16,949 Garden Web Discussions | Growing Tomatoes

Based on what I read, I don't think you did anything wrong. The "problems" you had were more likely due to the time of year rather than any fault of your own. Tomatoes are simply not going to grow as well in September because it is not as warm and the sunlight is not as good. Colder nights also have an effect.

There are any number of things that can cause yellowing of leaves late in the year. In addition, some varieties simply are not as productive as others.

Soil mixtures are probably overrated. If you give your tomatoes a bit of fertilizer here and there, they will likely grow fine in plain dirt.

Personally, I think growing in a container is a complete waste of time unless you can't grow in the ground. You will not get as good of growth or as good production.

Tomatoes need a rich and well-drained soil. Fertilizers not too high in nitrogen should be added prior to the planting; because too much nitrogen will produce a large plant, but with fewer tomatoes. If you have grown tomatoes before; then select a spot where they have not been planted for at least last four years.

Thanks everyone! I'll stop worrying and start watering less.

Potting mix that holds too much water is like fighting a losing battle. Peat and perlite wouldn't have much in it for the plant and your kelp fertilizer by your description seems unbalanced.

I think a good potting mix with some extra perlite in it might have the proper pH and a little fertility. I am no expert but I have found that drainage is critical. I think you have a combination of potting mix holding too much water and a lack of nutrients.

You have a control because your plant with worm castings looks better. Do you have any more worm castings? I am thinking you could put them in water and strain it then use the 'castings' tea next time your plant is dry.

I am having a problem with some of my plants and the difference is I ran out of one batch of potting mix and used another on the later plants. I treated them the same but the earliest potting mix drained well and those plants look better.

Glad you waited it out and used the foliar dilute fish spray,

They look great from that first picture.

Did you also try to dry out those plants as well or at least not watering so much and at least trying to keep them warmer?

Carolyn

And they all lived happily ever after. Glad you got them thru it. Good job!

Agree with Ohiofem. Tomato plants aren't flowers. "Pinching" doesn't not apply to them. If you didn't get much fruit last year it had nothing to do with any pinching you did or didn't do.

Production is determined by the growing conditions you provide and the genetics of the specific variety grown.

Dave

sounds to me like original poster has been reading UK gardening message boards since topping plants and suckering plants does not help production. It hurts production if you don't do it correctly you will get no harvest at all.

Two posts on this thread discuss varieties for drying (my post about 1/4 of the way down, and then fusion_power's post (the second post after mine):
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tomato/msg0101561527833.html?11

Thanks. This is useful information.

The oak stakes are not expensive but what is the shipping cost? I guess if you have them in the garden for the summer then pull them and store in a dry place, they would resist rot.

I use bamboo for stakes.

Here is a link that might be useful: My Tomato Stakes

Thanks NZ,
It has a 12" wide x 16" deep with rebar footing all around the perimeter of the GH then contiguous to the ground. The 4x4 posts are buried16" in the ground also. I used threaded rods from the 4x4 to the exterior studs for spacing and strength. The threaded rods are approximately 18" below the soil line so it does not interfere with tilling etc. These indeterminate tomatoes will grow all the way to the ridge beam if I plant them early enough! Awesome producers too - constant supply - always tomatoes ripening on the levels below as new blossoms are developing several levels up - etc etc!

Yes those tomatoes are making me hungry too.
As to posting here it is open to everyone love your set up as well I am getting some positive feed back finally and loving every minute of it. please keep this up as it is helping me as much as many others who do take the time to read this thread. I'm thinking of two different stlyes of
gardens this year raised beds like the ones in your GH or ground level beds. so will be experimenting with both of those this year to see which will be better for me to use.
and yes I have a few tires and found a dryer drum as well for growing tomatoes and some other hill type plants. will let you know how they do as I begin my planting outside this month.

Thanks uncle_t,
I live in Mississauga-Brampton border, can you suggest me which type of Tomato you grow in Markham? what is the right time to sow seeds? I usually let seedling grow to 8-10 inches and then transplant. To grow upto 8 inch it can take 45-60 days, once temp goes above 20 c in daytime, it grows faster.

This year I'm growing Early Girl, Red and Yellow Brandywines and McKenzie seed's "Sweet Cherry Hybrid". The Cherry tom is amazingly prolific. I usually start seeding indoors around March 27th and plant between May 15 and 21st (depends on forecast).

I come from both Greek and Italian decent (50/50) - so growing up involved alot of family type social activities, gardening, and of course eating !!! Both sets of grandparents have taught me and are still teaching me how to love and stay together through thick and thin, lots of life lessons, as well as how to become a master gardener .... Their specialties are more towards flowers and landscaping ~ but they sure have been enjoying the "fruits" of my labor every summer, as I always bring fresh veggies to their tables ~ Tom

ps. My Mom and Pop have also been great too .... Have happy and healthy holidays everyone !

I hope this isn't too much of a faux pas here, but I just stumbled on this thread and it's marvelous.

And keeping a salt shaker in the glovebox is a great idea.

carolync1, the place where I purchased the plants is questionable and they marked them as a determinate. The characteristics all favored a determinate. It may not be what it was but that is what I am sticking with.

To me it doesn't matter. I am going to clone whatever I can.

As an example of what happens when you grow a hybrid seed, I planted grocery store Romas and got the same Roma with one seed. But with another seed, I got a large round cherry tomato. The cherry was actually pretty tasty but had the hard storage qualities of a grocery store tomato.

I also grew a Campari which had supposedly been grown out and considered an OP version. I got a hard little cherry with pointed ends that was not good at all.

A fellow has grown out Husky Cherry Red seeds and produced a tomato that grows 14 feet tall which he considers the best cherry tomato he's ever tasted and saves the seed and grows it every year.

It's interesting to see what you get when you grow a hybrid. But the results are usually not worth the effort unless you are doing it as a science experiment. You could start the beginnings of your own OP version though.

Oops, my mistake! I meant to say TOMATOES but obviously had roses on my mind, since I grow a lot of them, too.

And, I just found out that if veggies are grown in pots that have BPA, they will take it up and keep it. This bothers me a lot.

Eahamel, lol about the roses...

My tomatoes are growing in pots about 14 inches tall, I put them in spots where I have straw as a mulch and some of the roots grow in the soil, by then the plant is strong and nematodes don't affect them. I like to use any material for pots that is lightweight because clay is just to heavy to move. I have been growing tomatoes like this for many years. Grow bags are good too like smarpots if you can get them.

My tomatoes in the porch today after the the freezing night.

Silvia