16,949 Garden Web Discussions | Growing Tomatoes
Eva Purple Ball's oddity is in the name as there's really nothing purple about it. Its more of a dark pink/red. I like to think the person who named it was color blind. There's a very similar variety called Redfield Beauty, but I have yet to grow it. I'll add that Eva Purple Ball holds up very well in intense summer heat. 2013 and 2012 were the 4th and 5th hottest summers on record here and Eva kept producing while many other varieties withered and halted production.
That's exactly what I was running into, Seysonn, information overload. I once spent nearly 6 months researching DVD players before I settled on one, so I have a tendency to over research things.
In any case, it's settled, I've ordered a heat mat and am setting up my seed starting space.
nugrdnnut,
January was colder last year but February has been colder this year, at least east of the Rockies. For this area, last Feb. averaged 5 degrees below normal, but this year so far it's about 9 degrees below normal and that number will continue to climb with temps around 0 for lows this week.
Helen,
Cukes did well here too but it seemed other critters were more numerous. Maybe the constant cold kept them in hiding rather than false springs luring them out to freeze.
early is good, tasty is a plus. something to wrap the bacon around.
and the list has changed again. Jaune Flammee is def. on the list. About all my seed has arrived, about all the peppers are being germinated. i have 2 wks to solidify the list. then i have to search for containers.
dave
I love Jaune Flamme. LOVE LOVE LOVE. I grew it this fall thru mild Winter and processed all the seed out of one of the largest tomatoes. Dense planted them and now am separating them to give away to the unenlightened! I need to plant Siletz too I have heard it does great in high heat.
In Southwest Ohio near the southern edge of zone 5, I have had the best luck with tomatoes that have a day's to maturity of less than 85 days. I have about four months of reliably suitable tomato growing weather, and I would guess you probably have two or three weeks less. I can grow Brandywines that have their first tomatoes at the end of July, and with luck they will continue producing until late September. Here is an OSU Extension publication that lists suitable varieties and growing tips, but like most of the advice you get from extension agencies, they favor hybrids. But they do list heirlooms I've had good luck with, like Brandywine, Mortgage Lifter and Cherokee Purple.
This year I also baked my soil for indoor use. Haven't seen any insects. Last year I w.as fighting fungus gnat. I also soaked starter soil with peroxide solution.
Baking soil at 200- 250F will destroy any microbes in the soil, good or bad. .I find things like fungus gnat flying around very annoying beside the damage they cause .
Sysonn
I have to assume that hydrogen peroxide, or a bath in hot water, will also destroy any microbes in the soil, good or bad. In fact, the hot water will probably rinse out chemical nutrients as well. I'm not clear on this, but I don't see any advantages in soil microbes for seedlings. Correct me if I'm wrong, but soil microbes are of primary value in breaking down organic matter in the soil, which is kind of irrelevant for seedlings and seedpots. I suspect that highly sterile soil will allow seedling growth just as well as good-microbial-rich soil will. Ag extensions are pretty unanimous in recommending that seeds be started in sterile soil. As in, everything dead. Now, that being said, I understand that soil should not be overheated, or it will release toxic amounts of ammonium compounds. But that's a chemical issue, and not a microbial one.
Fireduck,
You have achieved good results. You are NO LONGER a nubie : -)
My first batch of tomatoes sprouted in 4 days too (without exception)
However , I soaked the seeds overnight. I was thinking that it is almost a record. So we have tied for the first place: lol
Seysonn
thanks for the confidence S. I actually planted a second round of seeds that germinated 100%. As my dad used to say..."I am a little bit proud". haha. My exuberance is leading to way too many plants...a good thing. My pepper seeds seem to be MUCH slower. I suppose that is expected?
For telling when to water I go by the color (perhaps shade is a better word) of the potting mix and the weight of the pot or cell pack. Might take a bit of practice to tell but one that needs watered will have a mix lighter in color and will also weigh a lot less when picked up. There is no set watering schedule. And of course, if the seedlings look like they are starting to wilt then they definitely need water. :) Better to have them on the drier side than have them too wet.
Rodney
Good point Rodney. I can also tell by the weight of the pot if it needs watering. It is amazing how much a difference few oz of water can make But the top of my pots are mulched with pine bark or there is a lot of perlite that does indicate anything.
Just to clarify, I don't want to leave the impression that Big Beef and Cherokee Purple are early varieties. They were just the first to produce ready-to-pick tomatoes for me last year and they substantially beat out Matina, considered an early variety. Furthermore, after their first tomatoes, they weren't really in full production at that point. It was several days before subsequent tomatoes were ready.
I'll be noting Dave's suggestions for other early varieties for the future.
I should probably make it a point to grow at least one cherry each year, but I consider them the appetizer before the main course. Once the bigger tomatoes come along, the cherries tend to get ignored. Or perhaps its just that Sungold is so productive, I actually get annoyed keeping up with picking them.
Thanks Linda, I’ll look for that one.
Dave, if that is the case, then I should be asking, what is the most productive, best tasting tomato? I’ve read a lot of people rave over Cherokee Purple but say it’s not very productive, so is it possible to get great taste and productivity?
Nitsua, I am going to be growing Cherokee Purple anyway. I’ll have to look into Big Beef, I can’t remember if I’ve tried it. I tried Champion last year, recommended by the nursery that I purchased a few plants from. It was not a winner for me.
I got Better Boy, Cherokee Purple, Homestead, and 'Bonnie Grape TamiG'. From seed I started Sweet 100 and Blondkopfchen. Can plant in 3 weeks. This year the fluorescent setup is on a rolling Metro shelf, I can unplug and remove the lights and wheel it outside during the day to start them hardening off in another week/10 days.
thebutcher - We will both have an opinion on Jersey Boy - by the end of the season - I spent the big bucks at Burpee necessary to try this new variety. I can't tell you a thing about it except for what I have read at this point. My starts of Jersey Boy are already up and I hope it will be a great one!
All righ Hudson. Good luck.
Probably it will be about 110 days from now to pick that first ripe tomato and post a picture on this board. I am looking forward to my first Brandy Boy about the same time.
Seysonn