16,949 Garden Web Discussions | Growing Tomatoes
oh my gosh t-bird, I know! I actually did check the 10 day, a well as the monthly... and I did not see that. But at any rate, I used boxes to cover them, so hopefully they will survive. Last night was the last of it so I'm hoping that wasn't too much for them.
just an update in case anyone comes across this and wonders what happened:
the vine-type tomatoes did great on the pallets. I had to tie them up a few times, but overall they functioned well enough for what I hoped. The bush tomatoes did not do so well on them. Luckily I only had one of those.
I probably won't do this again next year unless I have to though, I think there are definitely better solutions to be had.
these tomatoes are supposed to be "slicers" but I cooked some today and they made very good tomato soup so I will be able to use them at least.
They were grown in huge planters - about 20 L.- have been well fertilized and watered. I am growing 3 other varieties in the same manner that are very successful - lots of fruits and nice flavor and texture
Agree that you don't want them on the window, don't want them in direct sun. When we say ripen on the counter that doesn't mean in the window or the direct sun.
Can't say why your Grandmother thought the window sun was needed.
Dave
I planted 6 seeds this year and got 5 RL seedlings and 1 PL. I planted the PL and 1 RL. The RL produced 3 big, beautiful, tasty toms that look exactly like the photos on Taniana's website. The PL toms aren't ready yet. It looks like they need another 2 weeks at least. Admittedly, I got the seed in an exchange.
John A
I've been getting both PL and RL seedlings from Stump of the World since 2003. Saved PL seed and saved RL seed each produce PL and RL seedlings. Tomatoes from PL and RL plants tasted the same. My source for seed was Chuck Wyatt.
If one runs across a tomato called Perpetual Change, it's this PL and RL version of Stump of the World.
Gary
Try variety Cherry Falls from Livingston Seed Co. Cascading cherry tomato type, best to place on some kind of plant stand. I put three plants in one 15 gallon pot. Incredibly heavy production, got more tomatoes than I could use. Ended up pulling the loaded plants when garden plants started producing. Decent flavor, thin skin. Not a fan of cherry tomatoes in general but I want early tomatoes, and container cherries are my best chance of achieving this goal.
Have been growing Red Robins for many years. Cherry Falls beats Red Robin hands down.
Hi Linda,
The seeds came from Baker's Creek which is a very reputable source. I think it was a labeling error by the student grower rather than a breeding error. My own labels fall out and get mixed up sometimes so I sympathize. I looked through the orange tomato varieties in the catalog and this is the one that sounded like the best match. I have attached the photo from the catalog. They don't show one in profile so it is hard to say. I guess the thing to do is order some from the catalog next year and see if they come out the same. I also intend to save seeds from this beautiful tomato. Blight or septoria set in mid season this year. I still got lots of tomatoes though the plants are mostly dead now. Some of the tomato varieties get blemishes on the fruit but this one came though spotlessly.
My guess would be powdery mildew
Here is a link that might be useful: Powdery mildew on toms, google images
I'm glad to see that the sun was shining b/c there was a chance of strong storms.
Craig LeHoullier is my best tomato friend, and more, and we've known each other for about 23 years now and Craig and Lee have hosted Tomatopalooza for many years now and it has always been a success with great attendance.
I know it was held at Efland and I looked in the picture to see if another one of my friends was there b'c he lives in Efland. Shoe Griffen is his name and he along with two others do most of my seed production for me now that I can't, and Craig raises all my plants for me and ships them up there.
I asked both Lee and Craig, I forgot to e-mail Shoe, to make sure that none of the fruits from my new varieties were out there so folks could get seeds and Lee said not to worry b'c they keep an eye on varieties such as those as well as the fruits from the Dwarf Project that haven't yet been released/
It takes a tremendous amount of work to set up the tables like that with the signs and cut fruits and labelled plates and I do hope that folks appreciate that/
It sounds like you had a good time and I'm glad for that.
Carolyn
I canôt help but drool over the pictures LOL
so many to try...
How does one goes around about finding local gatherings of similar origin?
We have local small group of tomato peeps and I really would love to get to know more Chicagoland growing tomatoers and tomatoettes and either join or help organize something similar.
Container growing has been good to me this season...but it is certainly different than in-ground. Grow bags seem to work for many....but sure dry out quickly. This means lots of work. Larger is generally better. Fast-draining mixes is important. Feed regularly.
I obviously screwed up on that post, I'll try and figure out what went wrong and re- post.
Chic
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This post was edited by seysonn on Fri, Aug 30, 13 at 23:08
They (the hornworms) were actually something of a treat to have... for my puppy that is. After taking off the tomatoe plant Belle would play with and then eventually eat them. I told my honey that belle got 4-6 servings of greens today.
But boy can they defoliate a branch overnight.
tom
Squash Vine Borers are worse, IMO. At least the hornworms can be picked off when damage is seen. SVB's do damage and are often impossible to remove and have plant recover.
Hate them with a rather violent passion...
At least the chickens can eat the hornworms.
"Growing tomatoes in Minnesota must be challenging. What techniques do you use to help speed up the growing?" - In all honesty the only technique I have found to work is patience and acceptance of the fact that the tomatoes will come when they come. And to never fertilize tomato plants with a high nitrogen fertilizer unless you like giant tomato shrubs with poor fruit production. ;) A little bit of neglect in strategic areas can help in overall success and quality.
IMHO as much as I have experimented in the past I now accept that you simply cannot do anything to speed up the process of getting (good quality) ripe tomatoes, as much as I would dearly love to do so. All the more reason to appreciate and enjoy them when in season.
Btw, making sauce with non-paste tomatoes and taking all that time to reduce it until it thickens? My sister does that, best sauce I have ever tasted. IMO a simple method of achieving excellent results of which many people are not aware. As for me, I simply do not have that kind of patience in the kitchen...
The crate of pastes contains Incas, Classica, my own sausage-type, and other crosses.
The crate of beefsteaks include Zarnitsa, Earl's Faux, Big Boy, Oregon, Black from Tula, Mortgage Lifter, Tomesol White, a medium yellow/orange off-type from Kellogg's Breakfast that I saved and stabilized, and one or two crosses.