16,949 Garden Web Discussions | Growing Tomatoes

Well, now I'm looking forward again to next season, armed with amended mix! Almost ready to give up this year, but I'll give it another shot. Thanks Sharon and seysonn.

There is a brand of pine bark mulch available here at Lowe's and HD that seems to be the correct size, and tends to be flat "flakes" rather than "chunks."

-Bruce

That's the stuff. You'll get it for next year. Don't give up! There are lots of people with great knowledge who re willing to help.

Sharon

Has anyone actually tried tomatos in a fruit salad??...Just asking.

This, picking after color break, is the best idea since the invention of the ball point pen. This way you beat the birds, squirrels, rats, and the rest.

My Brandywine is BLOSSOMING. hehe

Thats a bit more than blushing ! They do look great Yum Yum !

I know how you guys are feeling. I have been there when the rats did eat my melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, seedlings. I never thought that the squirrels did it. Because there was a lot of acorns and other stuff around. Plus, squirrels have a habit of taking a bite, throwing it away, getting another one.

I think the best way is to put traps. I made one of those "HUMANE" traps myself and kept catching rats, never a squirrel. I also put baits( such that the birds wont see them).

Simply put critter damage ! What kind of critter who knows. Down low Racoon, possum,squirel. Up high birds .

I have grown the pink for 3 or more years and love it....awesome ! It is a must have for me,

Thanks for the responses. Agree that all tomato flavors can differ from year to year. I just wanted to make sure that I understood this variety's "temperaments" within the growing season as well as from year to year. My research indicates that between the pink version and ivory version, the ivory is the most consistent between the two in regards to color and flavor.

This growing year has noted certain varieties in my garden having low flowering vs. others as well as slowed ripening. I do know that the Dr. C variety takes longer to ripen than a typical cherry variety (75 days) and was thinking maybe the first ones off the plant are milder in flavor than the later ones.

In my garden this variety has flowered and produced fruit well and the plant is very vigorous so I'm hoping that it's flavor will improve as it seems to do well in my garden and I'd like to keep it in my rotation.

smithmal

Ir's probably running out of water fater than you think because it's still operating on what is essentially a small rootball from the 4-inch pot.

Perhaps temporary shade will help.

Thanks. I can try that.

Cheers,
Linda

Wish I could say the same! I'm growing BK for the first time and from what I've read it does have a tendency to crack.

Gorgeous plants and cute girl! BK's are extremely susceptible to splitting and usually circular around the top. As far as the others ripening, I can only speak to the Roma's. Mine are usually among the first to ripen, but not always. Once they start they will go fast and usually mostly all together.

Thanks labradors! You made me laugh. No, I don't have any missing plants. I know the signs of hornworm damage on tomato plants, and the plant is fine. With that amount of frass, you're right, entire plants should be missing!

I swept up all of the evidence and separated the plants. I will check tomorrow for any new poo. It has to be hornworms (large ones) but I can't tell what they could be eating!! I googled slug poo b/c I know there are slugs out there. But not a match. And parsley worm poo is green, and the parsley is intact, too. It's driving me crazy.

I don't know what slug poop looks like!

I hope you saved all that poop to fertilize your garden (G).

The caterpillars that feed on Parsley (Queen Anne's Lace, Fennel, Dill, Rue and Carrot) are the lavae of the the beautiful Swallowtail butterfly. They don't get as big as the hornworm. I try to restrict them to one plant, and share because I think they are so beautiful.

Linda

Posted by bets z6A ID (My Page) on Mon, May 20, 13 at 15:25

Thank you so much for your help. I am looking forward to the tomatoes soon =)

Some updates:

Ground:

Pot:

I know that this thread is getting a bit dusty, but I'm just curious as to how many tomatoes can planted in the storage containers. Two heirloom's seem about right.

Lastly, how would these compare to black 15 gallon growers pots. I've been told that black is a no-no. Opinions?

Thanks

I agree with DICLEMEG and :
I would suggest that if you decide to trans-pot them, do it to containers like those shown in DICLEMEG's post and do it as soon as you can. So the plants do not suffer double shocks BOTH from trans-potting and moving. The reason I like those in DICLEMEG's photo is that it will be much easier to organize the roots in those than in a 5gal bucket.

Also , if you decide to do it, think of some kind of support to protect them both during and after the move.

I have done once a similar thing: I dug up my tomato plant, wrapped it in some tarp, loaded onto the truck, took it to the new location and planted. I harvested a lot of tomatoes from that plant till frost and never had even wilting problem with it.

It will be much simpler if you are going to keep them in the pots for the rest of the season.

Good luck !

Send some of that rain this way! Had some this weekend but not much, had an inch last Monday - July has been dry and my blackberries need water!

Keep on keeping on.
You must be doing a great job fighting the blight.

About impatience about ripe fruit, you are not alone . hehe