

Not me. I hate cherry tomatoes. Probably because someone mislabeled them at a nursery and I planted 12 of them one year. Can you say thousands of tomatoes!

Mike

[Pam]

Not me. They don't even sound like they'd taste good.

[macmanmatty]

Is anyone going to grow their free "sprite" seeds from tomatogrowers?

Yes My dad loves cherry tomatoes

[wordwiz]

Rule about eating Cherry Tomatoes:

Do not bite into one using your front teeth with your mouth open! They tend to shoot juice.

Mike

[imaguitargod]

Cherry tomatoes are some of my favorite. But only right off the vine. I could just (and have) pop those suckers into my mouth one after another.

[Pam]

Cherry tomatoes are some of my favorite. But only right off the vine. I could just (and have) pop those suckers into my mouth one after another.

I treat current tomatoes that way. Most of them never make it into the house, I walk around in the evening checking out the garden and popping them into my mouth like little bonbons.

[GrumpyBear]

i eat them like most people would eat chips. when i feel snacky i just go out to the patio and grab a bowlful and eat them with a little french onion dip.

[AlabamaJack]

I have ammended my growing list

Super Sweet 100 Hybrid
Ferline F1 Hybrid
Abe Lincoln
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Arkansas Travelor
Mexico Tomato
Moneymaker

and may add to my list...My "cement farm" will be all tomatoes this year so I will have room for about 30 plants (cement farm is 40 feet long, 16 inches wide and will have 24" soil depth....

[wordwiz]

AJ,

you are going to try to grow 30 plants in 40 feet? I grew mine real, real close last year and had 15 plants in 30 feet. I'm not sure that even if you stake them that 16 inches is enough room. Enough for the roots - yeah.

I may have to become AR like you claim to be and weigh my produce! I already have a headstart - one plant is already in a 5-gallon pot and another is in an upside container. Last summer I put up 130 quarts of juice and about 20 quarts of whole tomatoes - I hope to double that this year.

Mike

[GrumpyBear]

yea, i think the plants will grow and you'll certainly end up with a hedge of tomatoes but i'm not sure that's as cool as it sounds...i grow six in ten feet and even thats kind of a squeeze. maybe choose your favorite 20?

[AlabamaJack]

That 30 is a rough guess, have not figured it out yet. The will be on 18" centers...I grew 6 in 8' last year and they did really well...all were reinforcement wire caged under my bird netting...agreed it was full of vines but they are sheltered from the hot north Texas afternoon sun by the fence..

Here is an early season pic...

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/8666/backyardfarm10051kl6.jpg

[GrumpyBear]

are those cherry/currants tho? or is it just a pic from early on? they look kinda small there, i was growing sub arctic plenty and better boy and they were about the size of me...

[AlabamaJack]

This is way way early in season...probably April....looking for another photo of the season peak...and yo know what, I don't even remember the names of what I planted last year....

[GrumpyBear]

well it's easier for me to remember since i don't grow enough to feed the third world... ;)

[AlabamaJack]

I will say my neighbors get a good dose of fresh cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, and peppers if they want during growing season....

[GrumpyBear]

we have a good 'over the fence' arrangement with one of our neighbors, the only thing we differ on in the garden is we grow tomatoes and they grow beans so we periodically send a bagfull over. it's like trade specialization between two global north countries...

[AlabamaJack]

barter system

[Omri]

Someone offered me a piece of his land to grow as I wish. Obviously I accepted!
Now I'm not sure how much space I got, but here's my basic list I made from reading online:

1884
Amish Gold
Amish Paste
Aunt Gertie's Gold
Black Plum
Brandy Boy
Carmello
Champion
Dona
Dr. Wyche's Yellow
Earl Of Edgecombe
Gardener's Delight
Halfmoon China
Hawaiian Pineapple
Henderson's Winsall
Jaune Flamme
Jumbo Roma
Lemon Boy
Lillian's Yellow Heirloom
Marianna's Peace
Matt's Wild Cherry
Martino’s Roma
Nebraska Wedding
Orange Roma
Oridoko
Speckled Roman
Stupice
Sungold
Super Sweet 100
Sweet Olive
Sweet Orange Roma
White Queen
Winsall
Yellow Pear

If there's enough space, I'll plant one of each... just to see what I like best.
If possible I'll plant more and if there's too little space, I'll just pick the most recommended ones.
TOM GROWING... HERE I COME!

[okie joe]

my goodness what a list. How big is the parcel of land? Thats all tom? Wheres the peppers going to be? I am just amazed at all thew different tom out there. I feel like I stuck in the dark lol I haven't decided yet which ones I am growing yet.. I just worried about space for all my peppers right now

[Omri]

I'm not really sure how big it is. I'll be checking it tomorrow, no doubt.
The peppers are staying right here, so instead of growing even more peppers, I'll give tomatoes a try.
It is a very fine list, though. all the popular toms online that I would just love to try.

[Omri]

Yeah, it's not a massive amount of land.
I'm not really sure how big some of the plants get, so I'll just put them all in pots and remove some if they're too big.

[wordwiz]

If you stake them (and Icertainly recommend doing this) you will four square feet per plant, and that is at the minimum.

Do you have lots of friends to share tomatoes with? I'm not familiar with the plants you list but the popular hybrids tend to average about a half-bushel to a bushel of tomatoes per plant. That wouldn't be too much except they tend to ripen at the same time.

Mike

[wordwiz]

I have one plant upstairs that I replanted into a 5-gallon pot. This thing is growing extremely fast since I put a 20 watt, 2700K CFL lite over it. For a reflector I used a foil pan and cut a hole in the middle. It hangs down within 1.5 inches of the heart of the plant. Every morning I have to raise the light at least an inch, sometimes 1.5 inches. I wish my peppers grew this fast.

Mike

[wordwiz]

I checked the light over my tomato plant this morning (it needs to be raised about every day) and lo and behold - it has a bloom. No chance of me sonicating it, but I did shake the plant a couple of times (using a brush is supposedly not very effective on tomatoes.

Perhaps my wife will enjoy a fried green tomato by Passover instead of having to wait until Mother's Day.

Mike

[Pam]

What kind of tomato is it, Mike?

[pablo]

hello everyone,
I just love vine ripe maters,
they must be one of the most grown vegetables in the world.
below is herb ,lettuce,strawberry towers {background}
and tomato
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8506/rockhouseproduce9ly0.jpg
Grace Tomato {dutch hybrid}
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6374/rockhouseproduce15ff2.jpg
today i pinched suckers and trimmed the old stuff from the strawberries...everything in the Greenhouse has set fruit.
we have a few about baseball size and clusters with up to 8 in ea.
3 types of Tomatoes,Cucumbers,Strawberries
outdoors
we have emergence of radish we planted in march...

Lookin Good Man

pablo

[wordwiz]

Pam,

It's a beafsteak.

I added a 20 watt CFL light to the side today because Linda loves fried green tomatoes and has not had one since November. I need it to grow as quickly as possible. According to the calendar, Passover is April 20 so that gives it three weeks to mature - if I got it pollinated

Sort of strange - in my life I've helped grow thousands of tomato plants but it was always a stick them in the ground, plow them a couple of times and gather them when they get ripe. Never did I check them daily and usually not weekly once they started.

Mike

[Pam]

Pam,

Sort of strange - in my life I've helped grow thousands of tomato plants but it was always a stick them in the ground, plow them a couple of times and gather them when they get ripe. Never did I check them daily and usually not weekly once they started.



Heh, yeah, when it's work you don't care as much, but when it's a hobby, suddenly you want to supervise every single cellular division.

[pepperfever]

Going to try some white ones this year so have 3 each of white beauty, great white and white brandywine. Roma, Gold heirloom,will have to have some cherry tomatoes and daughter got a pack of mixzed ones that she planted, took what she wanted and we get the rest, not sure what all will be growing but it should prove interesting. We grew tomatoes, peppers and herbs in homemade earth containers last year and they did great. Afdding more this year plus tilling up more ground. If I plant enough we won't have to mow right??

[Pam]

What do you mean by an earth container?

[POTAWIE]

Its a self watering container. Google "earthbox"

[Pam]

Its a self watering container. Google "earthbox"



Ah, ok.


Thanks.

[Omri]

OK I had a trip planned, but it's a no go... now I have time to grow some toms! starting to store some seeds. chiles, too!

[POTAWIE]

So you aren't coming to Canada Omri?
Do you grow any heirloom tomatos from your region? I was reading about Jerusalem Heirloom Tomato which looks like one worth trying.

[Omri]

Sadly not leaving the country for quite a while. it was more than just US-CA, but it's ok... now I have some more time for tomatoes!
I can't honestly say I heard of a 'Jerusalem Heirloom Tomato', but I'll look for it.

[TheHungryPepper]

Im growin some Sprite tomatoes and beefsteak. the 1st sprout I seen stickin up on the 3rd day after plantin them, then 12 the next day :shocked:.

Got some of the beefsteak comin up now, my 1st year growin.. but im really hopin my Pepper seeds take off like this.

[wordwiz]

I'm starting to wonder about mine. I planted 108 seeds nine days ago and none have sprouted. The others I have planted took 3-5 days. Everything is basically the same - potting soil, how deep they were planted, amount of moisture. The only difference is the heat is turned off in the germinator, at least the waterbed heater. But temps have been much warmer and the lights put out some heat too. I need these seeds to sprout - I'll be planting by the end of May.

Mike

[imaguitargod]

Just planted my Super Sweet 100!

[bowhunter]

Got my Hillbilly tomatos and Orange tomatos at 3 sets of leaves only did 5 of each to leave room for some Italian Whites.
Dan



LET IT BURN

[AlabamaJack]

I got home today and made my rounds to check how my plantouts were doing...jalapenos in full sun were wilted, but will survive...all other plants seem to be doing well...looked in my cement farm at my tomatoes and I actually have about 15 tomatoes about the size of a 00 buckshot...wonder how long I am going to have to wait for vine fresh tomatoes...

[POTAWIE]

I've been eating redrobin cherry toms for two weeks now.:P I'm glad I started them extra early this year.

[wordwiz]

^^^ I'm envious of you southerners. The forecasters are talking about snow - SNOW - this weekend. High's in the mid 40s, lows close to freezing. And I just sowed my lettuce and Mizuna. I hate it when this happens.

Mike

[Canuk Pepperhead]

this will be my first yewr with tomatoes,,,I have 2 topsy turvys now plus whats going on my garden any sudgestions?

[AlabamaJack]

The wife was really good to me...I only thought she ordered me 2 but she got 4...wonder what shes got up her sleeve...

[Canuk Pepperhead]

lol shes got something planned hehehehe

[talas]

planted some san marzano,gardners delight and some tumbling tom reds as my first venture into toms..all sprouted which is good news.my wifes happy to AlabamaJack about the toms..i dont like conspiracy theroies but..:rolleyes:

[Sorellina]

Ciao a tutti-

Can you believe it's taken me this long to find this thread? Sheesh! Omri, I'm grinning from ear to ear! You're quite a champ, that's some list you've got there. I predict lots of gifts from your garden this summer or you're chained to the stove in September. :lol:

Potawie, I need a new source for Red Robin. I hope you'll be saving a few seeds and not devouring the entire plant(s) so we can work out some kind of trade. I've sown 6 seeds now and none have come up. I'm pretty sure those seeds aren't older than 2006 so it's a bit disappointing. I've got 2 sets of true leaves on other micro-dwarfs: Hardin's Miniature, Tiny Tim, Florida Petite, Yellow Canary, and Tigerette Cherry.

Someone wanted to know if there's a striped cherry. There are several, actually. Tigerette Cherry is one of them, but it's a really really small plant, something to fit into a flower pot. For something larger, there's Tiger Tom, Tiny Tiger which is a dwarf plant, I think grows only 2-3" tall, and Don Juan, to name a few. Solana Seeds out of Quebec carries a number of these.

Pam, pity about Marianna's Peace. That's one of my very favourite pink beefsteaks and we do have significant humidity during our short summers. Brandywine Sudduth might do well for you, but it's not as productive. Stump of the World is another good large pink and so are Crnkovic Yugoslavian and Sandul Moldovan.

Have fun with your tomatoes! I look forward to following this thread, now that I know it exists!

A few tomatoes from last year's garden:

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f60/Sorellina66/BeautifulTomatoBasket081307.jpg

[Omri]

Ciao a tutti-

Can you believe it's taken me this long to find this thread? Sheesh! Omri, I'm grinning from ear to ear! You're quite a champ, that's some list you've got there. I predict lots of gifts from your garden this summer or you're chained to the stove in September. :lol:
Thanks. narrowed the list down to 25 "only". :P
A few tomatoes from last year's garden:

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f60/Sorellina66/BeautifulTomatoBasket081307.jpg
Yum!

[POTAWIE]

I'll start saving some redrobins if I can remember. The seeds I bought were quite finicky so I'll save lots and try fermenting them.

[talas]

had a similar problem with red robins POTAWIE just carnt get the seeds to germinate and have tried soaking,warm moist conditions.hot moist(boiler) and 3 differnt soil types and no luck but my manzano,tumbling reds and gardners delight have been fine :)

[Sorellina]

Ciao all-

Finally finally, I have 2 of 6 Red Robins up that I re-sowed on 9 April. I will definitely be saving seeds and hopefully this will not be an issue next year!

[POTAWIE]

Let me know if you still need some seeds.

Here's one of this year's RedRobin

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/6947/24206126854959413558zc4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And last year's midget

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/9493/87622224234c1d0e9b5va7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[wordwiz]

Potawie,

When did you plant the top one and what kind of lighting are you using?

My plant was doing great but recently has really slowed down. I'm thinking it may be the lack of light, as I simply don't have the place set up for tall, large plants yet.

Mike

[POTAWIE]

I can't remember exactly when I started them but likely sometime in January or early Feb. They got a mix of fluorescent lights and some sunlight in the winter, and have been in the greenhouse since the beginning of spring. They stay quite compact for me under fluorescent's especially with slightly cool temperatures and minimal fertilizes, but then they explode when given full sunlight!

[talas]

red robins POTAWIE am i doing something wrong..planted them twice now ( 2 dif suppliers) and still no joy,but my other 3 varietys have come on fine..any secrets to germination?

[POTAWIE]

Try germinating them in a moist paper towel or coffee filter. I had problems with germination and even some that germinated were mutated with no new growth tips so they just died off. With this variety I just start way more seeds then neccessary and hope for the best.

[Sorellina]

Ciao all-

I have 3 out of 6 seedlings thriving and putting out first true leaves now. I'll keep you posted on the need for seed, Potawie, but if these guys deliver, I'm definitely going to be saving a lot of seed. Hopefully, it's a seed age thing. The seed I've got now has no recorded save date on it, but I'm guessing 2005/2006. I'll start with fresh seed and go from there.

All in all, really good germination rates. Out of 2 flats of 32 cells each with 2 seeds per cell, I've got roughly 94% germination. I can't complain with data like that.

[POTAWIE]

I usually avoid hybrids but I grew a few of these Patio hybrids for some early compact container tomatoes. I haven't tasted them yet, but soon. They grow very well in pots in my greenhouse :P

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/8609/2481760236c75dac7fabut7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[POTAWIE]

I did a little redovating in my little greenhouse the other day. This is over half of my tomatoes but none of the big ones.;)

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/1034/2490343642be11c7614fbz3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[rabbit]

I like fried green tomatoes, like it in chili, ect, but a fresh juicy uncooked tomato............YUCK!!! :shocked: Especially those little ones that burst in your mouth those are the worst!:lol:

[AlabamaJack]

but a fresh juicy uncooked tomato............YUCK!!! :shocked: Especially those little ones that burst in your mouth those are the worst!:lol:

Those are my absolute favorites...you must be kin to my wife...she will not touch a fresh tomato...but loves all tomato products...

[wordwiz]

My wife adores fried green tomatoes - slice them, cover them with flour and fry in a skillet. For her, those with broccoli and cheese, and potato pancakes would be a fest fit for a queen.

Mike

[talas]

guys tomato beginner here iam growing...

san marzano
Tumbling Tom Reds
Gardners Delight

what do yo reccomend for the most flavoursome :)

[POTAWIE]

Here's an impressive sungold plant just full of tomatoes. These are some great tasting cherry toms. Thanks again for the seeds Habman and the recommendation:P

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/7656/2706131003f94d2c699ffj9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Canuk Pepperhead]

Heres a pic of my sweet 100 in my topsy turvey.Its doing pretty good
and just love the tomatoes its giving me
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee292/_Canuk_Pepperhead/Picture69004-3.jpg

[wordwiz]

These toms are not tall at all, but it isn't due to the grass growing round them - it's pretty much intentional, though I want to trim it. I'm fairly certain the plants do not grow tall because the fruits weigh too much - they are Giant Belgiums (or maybe Belgium Giants!) that grow from 2-5 pounds each.

Not sure if all the blooms show up in the pic, and I'm sure some of them will never convert to fruit, but there are close to 2 dozen on each plant. If they pan out, I'm talking about a serious amount of tomato juice from just two plants!

http://www.valleycat.net/garden/729tom1.jpg

http://www.valleycat.net/garden/729tom2.jpg

Mike

[okie joe]

Very nice information and some very good advice. I planted some mortgage makers and was very well pleased. Sweet 100 for just garden eating and some romas nothing outrages but I love them. I have one cherry tomatoe but can't find the stub to tell me what it is but its very sweet and the size is about the size of a large golf ball. Now the question is how do you save the seeds? I smeared some out on a paper towel and letting them dry but they still have that slimey stuff around the seed. So give me some ideas plz

[POTAWIE]

Tomoto seeds you should ferment. I've never done it before but a quick search should give you info. I gotta try some soon too for my redrobins

[POTAWIE]

Sorellina explains fermenting here. Where is Sorellina the tomato lady?
Ciao Potawie-

Yes, I ferment my seeds. The fermentation method is said to "cook" off any viruses that may be harbouring in the seed coat, as well as getting rid of the gel around the seeds, of course. The process, when done correctly, produces heat under anaerobic conditions. A fungal mat forms over the seeds and juice from the tomato (add no water or your seeds may germinate) after 3-5 days. The smelly mess is stirred, the fungal mat (along with a few seeds sticking to the underside) is poured off. Water is added and poured off carefully until clear and no gel residue remains. Clean seeds are poured onto a paper plate (to wick moisture), labelled, and stored in a cool dark place until dry. I keep my seeds in paper coin envelopes in a Lee Valley binder. I can find them easily in a bookshelf and the seeds are dry and out of the light. When stored like this, tomato seeds can remain viable for 15 years or more. A word about bugs: for those of you who may be squeamish to crawly fruit fly larvae (like me), by all means, keep your container of tomato seeds and juice COVERED to prevent the inevitable bug nightmare from invading and seriously grossing you out.

[Canuk Pepperhead]

Here is a link that might help
http://gardening.about.com/od/totallytomatoes/ss/TomatoSeeds_2.htm
Hope it awnsers some questions

[Sickmont]

but a fresh juicy uncooked tomato............YUCK!!! :shocked: Especially those little ones that burst in your mouth those are the worst!:lol:

Man, i just don't understand how anybody could not love tomatoes....between my 16 year old daughter and myself we prolly eat about an honest 5 to 10 pounds of 'em a week easy.

[Chiliac]

I love them, but I know a guy who hates them as much as you can hate anything. If you take one bite of a tomato you could chase him around the room with the half eaten fruit, he was running away from it like others would from spiders or girl scout cookies!

[talas]

Potawie how are the Opalka`s doing buddy ? :)

[POTAWIE]

I recently made a huge batch of tomato sauce with opalkas and yummy but with all the rain we've been getting, most of my tomatoes are looking terrible. I don't remember a day this summer that it hasn't rained:(

[talas]

Sorry to hear that Potawie,u.k has had similar weather to you as you no and its been getting us all down,its only the last week it has got warmer and drier...but saying that the wetness has come back with vengeance yesterday..Heres hoping it changes for you buddy ;)

[lostmind]

Tomatoes and Peppers. That's the whole reason I started my own garden!

Hot Peppers are simply too hard to find here. Tomatoes from the store, 95% of the time are red on the outside and green on the inside and have zero taste.

I remember being a kid an eating tomatoes that were soo sweet from nonno's (well he isn't *MY* nonno, he's my uncles dad but close enough in our family!) garden. Of course this is only my second year growing tomatoes... last year I had some success but mostly failure. This year my plants are looking 10x better but I am awaiting the scourge that is field mice. Last year they demolished my modest harvest and left me with maybe 2 dozen tomatoes.

Anyways... this year I am growing:

sungold
some plain old cherry tomato
patio tomato hybrid
yellow roma cherry
juliet cherry
grape cherry
yellow pear
oregon spring
legendary
black prince
amish paste
speckled roma
early girl
cherokee purple
and one brandywine that I can't recall.

I started the brandywine extra early because last year I couldn't get it to ripen a single fruit out here. This year we've been lucky to get nearly 3 weeks of heat and sun in a row and my garden did amazing. Of course, for the past two days it's been pouring rain and it sounds like it won't let up much till after the weekend.

I also need to find a calcium supplement soon, last year I had a lot of blossom end rot and black spots and I hear that's due to calcium deficiency.

[Sickmont]

I also need to find a calcium supplement soon, last year I had a lot of blossom end rot and black spots and I hear that's due to calcium deficiency.

My dad used to crush up a tums antacid and mix it with some water and water his plants with it. Just make sure to get the big tums pills in the clear-ish bottle.

[POTAWIE]

I've heard of using powdered milk for added calcium, and am thinking of trying it this year

[rainbowberry]

Would calcium tablets work the same?

[Sickmont]

Would calcium tablets work the same?

I would assume so.

[POTAWIE]

Well I just picked my biggest tomato of the year:P Its an Omar's Lebanese and its about 820 grams. I'm going to have to make some huge burgers now:lol:
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/6849/27168538575fa6f2c7ddru9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This plant is in a huge container in my greenhouse so its been out of the rain
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/4003/27144845665e11193a5bel9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[talas]

Well I just picked my biggest tomato of the year:P Its an Omar's Lebanese and its about 820 grams. I'm going to have to make some huge burgers now:lol:
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/6849/27168538575fa6f2c7ddru9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This plant is in a huge container in my greenhouse so its been out of the rain
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/4003/27144845665e11193a5bel9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Damn Tomato paste nirvana thats a big tom.

[Chiliac]

That is by far the most impressive tomatoe I have seen in years if not ever!!!!!!!!!! I'm glad I have some Omar seeds so I can give these a shot myself next season! Now all I need is a giant greenhouse! :)

Great work, you never fail to impress!

[lostmind]

wow the biggest tomato I had was about half that (if!) and it split in the rain - while still green!

[wordwiz]

I had about four volunteers from last year, probably Big Boys or Beefsteaks. I let them go since I got a late start planting the seedlings I was growing. This one plant is not the tallest but a few inches, it's only 52 inches. But it is loaded with toms, at least 25 now with lots of blooms still present.

If nothing happens to the plant and all the tomatoes ripen so I can harvest them, I'll have at least a bushel from just it. It's one of about 60 plants, though most of the others are nothing like this plant.

http://www.valleycat.net/garden/tom87.jpg

Mike

[Chiliac]

Damn, all these pics make me wish I had the space to grow some this year. Well, at least I've got sth to look forward to! :)

Looks good wordwiz. Looks very much like a much taller plant, too.

[LUCKYDOG]

My Brandywines are about that big Potawie and one is finally starting to blush -- but now Im afraid with all this rain I am starting to get spots on the leaves and yellowing -- I am going to look for a fungicide or something to help the Toms look great though

[POTAWIE]

Try a copper based fungicide like "Bordo." If you require multiple treatments you should rotate between copper based and sulpher based or they(fungii, mold etc) can build up and breed resistance. I've even heard of the copper based being used early on as a preventative measure.
I might just give mine a spray tonight if it isn't raining.

[pablo]

I've heard of using powdered milk for added calcium, and am thinking of trying it this year
hey POTAWIE
another product to consider:
Neptunes Harvest Crabshell
NPK/2-3-0/ @23% calcium
100% organic
excellent soil/garden amendment.
i need to get more for next season too.

pablo

[GrumpyBear]

when i grow up i need a greenhouse...

my tomatoes are so sad this year, i've had two so far :( everything's still green. come back mr sun! plus i've been away more than i've been here so i haven't been neurotically fussing over them, which they apparently like...

i use hen manure, it's apparently high in calcium and some critters don't like the smell. putting your eggshells in the compost apparently works too but i don't eat that many eggs.

i had two volunteers this year but they sprung up in the strangest places they don't get a lot of sun and aren't even flowering yet, i don't know what to do about those...

[LUCKYDOG]

Try a copper based fungicide like "Bordo." If you require multiple treatments you should rotate between copper based and sulpher based or they(fungii, mold etc) can build up and breed resistance. I've even heard of the copper based being used early on as a preventative measure.
I might just give mine a spray tonight if it isn't raining.

Thanks Potawie -- I'll look for it next time Im at the store. I picked one BrandyWine so far I havent tried it yet -- I just want this rain to stop so they (tomatoes) wont split on the vine.

[poblano]

I've got some splitters. lots of rain here of late.