16,949 Garden Web Discussions | Growing Tomatoes
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
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.
It's your call. I have a couple of large tomatoes with some catfacing and I'm keeping them. The catfaced part is tough to eat so I just cut it off. That one looks pretty small. Will it get bigger? Are you swamped with tomatoes? If you are worried about the catfacing ruining the flavor of the rest of the tomato, it won't imo.
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
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 !
These are Minnie Bussell tomatoes. They are large, deep-pink heirlooms that can often have rough looking tops but make up for it with amazing flavor. My mother-in-law received her seed from a wonderful lady named Carmie Grinder, who got it from the original Mrs. Minnie Bussell (now both deceased). These plants can be purchased at our family's nursery (look us up on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/MartinsCoutryGreenhouse).
Here is a link that might be useful: Martin's Country Greenhouse
I've got these too. It took a little looking around , but I found, on mine, it's Septoria Leaf Blight. I've cut and bagged any affected looking leaves (don't compost them!). The good news is, if it's Septoria, it shouldn't affect your fruits, just leaves, and your plant may be able to out grow it.
It's from all the damp weather. Try to increase air circulation around the plants. Leaves that remain wet are very susceptable to blights and fungi. Removing the infected leaves will be a two-fer.
Hi Bob,
You don't have your zone or location listed, so it's going to be hard to know for sure what is happening to your tomato plant. Also, a clear picture or two would help. That being said....
It is normal for the older leaves on a tomato plant to die as the seaon progresses, but you may have other issues.
To be able to suggest what might be wrong with your plant, it would be helpful to know more about the environment it is in. So, here are the "usual" questions:
What growing medium are you using? How large is the container? Is it self-watering or do you manually water it? Is the container in full sun, part sun or shade?
How often do you water? Have you checked the moisture of the growing medium or soil 3-5" below the surface? Is it dry, just right, or soggy? Are you feeding the plant? How often? What are the NPK values of any fertilizers you are using to feed it? What has the weather been like in your area?
The more information you can give us, the better the chances that someone can give you an accurate diagnosis.
Betsy
Great news. We picked our first 2 red tomatoes on Thursday of last week. They came from the plant that's apparently a cross between last year's "regular"-sized big tomatoes and last year's cherry/grape tomatoes.
Even better news. Those 2 tomatoes taste dee-lish! They're so juicy and flavorful. I was surprised how good they are, after reading I might be disappointed. I hope their seeds produce true next year. Wow, that 84-count plant (it probably has over a 100 toms on it now I guess) not only produces tasty tomatoes but it produces them fast. We have another 4 toms ripening red right now, and, although we have lots of toms on our "regular," big-sized tomato plants, they're all still green as of today I think.
By the way, the size of the first 2 red toms on that 84-count plant was about 1.5 inches tall and 1.5 inches wide. They're pretty round. I guess each tomato is about the size of 2 ping pong balls.
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 .