16,949 Garden Web Discussions | Growing Tomatoes

OK, thanks! I know there's no such thing as disease or pest proof but it seems that every year we have one variety or another that is worse than the others for catching every disease known to man (well, not really but you know what I mean LOL!) So I will just have to wait and see. And have a couple of extra height-extenders handy just in case. Another adventure!!
Edie

Bear Creek was bred by Keith Mueller, who has bred many wonderful varieties.

The link below gives some background on Bear Creek a as well as his others and also what he's working on now.

Carolyn

Here is a link that might be useful: Bear Creek

My Cherokee Purple has 6 fruits and the Brandywnes look healthier than usual., and I planted them "late" this year. I'm thinking "late" is better than "early".

Regular :
"1.arranged in or constituting a constant or definite pattern, especially with the same space between individual instances. "

So by definition if , say Cherokee Purple has "Regular" leaves then a tomato with "carrot" leaves (like Silvery Fir Tree) do not fit into the same class, being regular

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Sorry, but I don't understand what you are trying to say when you talk about a definite pattern and same space between "instances"

That sounds to me more like an attempt to define internode distances which define the difference between ind and det varieties.

You can see from the FAQ that RL leaves have the normal indentations along the leaf edge, while most PL leaves do not, although there are 5 versions of PL leaves that have been recognized.

And heaven knows how many versions of RL leaves since the indentations along the leaf edge can vary considerably from variety to variety to variety as can leaf width, etc.

So, SFT does not have varietgated foliage, it doesn't have angora foliage, it doesn't have PL foliage, it doesn't have rugose foliage,what it has is a version of RL foliage.

I linked below to one picture which shows the foliage pretty well, but you can do a Google search for the variety and IMAGES come up and you can click on those as well

Carolyn

Here is a link that might be useful: Foliage of SFT

For container growers....it is critical NOT to use MG "moisture control" potting mix. It holds way to much water and creates muck near the bottom of the container. Most tomato growers prune lower leaves to avoid all the dreaded fungal/bacterial issues which are so common to maters. Remove damaged/diseased leaves at bottom, and spray.

I hear you with that Fire Duck, But it was regulaur MG and the rest of my container mixes I have in 5-1-1 mix from last year which I replenished. But here is a video that i just made this evening (at leat one part)

This was my attempt today :)

Look below, I just planted a Black Krim and Black Cherry.

In all do time Those Maters will grow :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Mr Beno Link

This post was edited by thebutcher on Sun, Jun 22, 14 at 22:20

Out of six children, I am the only gardener. I like to grow fruits and vegetables that taste better homegrown like tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, cukes....Stuff that takes up too much room, is dirt cheap in the Fall, or is bothered by pests, I can buy those at the grocery store.

I must admit that I simplified my gardening as I got older. These days, I only plant what we can reasonably consume. The first couple of years I gardened, I canned over two hundred jars of pickles, relishes, tomatoes...some of it got used but some got tossed a few years later.

I don't see it as a money saving venture because I can certainly afford to buy whatever I need in the stores...I garden because I like doing it and it is rewarding to eat flavourful, fresh food.

I can grow my own tomatoes for less than $3 per pound for a nice heirloom at the local market. However I go without before spending that much for a tomato. I grow them because it's a passion.

I can't compete with a 106 oz can of tomato puree from Costco for $2.79. I don't know how they do it. If you figure two pounds of tomatoes reduces to one pound for puree it works out to about 20 cents per pound. I buy the puree and then make marinara sauce from it cheaper than I can grow it or buy prepared sauce.

Lettuce is a little different. We used to spend six bucks a week for lettuce, 3 bags times $2 each. A setup for lettuce costs me about $20 for an 18 inch container, potting soil, cage and shade cap. If it lasts five years that's four bucks a year for one setup. It takes about five weeks to grow out an 18 inch rosette and then a week or so downtime. That works out to about eight harvests per year. One eighteen inch head easily matches a bag of lettuce so I am saving about sixteen bucks a year less four for a total of twelve dollars in savings per container. And the lettuce tastes better.

Zeuspaul

Aphids, with wings, bend legs ?!?
I agree wit "fori" on Second one : grasshopper/cricket or something in that category.

Here is a link to an aphid photo for comparison. Wings and all.

Here is a link that might be useful: aphid photo

I know you said you have only the two plants in the whole container, but that one plant looks like it has at least four, if not five, stems coming from the base...which usually means more than one plant.

You need a much larger pot if you want any degree of success. There have been years where I've started too many plants and have simply plunked them into whatever was available and those plants never did produce much.

Agree, much too shallow for a tomato plant. Don't use regular soil in a container. You need a soilless mixture and you need to fertilize on a regular basis when using containers. Make sure you add lime to the mixture and that the fertilizer doesn't have too high of a nitrogen ratio, or you will get lots of foliage and no fruit.
Sharon

It is normal for some of the lower leaves to grow downward.
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Ohiofem,
The op's plant has other problem : i.e. th stem's growth end is pointing downward. Unless it is a genetic characteristic of the variety, that is abnormal and that case plant is not healthy.
JMO

Seysonn: I agree. I was addressing my comment to Lydamay, whose plant looks different.

It's in the ground... I'll try and get a picture this afternoon. at this point it's completely flopped over and taking over the plants next to it. I don't have any cages :(

I think you can carefully lift up the main stem and tie it to a pole or stake.

They look a bit under fed, and over watered, but hard to tell from the photos.

Just curious, did you remove the peat pot before planting?

I planted plants about that size exactly 4 weeks ago. Mine are now about 3 feet tall. Have you fertilized at all? I'll also echo Ed's question, did you leave those peat pots on the Bonnie plants?

The 5x10 sheets are already rusted sitting at Home Depot, is it ok to use them like that as I've seen ones standing and they are no longer rusty, or do you have to paint them or just not use?

Remesh (aka CRW)? Yes they usually rusted and used that way with no problem. It is just an appearance issue not one of function. Rust (iron oxide) is a normal component of soil. But sure you can paint them if you want to.

There are many different kinds of galvanized fencing that can be used too as in Korney's pics above. Big hardware stores and lumber yards will have a wider selection of options than HD does. And how many cages you can get out of one panel or roll all depends on the diameter you want them to be.

OTOH if you are talking about cattle panels being rusted, that would be very unusual.

Dave

Do you have local Tractor Supply?

In my area the CRW is cheaper and a heavier grade than HD or Lowes.

You might also want to check Craigslist or another local advertizement place. We have the SC Market Bulletin here, which is all farm related.

I picked up a 100' roll of CRW and a 75' roll of galvanized steel fencing for $50 from a Craigslist ad a few years ago!