Tomatoes

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?HEHER 31 March 2012 Tomato Growth
Tomatoes are placed into larger pots as they become large enough. All are growing well.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BLMTL 12 March 2012 Tomatoes Germination and Growth. The greenhouse has been cool so germination has been slow, but the plants are healthy and strong. At least one seed germinated in all containers.At this stage maximum light is beneficial.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PXSKR 13 February 2012 Tomato Seed Planting
Tomato seeds planted for placing outdoors about 24 May 2012. Pots are plastic cups with holes burned in the sides to make a small water reservoir and to supply drainage.A coffee filter was placed in each pot to prevent soil escaping from the drainage holes and the filter tends to make transplanting easier since it encompasses the soil somewhat. Three seeds were planted per pot.The pot was covered with a gusseted clear plastic bag, which keeps humidity high. The gusseted bag allows the pots to sit level on a flat surface. The bag will be opened as soon as the seedlings show growth.

Seeds chosen were Bonny Best(5), Celebrity(5), Big Beef(5), Better Boy(5), Black Krim (10) (Purple fruit), and a grape type called Red Currant (2). I will plant five Lemon Boy when the seeds are obtained. Total plants are 37. I avoid the heirlooms. My favourites are the black types which are essentially all the same.

[bill1953]

Nice operation you have there.

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?SPCMA 3 May 2012 Tomato Growth
Tomato plants were placed out doors to harden off. Clement weather is forecast for the next few days. They cannot be planted out for about three more weeks due to the possibility of frost.They are a bit bigger than I would like, but should still thrive when placed in the outdoor garden.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?YABGO 14 April 2012 Tomato Plants
All plants are thriving in the greenhouse. There are about 30 for the garden, and I have many extra, but there are so few gardeners that they are difficult to give away.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?HEHER 31 March 2012 Tomato Growth
Tomatoes are placed into larger pots as they become large enough. All are growing well.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BLMTL 12 March 2012 Tomatoes Germination and Growth. The greenhouse has been cool so germination has been slow, but the plants are healthy and strong. At least one seed germinated in all containers.At this stage maximum light is beneficial.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PXSKR 13 February 2012 Tomato Seed Planting
Tomato seeds planted for placing outdoors about 24 May 2012. Pots are plastic cups with holes burned in the sides to make a small water reservoir and to supply drainage.A coffee filter was placed in each pot to prevent soil escaping from the drainage holes and the filter tends to make transplanting easier since it encompasses the soil somewhat. Three seeds were planted per pot.The pot was covered with a gusseted clear plastic bag, which keeps humidity high. The gusseted bag allows the pots to sit level on a flat surface. The bag will be opened as soon as the seedlings show growth.

Seeds chosen were Bonny Best(5), Celebrity(5), Big Beef(5), Better Boy(5), Black Krim (10) (Purple fruit), and a grape type called Red Currant (2). I will plant five Lemon Boy when the seeds are obtained. Total plants are 37. I avoid the heirlooms. My favourites are the black types which are essentially all the same.

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?QNJSE 13 May 2012 Tomatoes Support and Planting.
Beautiful warm, sunny day, so it was decided to place five tomatoes plants in the outdoor garden. There are about thirty available, but the possibility of frost is always present for the next ten days. The plants are beginning to be stressed due to out-growing their pots.

Planting is exactly like they are in the pots, there is no attempt to plant deeper to the lower leaves, since the ground down deep is too cool, and I have reservations about the efficacy of planting deep. The lower leaves are removed so none touch the ground. Type planted is two Black Krim, one Big Beef and two Better Boy.

The support system is via ropes to an overhead structure. The structure is a mesh which is supported by half inch rebar.The tomato plant is tied via 3/16 clothesline rope which is soft and will not bite into the plants. Ropes are tied to the plant as required during the season. This system is practical in my case, since I have only about 35 tomato plants and have the time to administer.Few suckers will be removed during the season, and the plant is free growing with no obstacles.

[The Riff-Raff Element]

I've got 50 out so far, 8 varieties. The balance (another 13 types) should go out in the next 14 days. Yesterday was the fête of St Servais, the last of the "Saints de Glace" so we should be completely safe now but I always take a punt on a few plants from mid-April to try to get ahead of the game.

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?YGHIH 14 May 2012 Tomatoes Planted in Outdoor Garden
All my tomato plants were placed in the outdoor garden. Weather forecast for the immediate future signifies warm weather, with no immanent danger of frost. Thirty six plants were placed outdoors. Thirty two are in the main garden area and three small fruit red currant type along the deck, plus one Lemon Boy was separated for testing as to productivity. The cultivars were planted so the top of the plant was at ground level. The lower leaves were removed so not to touch the ground. Support is by ropes tied to an overhead structure. There were insufficient individual supports, so I jury rigged a rebar support structure. Each tomato is free with no support obstructions. No suckers will be removed and additional rope support will be added as deemed appropriate as the season progresses.

[becks77]

Love your tomatoe "orchard"!
You've got some really good ideas there, do you find the string supports easy to manage, I have tried both canes and string and am in two minds which is easier

[Durgan]

Love your tomatoe "orchard"!
You've got some really good ideas there, do you find the string supports easy to manage, I have tried both canes and string and am in two minds which is easier

I have tried all systems over the years. All have deficiencies more or less.

The support system is via ropes to an overhead structure. The structure is a mesh which is supported by half inch rebar.The tomato plant is tied via 3/16 clothesline rope, which is soft and will not bite into the plants. Ropes are tied to the plant as required during the season. This system is practical in my case, since I have only about 35 tomato plants and have the time to administer.

My view is since the tomato plant has a great desire to grow every which way, make a support system to allow it to meet its full potential. Most systems inhibit growth somewhat, and crowd the fruit , but are expedient, hence used. The overhead rope system is without growth restrictions, but does require some maintenance. Ideal for a home garden. After today, I like the rebar structure. It is sufficiently strong. It is simple to put up and meets all the plants requirements. I never thought about it before manufacturing the individual support structures about three years ago. A few 8 foot rebar and some plastic ties and one is in business.

Planting is exactly like they are in the pots. There is no attempt to plant deeper to the lower leaves (supposedly making for more feeder roots), since the ground down deep is too cool, and I have reservations about the efficacy of planting deep. The lower leaves are removed, so none touch the ground, inhibiting bugs and bacteria. Using the rope system no suckers are removed, because there is no crowding of the fruit. Also I don't subscribe to the view that more energy is put into main stem fruit if the suckers are removed. Observation has convinced me that often better fruit is produced on the suckers than the main stem.

[becks77]

Yes it always bugs me taking off the sucker stems with flowers on knowing I'm potentially loosing fruit...right thank you am off to plant out the tomatoes ...you've inspired me

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?SQEVK 19 May 2012 Mulching Tomatoes
Over the last few years mulching has been practised with no adverse effects, and many benefits. My primary purpose is moisture retention to inhibit evaporation from the hot Sun. All my moisture comes from overhead, since I have no available ground water table. I seldom water and if deemed necessary use rainwater from my four 45 gallon collection barrels.Weed control is of little importance, since I have few weeds due to appropriate cultivation practices.This video mentioned by one poster sort of states all about the benefits of mulching. http://backtoedenfilm.com/index.html#movie

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?YGHIH 14 May 2012 Tomatoes Planted in Outdoor Garden
All my tomato plants were placed in the outdoor garden. Weather forecast for the immediate future signifies warm weather, with no immanent danger of frost. Thirty six plants were placed outdoors. Thirty two are in the main garden area and three small fruit red currant type along the deck, plus one Lemon Boy was separated for testing as to productivity. The cultivars were planted so the top of the plant was at ground level. The lower leaves were removed so not to touch the ground. Support is by ropes tied to an overhead structure. There were insufficient individual supports, do I jury rigged a rebar support structure. Each tomato is free with no support obstructions. No suckers will be removed and additional rope support will be added as deemed appropriate as the season progresses.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?QNJSE 13 May 2012 Tomatoes Support and Planting.
Beautiful warm, sunny day, so it was decided to place five tomatoes plants in the outdoor garden. There are about thirty available, but the possibility of frost is always present for the next ten days. The plants are beginning to be stressed due to out-growing their pots.
Planting is exactly like they are in the pots, there is no attempt to plant deeper to the lower leaves, since the ground down deep is too cool, and I have reservations about the efficacy of planting deep. The lower leaves are removed so none touch the ground. Type planted is two Black Krim, one Big Beef and two Better Boy.
The support system is via ropes to an overhead structure. The structure is a mesh which is supported by half inch rebar.The tomato plant is tied via 3/16 clothesline rope which is soft and will not bite into the plants. Ropes are tied to the plant as required during the season. This system is practical in my case, since I have only about 35 tomato plants and have the time to administer.Few suckers will be removed during the season, and the plant is free growing with no obstacles.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?SPCMA 3 May 2012 Tomato Growth
Tomato plants were placed out doors to harden off. Clement weather is forecast for the next few days. They cannot be planted out for about three more weeks due to the possibility of frost.They are a bit bigger than I would like, but should still thrive when placed in the outdoor garden.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?YABGO 14 April 2012 Tomato Plants
All plants are thriving in the greenhouse. There are about 30 for the garden, and I have many extra, but there are so few gardeners that they are difficult to give away.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?HEHER 31 March 2012 Tomato Growth
Tomatoes are placed into larger pots as they become large enough. All are growing well.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?BLMTL 12 March 2012 Tomatoes Germination and Growth. The greenhouse has been cool so germination has been slow, but the plants are healthy and strong. At least one seed germinated in all containers.At this stage maximum light is beneficial.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PXSKR 13 February 2012 Tomato Seed Planting
Tomato seeds planted for placing outdoors about 24 May 2012. Pots are plastic cups with holes burned in the sides to make a small water reservoir and to supply drainage.A coffee filter was placed in each pot to prevent soil escaping from the drainage holes and the filter tends to make transplanting easier since it encompasses the soil somewhat. Three seeds were planted per pot.The pot was covered with a gusseted clear plastic bag, which keeps humidity high. The gusseted bag allows the pots to sit level on a flat surface. The bag will be opened as soon as the seedlings show growth.

Seeds chosen were Bonny Best(5), Celebrity(5), Big Beef(5), Better Boy(5), Black Krim (10) (Purple fruit), and a grape type called Red Currant (2). I will plant five Lemon Boy when the seeds are obtained. Total plants are 37. I avoid the heirlooms. My favourites are the black types which are essentially all the same.