16,949 Garden Web Discussions | Growing Tomatoes
Mini Roma is the name I have given to it, I got the seeds from store bough tomatoes.
Forgot Beliy Naliv. I love my earlies, they fun and are so needed. They do not take place of later ones, it is just great to start eating fresh ones so early. I've grown Kibitz before it is lovely roma type. Kimberley, BN and 0-33 new.
Below 0-33 and Kimberley under. Every flower has set fruit.
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
Thank you much. Took some serious fertilizing the first summer we lived here. I had a soil test done through UT and we were really off on nutrients. We started rolling the chicken poop in the compost and it is really rich now. Also explains the pop up plants all over the garden/
I would say that it being in with grass might be a factor. If it were me I might have chosen to plant it in a pot instead. Either that, or make a small garden bed in the yard. I think the grass may be competing with it.
You put "some" spikes in the ground - how many? How many did the package say to use? It could be nutrient burn as some suggested.
Sorry for making assumptions; we are just trying to help you here. Have you grown tomatos from seed before so you have some basis for comparison?
Traditionally, you start giving diluted fertilizer when they get their first true leaves. I would give some soluble fertilizer immediately.
Also, tomatos are stimulated into growth by transplanting, so if you started the seeds in the 3" pots and haven't transplanted them, pot them up/plant them out now and that will help.
If indeed they are healthy but just slow, doing these things should stimulate growth.
Nice looking fruit there, caryltoo!
Yea, you guys have it luckier in SoCal. :) My weather here is as hot as you guys in the summer (maybe hotter?) but a tad colder in the winter so winter tomatoes are out but I should be okay to mid-November or so.