16,949 Garden Web Discussions | Growing Tomatoes
Each of these plants has five or six big almost-red fruit on them, so I can't help but believe that
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Dan, those are mature / old plants. Yellowing lower leaves is a normal thing especially with dry and warm condition couple with being burdened with load of fruits. JMO
Sey
Thanks, Jenn and Hudson.
My plants are in tip top shape, all loaded with buds and flower, w/ near perfect foliage in color and vigor . It is just fruit setting that is lagging behind. Part of this slow action in the garden is due to cool nights. The lows are around 53F. Even we get lows in 40s now and then.
Sey
Of the varieties in your list 3 of them ( black/brown) are noted for good flavore by many:
Black Krim
Cherokee Purple
Black cherry
Rutgers is a classic All American variety. I have grown it several years ago and growing one this year too.
The cherry varieties are among the popular ones too. I have grown Super 100 and Sun Gold. They are sweet but the texture is watery/juicy but sweet.
I stopped growing them for being too small. for me. I am growing bigger ones with more meat and better texture.YMMV
Sey
Well, it's true, most lists of tomatoes and their traits do not necessarily include texture. Sometimes, people will note that a variety is particularly soft or firm. Although it does not necessarily include texture information, this is a good resource to know about:
http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Main_Page
But mostly I just wanted to point out that if you end up with tomatoes where you don't care for the texture, they will still make great sauce, soup, juice, and maybe dried tomatoes.
Soup is my absolute favorite thing to make from my own fresh tomatoes!
I probably did it wrong :( I just pulled back the weed fabric that I had used for planting last year, put down a layer of compost, put my seedlings (started indoors from some from the same seeds that I used last year, now I'm thinking that maybe they're contaminated) in and pulled the weed fabric back over them. They're watered every other day with a drip hose for 20 minutes every other day. I didn't start spraying till last week, when I noticed the damage.
<They're watered every other day with a drip hose for 20 minutes every other day. I didn't start spraying till last week, when I noticed the damage.>
All the other issues aside, please don't do that. That is called shallow watering and only creates shallow rooted, water dependent plants that never thrive. 1-1 1/2 inches of water per week delivered slowly at one time per week is more than enough in 9.9 out of 10 cases. Plants will not benefit from frequent shallow watering for brief periods of time under any conditions.
Dave
Jenn, I sent some blushing tomatoes to Craig on Friday. He said from my pictures I sent of ripe ones along with the tomatoes, this could be a red tomato. ( they ripen to a deep red orange). So it now could be a stray seed and if so we both think it is Kimberley. He is going to save seed and grow it this fall to determine if it is a cross or a stray seed. Taste was yummy. And so early I will probably plant again if it turns out it is not a cross. I also like Sungold more when it isn't so ripe!
Jennie
Mini Roma is the name I have given to it, I got the seeds from store bough tomatoes.I like the enviro friendly post by Shoontok and have seen Irish Spring Soap work as well as Ivory but if the little beasties come back I will be using that recipe Shoontok posted for sure!! Thank God it was only one tomato plant and one Oriental lily. Got 13 tomato plants but 10 behind fencing that I hope will deter them as we are right near the woods. I am trying to use water from bathtubs/kitchen sink to give all plants water, its hard work too. Water bills are ridiculous here in O.C., NC!
Craig LeHouliller says the only thing that really works for him is the Scarecrow motion-activated sprinklers. Environmentally no problem, doesn't hurt the deer, easy once set up.
I also have seen the idea of planting a deer "fence" with all kinds of yummies for the deer that basically stop them before they get to your garden. That could work if one has a fairly large property.
Carriehelene, do you ever listen to You Bet Your Garden on NPR? The host is very anti-Miracle Grow because of the salts he says it leaves in the soil, eventually ruining it, especially if you don't add compost to amend. I use the black plastic, and rototill every other year, but my soil is full of worms and everything grows pretty well even without fertilizers, although I am trying some fish fertilizer this year for the first time. I also am fortunate to have very good soil to start.
Vince... what size, style, and wattage (I guess 'lumens' is a better measurement) of LED's are you using. They are starting to come down in price, and they are quite a bit more efficient than even florescents. I suppose if I switch over I won't be able to use my 'heat mat' trick, but alas...
I actually agree with both of you. Pollenation isn't strictly needed, but can also be enhanced.
I thought of this thread today as I was watching a bumblebee getting busy trying to cross my tomatoes!
I did read those links - turns out I'd read a couple before, Carolyn had linked me to them on Tomatoville. The one I hadn't read went into more detail about the pollenation process. Interesting stuff!
Jenn
Oh, Hudson, that tomato looks soooo good. Yum. Stuck my Anna Russian in a brown paper bag to speed along its ripening. Cannot wait. As an aside, I've been getting greenhouse tomatoes from the local Amish farmers, but they don't look that good either inside or out. I wonder why? Maybe they don't regulate temps enough, what with the no electricity thing (although the one I go to does use a generator for a fridge so he can sell eggs and butter. I've always wondered why that's OK).
The temperature in our GH is usually between 55 - 65 degrees F at night. There are some fluctuations below 55 degrees - but for just brief periods of a few hours of time.
caryltoo - I don't understand why a generator is OK either - is there an Amish Mafia? We may have the Amish to thank for Brandywine - so thanks to them for that!! I think zone 3 is ideal for a GH if used correctly and built with the right materials because of our cold climate. Not much we can do in the winter but March - November temperatures are manageable. Summer temperatures especially are not too hot with cool nights. Our GH was dubbed "The Magical GH" by one of our participants! I like that explanation the best!