16,949 Garden Web Discussions | Growing Tomatoes

It could be that the tent isn't getting enough air flow, I have some hydro stuff going on in the tent too, so humidity could definitely be an issue. BUT all the other plants in the tent (mostly chillis) are doing really well.

I'm growing in a tent because it's winter in Australia.
Game plan is to move things out of the tent as soon as the weather permits.

I'm growing in a tent because it's winter in Australia.

Okay, it's winter and they're indoors. But an indoor tent would seem to be overkill. I assume you put the tomatoes in the tent to share the hydro lights?

Anyway, humidity is not the friend of tomato plants once they've sprouted. Why not add one of the little 5" fans? Mine were cheap but are real workhorses.

Lovely short stems: I assume they're dwarfs.

I am growing Guernsey Island for the first time this year. It is a neat looking tomato and a lil bit larger than a cherry with great flavor.

It's pretty late for a response now, but Ildi is a good yellow oblong shaped cherry tomato that all my friends like and I think kids would too. So you could mix that one in with a red, etc. I also love black cherry, so that would make a good 3 way mix
Did you ever find any at the farmer's market? I like the idea of mixing 3 plants together, might do that and sell at the market next year.

Just to be clear, the "first two photos" I was referring to were the first two in Lesuko's most recent post, not the first two when counting from the top of the thread.

Thanks Carolyn and everyone.

I am now seeing leaf curl/roll on my cherries. Humph. I rarely use chemicals and if I need to it's something organic. So, no roundup. And I doubt my neighbors are using it too- though I'll ask. No manure and my straw bales are from last year which didn't seem to cause any problems to plants- and I only just mulched yesterday (We're late but were putting in an irrigation system).

I have flowers but no fruit forming yet- that I can see. Of course I don't know if our 95 degree saturday rendered the buds pollenless? If thats what happens when it gets too hot- when they can't fertilize.

At a closer look, some plants are curled on top, some in the middle. It's not consistent. I guess I'll wait some more to see what happens. It's going to be hot this year so I imagine it will stress my plants out even more.

Thanks again!

This stuff becomes unbelievably hot and cooks the plants!!! I have 4 enormous ornamental planters in my gardens, which I have planted with purchased annuals for over 20 years. I am very experienced, and these planters have excellent drainage. This year, I switched the potting soil out for Miracle Gro Moisture Control. I flooded the planters before putting the plants in - several times. I planted them, and was surprised to have to water every single day. This soil product felt moist, but none was shared with the plants - their soil root balls stayed bone dry. The 2 planters in full sun had dying plants. I plunged my arm at least 25 inches down into the planters and the soil was hotter than beach sand, all the way down. This product somehow retains heat and was cooking my plants. When I removed this soil, I was surprised to find big pockets of it that were dust dry. The 2 planters in shade did a little better, but no plant growth whatsoever. Maybe if the plants grew in this from seed, they would do better, but you can't put plants in root balls into it - this soil just won't let the moisture leach into adjacent soils. And it cooks them. If your plants are still alive, rescue them and replace the soil. I don't know what this stuff is, but I would definitely not eat anything grown in it.

It is all I have used for years with excellent results.

Number one the only way it will retain too much water is if the pot doesn't have really good drainage.
The only way it might get too hot is if you don't have 2-3" of good mulch on top.

For tomatoes make sure you use absolute minimum of 10-12 gallon pots for Determinate Bush type plants and 15" gallon pots for Indeterminate's that grow to over 8'.

Drill about a dozen 1/2" holes in the bottom of pot, use a whole 55 quart bag of MGMC and add about 1/2 bag of so of Moo-Nure cow manure and compost mix.
Plant the tomato deep, put either 2-3" of your favorite mulch on top or use a red plastic sheet.

After that water the plants every day, all excess water drains right out the bottom, the plants take a nice big drink and the soil stays moist until the next day.

My tomatoes are growing like weeds in it right now.

I also have 380 quarts of it and nothing else in my Vegtrug.
With Bok CHoy, Lettuce, Basil, Rosemary, Cilantro, Lemon Thyme all growing so fast I can hardly keep up eating it all.

Yes, roots will grow into the soil beneath the pots.

The spring I had my appendix out, I had too many seedlings and the raised bed and trellis were never completed, so I had a bunch of seedlings in 16 oz. cups that were never planted in the ground. Some had a significant root system in the soil below the pots and even produced some small fruit before the Late Blight killed everything in early or mid-July.

Hmm, I posted last night but don't know what happened. Even if roots grow into the soil it will only be what can get through the drainage hole. I'd plant the Big Beef in the ground and use that pot for the second Big Boy if it's a bush type.

Has anyone idea about the best filtered cigars available in online. I am searching it for my grand uncle he smoke only cigars and I want to surprise him by giving him this filtered cigars which have red cover on the tip. I forgot the name but I need you guys to help me .

Here is a link that might be useful: Little Cigars

Hello all,

Thought I'd bring this issue back up. I had several plants infested with this Russet Mite in 2011. The plants leaves turned yellow then crunchy brown. It was end of July.

This year I am ready with a new defense. I have researched AzaMax and will begin preventative spray this week as the plants are just starting to fruit. The hydroponic community in my town is all the buzz about this stuff and they use it for hydro, greenhouse soil and outside soil and container growing. It is expensive but shopping around on e**Bay I found it for a much better price (plus free shipping). It is listed for organic production according to the label.

Just an FYI

DL

Here is a link that might be useful: AzaMax info

Wow, consider me properly chastised. I was just inquiring. Would I do that? Absolutely not. My Dad would turn over in his grave. Sounds like one of those fairy tales from Washington. Will pass on the message to daughter. Right now she is in London and will probably have more ideas when she gets back. Hope she brings some of the Piccolino tomato seeds, if she is fortunate enough to get some dried. I really do appreciate your help. Barb

barb, I wasn't meaning to chastise you, and I'm sure none of the others were either. Sometimes three people do post at the same time (and I did check before I posted, but then I had to add that sentence about Kenny's co-worker's infallible Tums cure, and they snuck in ahead of me).

I have some of those baby cages & I use bamboo canes, 12-18 inches in the ground around the cage. The canes are 6-8 feet above ground.
I think I will make wire cages, for next years crop.

sunnibel, I am using the Florida Weave for the first time this year, one of my many experiments. The plants just got their first tying in today.

Glad to see I am not the only one who ends up with a jungle! I prune the ones touching the ground, and I have learned the hard way, if there is something Tropical heading my way, do a Hurricane Prune. Anything that is not supported enough to withstand torrential rain and winds get chopped. I had, thanks to Irene and some others, a LOT of damage, mostly splitting where a limb would break and rip down the trunk. I thought if they were o.k. during our thunderstorms they would be fine in a hurricane.
Live and learn, if anyone has a better idea I am happy to hear it.

I am making a half-hearted attempt at pruning. Pinched off the branches likely to rest on the ground, and some lower suckers. I will have to decide what to do after they grow a bit more, as I am trying the Florida Weave method of support this year so the plants will need to be taken somewhat in hand.