what kind of maters are you growing this year

scottyboy76

I think i will go with the usuals, "Celebrity", "Beefsteak", "Mr.Stripey", but also include one i have planted for years, and love despite its faults.

Its called "Brandywine".

Its a heritage tomato, no genetic mods, and its supposedly one the founding fathers probably planted.

It is a huge tomato, great juice and flavor, not real acid, not bland either.

it does have a tendency to split, which is fine if you check your plants and pick them often, so you dont lose a lot of your crop.

For the beginners, remember to water on an even schedule, fertilize with a good slow release fertilizer such as dynamite, or osmocote, and mulch well with newspaper and mulch to reduce weeds, retain moisture, and maintain a more even soil temp.

Your tomatoes will have less splitting with even watering,"less dry wet dry periods".

They will suffer from less Rot where it initially blossoms with even watering, along with a good supply of calcium, easily provided with lime, and good drainage, full sun, and you will be enjoying one of gods great gifts to us all, home grown tomatoes.

Even if you live in an apartment, if you have a balcony or patio, you can take advantage.

good luck,

Scott and deb.

ps, dont be tempted to plant too soon, if the soil is not warm enough, they will just sit there, and possibly rot.

11tsteve

Our raised bed garden will have its second season this year. We have a whole 8 ft. x 6 ft, plus a narrow strip of green space along the edge of our patio, which has successfully grown tomatoes in the past. While we have started getting our soil ready, we have a bit more time to go here in Iowa as our weather has been wildly unpredictable. We had 82F on a Saturday, an inch+ of snow two days later.....

We are doing roma, beefsteak, and super sweet SunSugar, all of which we have had good success with before. We have limited room and light in our yard, but these plants fit well with out cooking needs.

scottyboy76

Romas are a great tomato, forgot about that one, will definitely be putting a few of those in.

Steve, have you ever heard of a book called square foot gardening?

Its all about making the max out of small spaces, might want to check it out.

its by Mel bartholemew

mhardy6647

I/we love the Brandywine... up here in New England, the weather's not really hot enough to grow great tomatoes, but the Brandywines give me some semblance of the intense flavor I grew up with with home-grown and farm stand tomatoes in and around Baltimore.

Baltimore is the city of tomatoes. Any citizen of the metro area with enough room for even a single plant... grows tomatoes. Heck, at the old Orioles' ballpark (Memorial Stadium, on 33rd St up near JHU), the groundskeepers grew 'maters out by the bullpens. Do they still grow 'em at Camden Yards?

mrbigbluelight

I like growing heirloom tomatoes. So, after a number of years of not growing any tomatoes, I have a boatload of seeds sprouting in peat pots, ready to plant whenever the weather turns right (we had some snow the other day !).

-SIOUX
-NEVES AZOREAN
-OLD GERMAN
-ABE LINCOLN
-RADIATOR CHARLIES MORTGAGE LIFTER (big fat 2-pounders, taste great)
-AMAZON CHOCOLATE
-PAUL ROBESON
-UKRAINIAN BEAR CLAW

The local hawks have been graciously taking care of some our local squirrels. I'll have to take care of the rest; wouldn't have to if the dang squirrels would learn that "Take some and leave some" doesn't mean TAKE A SINGLE BITE OUT OF EVERY TOMATO IN THE GARDEN ! For Chris' sake, if you want a tomato, take A tomato, but eat the whole thing.
I think that's why pellet guns were invented.

Almost nothing better than a fresh-picked, ripe off the vine tomato.

mrbigbluelight

I like growing heirloom tomatoes. So, after a number of years of not growing any tomatoes, I have a boatload of seeds sprouting in peat pots, ready to plant whenever the weather turns right (we had some snow the other day !).

-SIOUX
-NEVES AZOREAN
-OLD GERMAN
-ABE LINCOLN
-RADIATOR CHARLIES MORTGAGE LIFTER (big fat 2-pounders, taste great)
-AMAZON CHOCOLATE
-PAUL ROBESON
-UKRAINIAN BEAR CLAW

The local hawks have been graciously taking care of some our local squirrels. I'll have to take care of the rest; wouldn't have to if the dang squirrels would learn that "Take some and leave some" doesn't mean TAKE A SINGLE BITE OUT OF EVERY TOMATO IN THE GARDEN ! For Chris' sake, if you want a tomato, take A tomato, but eat the whole thing.
I think that's why pellet guns were invented.

Almost nothing better than a fresh-picked, ripe off the vine tomato.

Toolfan66

I live in Colorado, I'm growing Marijuana!!!









LOL!!!

pitdogg2

Toolfan66 wrote: »

I live in Colorado, I'm growing Marijuana!!! LOL!!!

That a boy so when you inviting me over?

tonyb

mrbigbluelight wrote: »

Almost nothing better than a fresh-picked, ripe off the vine tomato.

AHHH....knew I liked you for some reason....amen to that !!

Heirlooms are the ticket. Beefsteak, Brandywine, Stripey....all good. Don't forget to add a cherry tomato too. Normally I order seeds from a place called "Seeds from Italy". They have seeds for all your veggies from all over Europe....check them out. I missed out this year and simply forgot to order so I'll have to settle on the heirlooms the local nursery has to offer.

F1nut

Beefsteak.

Oldfatdogs

I live in Colorado, I'm growing Marijuana!!!

Watch out for the rippers robbers and thieves.But when it all said and done.Enjoy:razz:
No droopie eyed simile.

Dan

strider

We're doing three kinds this year. Sun Gold, an orange midsize cherry that's really sweet. Roma plants for canning and sauce, and an heirloom called Cherokee Purple.

Oldfatdogs

For the beginners, remember to water on an even schedule, fertilize with a good slow release fertilizer such as dynamite, or osmocote, and mulch well with newspaper and mulch to reduce weeds, retain moisture, and maintain a more even soil temp.[/QUOTE}

Hey Scott have you tried using organic fertilizers on your tomato's?Worm castings steer manure,bone and feather meals things of that nature?The first year I did this difference in taste was incredible. Maybe do a side by side test see what you think.I was a miracle grow fan but have been reformed.Your overall crop will be smaller but better for you.

Dan

scottyboy76

Excellent point you old fat dog, organics, whenever feasible, are preferable, modern fertz and such make it possible to feed the earths population, but on a smaller scale, you are on the money

jbooker82

I planted a couple rows of German Extra Hardy hard neck garlic last October. They are about 5-6 inches tall now.

tonyb

Oldfatdogs wrote: »

For the beginners, remember to water on an even schedule, fertilize with a good slow release fertilizer such as dynamite, or osmocote, and mulch well with newspaper and mulch to reduce weeds, retain moisture, and maintain a more even soil temp.[/QUOTE}

Hey Scott have you tried using organic fertilizers on your tomato's?Worm castings steer manure,bone and feather meals things of that nature?The first year I did this difference in taste was incredible. Maybe do a side by side test see what you think.I was a miracle grow fan but have been reformed.Your overall crop will be smaller but better for you.

Dan

I try and stay away from the usual fertilizers when it comes to food plants, flowers....Miracle Grow works great. Italians have always been into organic fertilizers. What do you think they do with all those dead bodies ? My daughter still thinks her first boyfriend moved away to California.

Oldfatdogs

I try and stay away from the usual fertilizers when it comes to food plants, flowers....Miracle Grow works great. Italians have always been into organic fertilizers. What do you think they do with all those dead bodies ? My daughter still thinks her first boyfriend moved away to California.

Feed the soil. This means put materials in the soil that feeds the bacteria and fungus that is GOOD for your plants. Good general foods are kelp, fish emulsion, and manure (bat guano, aged cow manure, etc). Don't put fresh manure on your plants - it will burn them.

Tony you gotta have happy soil to start or no happy plants.Fish emulsion tends to cover up, um other smells :cool:

tonyb

Oldfatdogs wrote: »

Tony you gotta have happy soil to start or no happy plants.Fish emulsion tends to cover up, um other smells :cool:

Bingo...that's why I have 2 ponds.

Actually, any algae I scoop out from over the winter gets tossed right into the garden, great for the soil. Also, if your into Roses, go to a local metal fabricating place and grab a bucket or 2 of shavings. put some around your rose bushes.

pitdogg2

tonyb wrote: »

Also, if your into Roses, go to a local metal fabricating place and grab a bucket or 2 of shavings. put some around your rose bushes.

So what do metal shavings do for roses????

HASWELL

Hello Everyone. Long time lurker here, learning from the shadows...but tomatoes (of all things) pulls me out of the closet. Wife caught me reading this thread last night, so off to Lowe's we went this morning. Picked up Better Boy, Heinz Super Roma and a few other veggies for our first venture into raised-bed gardening. Building the bed over an ugly old unused cistern. House built in 1887. Hoping the weight doesn't cave everything in 30' below. Can hear debris falling when hammering spikes into the garden ties. The smaller form in the center is a "quick and dirty" concrete slab to cover the opening. Anyway, should I use a liner of some sort?

nooshinjohn

I will be growing these...

Oldfatdogs

Hello Everyone. Long time lurker here, learning from the shadows...but tomatoes (of all things) pulls me out of the closet. Wife caught me reading this thread last night, so off to Lowe's we went this morning. Picked up Better Boy, Heinz Super Roma and a few other veggies for our first venture into raised-bed gardening. Building the bed over an ugly old unused cistern. House built in 1887. Hoping the weight doesn't cave everything in 30' below. Can hear debris falling when hammering spikes into the garden ties. The smaller form in the center is a "quick and dirty" concrete slab to cover the opening. Anyway, should I use a liner of some sort?

Hello Haswell,welcome to club Polk.I'm not a master gardener but would say yes use a liner. You don't want nasty things creeping up the roots into your food,if it was flowers that might not be necessary. I would use the best soil you can find supplemented with good organic fertilizers and perlite to help roots breath.Plants have a hard time starting in heavy clay soils,a lot of good information about happy soil on Google.Scottyboy is the one with the degree in the field,hopefully he and others will chime in here.Hope this helps to get you started,enjoy your garden.

P.S. if the garden turns out well maybe the wife wont mind some new audio gear.

Dan

Erik Tracy

I've got some 'maters going in some containers and they are just now flowering - hoping some of them will set and produce some good eats.

Celebration and Heatwave - in San Diego we have some brutal heat and my garden has an all day southern exposure.



Thirsty buggers! :cheesygrin:

mrbigbluelight

That reminds me, I need to get my butt in gear and get the tomato beds ready. Actually, one of my sons needs to, I'm not too good with a shovel lately.
In the meantime, I was on the back patio real early this morning when the dozens of blackbirds in Betty's yard (neighbor) took off like they were shot out of a cannon. About 10 seconds later, swooooooooooosh, here comes a hawk. Landed on a bunny and sat there staring at me. He flew off after a bit, minus the rabbit, so I went inside figuring he'd return for his catch later (that and I don't particularly care for the sound of rabbit cries). About 5 minutes later, he returned, picked up his breakfast, and flew off.

Yes, tomato gardening can be exciting, once I get somebody to prep my tomato beds. Tomato gardening can also be very addictive, too, just not as expensive as audio. And you get to eat the final product.
I'll try to remember to take my cellphone outside to get some pics of "MBBL's Wild Kingdom"; those hawks are AWESOME.
I'm real anxious to see how those Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Lifters turn out, too.
Tomato gardening: relatively cheap and not too labor intensive. Just the way I like things. : ' )

OldmanSRS

Beefsteak
Better Boy
Celebrity
German Johnson
Arkansas Traveler
Mr. Stripey
Cherokee Purple
Park’s Whopper

tonyb

mrbigbluelight wrote: »

....relatively cheap and not too labor intensive. Just the way I like things. : ' )

Can apply to tomatoes and women.

BTW-The Cherokee Purple's are fantastic in salads but I like them cut in slices, then halved, with a fresh piece of basil on top, some buffalo mozzarella and a heavy drizzle of fig balsamic.....with of course a nice glass of wine.

cienega

OldmanSRS wrote: »

Beefsteak
Better Boy
Celebrity
German Johnson
Arkansas Traveler
Mr. Stripey
Cherokee Purple
Park’s Whopper

You know your tomatoes, that's an awesome selection. I grow quite a few of those from seed and they are all excellent.

oldmodman

My soil is terrible. It's mostly clay. Even after amending the clay with hundreds of pounds of mulch, gypsum, and good clean topsoil it's terrible again in a year.
So this year I am going to try planting tomatoes in straw bales. You soak them with water everyday for three days, then start putting fertilizer on before watering, them let them decompose until the internal temp gets up to 140 degrees for a week. The go ahead and plant. It will be an interesting experiment.

tonyb

If your soil is real bad to begin with, your probably better off making a raised garden bed and filling with good soil. Also, mix in some mushroom compost available at any big box garden center store. Works great for tomatoes.

HASWELL

Finished the raise bed yesterday and planted it this morning. Just over $200 into the whole project, but my better half is happy.
So happy in fact, she wants 2 more just like it. Thankfully, we do have a long growing season here in the isothermal valley.