From other stuff I've read on here, a tomato isn't the most sustainable plant given its demands for water, light and nutrients - but damn are homegrown ones good! I agree with the original post that transition to organic gardening isn't easy. Squirrels ate mine mostly. I suppose I need some kind of netting or a squirrel scarecrow or something. I did have a bumper crop of cucumbers but my plans for tomato cucumber salads all summer fell through cause of those pesky squirrels.
Monday • February 08 2010
Planning For The Future
It's a Long Road to a Tomato
dinopello
Ludi
Maybe squirrel stew needs to become a favorite dinner item....
rwwff
Ludi wrote:
Maybe squirrel stew needs to become a favorite dinner item....
Post peak, turning that 80 cal tomato into a protein and fat containing soup may be a pretty good deal.
coyote
dinopello wrote:
I agree with the original post that transition to organic gardening isn't easy.
Yes -- everyone who thinks they're just going to start their organic gardens after the peak hits, well, start practicing now! Just like anything else I suppose, can't be an expert all at once...
I was thinking of peppers next, but after reading WisJim's post, perhaps that isn't the easiest thing either. What do you guys recommend for a simple, hard to screw up, kindergarten veggie to start with? For a balcony garden in Southern California. I'd really like to succeed at this next year.
rwwff
coyote wrote:
I was thinking of peppers next, but after reading WisJim's post, perhaps that isn't the easiest thing either. What do you guys recommend for a simple, hard to screw up, kindergarten veggie to start with? For a balcony garden in Southern California. I'd really like to succeed at this next year.
How bout some sweet basil and rosemary? The basil will make its own seeds, season to season, and the rosemary, potted, will last quite a while.
drew
Don't feel bad Coyote, we'll starve together. My neighbour is a real green thumb though-I figure it is all the attention he gives his garden. I don't have the time or inclination at the moment, although it would be good to learn.
For instance, I tried growing watermelon last year with great success-they were the size of golf balls and tennis balls!
Drew
For instance, I tried growing watermelon last year with great success-they were the size of golf balls and tennis balls!
Drew
mikeh433
I'm growing tomatoes OK on 3rd floor balconey.
**
So I made a small but hopeful start: in the spring of this year I bought a small, sickly-looking heirloom tomato plant and some organic soil, and a big pot.
**
I learned also, how much better the tomato plant grows that has NOT gone thru major distress, so I'd even toss a seedling that has had major distress.
I can do better next season. Self watering, they drink a couple gallons a day often. I'll use round wire supports instead of tying to pole. Plant a fish in pot at start. Bot organic soil? Find organic soil is better, more assured.
On ground, complete full sun all day versus 80-90% sun makes a quite noticeble difference for squash I have.
You'll get 'er working fine.
**
So I made a small but hopeful start: in the spring of this year I bought a small, sickly-looking heirloom tomato plant and some organic soil, and a big pot.
**
I learned also, how much better the tomato plant grows that has NOT gone thru major distress, so I'd even toss a seedling that has had major distress.
I can do better next season. Self watering, they drink a couple gallons a day often. I'll use round wire supports instead of tying to pole. Plant a fish in pot at start. Bot organic soil? Find organic soil is better, more assured.
On ground, complete full sun all day versus 80-90% sun makes a quite noticeble difference for squash I have.
You'll get 'er working fine.
frankthetank
I've never had problems growing tomatoes, even in containers (Ok, beefsteaks in 5 gallon buckets wasn't the greatest idea, but i still got some fruit--i think the roots fried!). I think my WI climate is ideal for this fruit. I just start my seeds early (Heres a pic from March 21st...
And then heres the outcome...on Aug 7th (all from 1 picking trip from my 10 plant)...
Peppers are even less trouble (for me i like growing them in 5 gallon buckets...they seem to produce better for me this way??)... Just keep trying and dont give up...every mistake is a way to learn more.
And then heres the outcome...on Aug 7th (all from 1 picking trip from my 10 plant)...
Peppers are even less trouble (for me i like growing them in 5 gallon buckets...they seem to produce better for me this way??)... Just keep trying and dont give up...every mistake is a way to learn more.
Laurasia
Okay, FranktheTank, enquiring minds want to know....what is that stuff wrapped round the seedling roots in the top picture? It looks like something nice & biodegradable.
Regards,
L.
Regards,
L.
frankthetank
Those are just those peat pellets that you can buy anywhere in the spring around here. In my opinion, they kind of suck. There not big enough for a tomato. I HAVE to replant my tomatoes atleast once (styrofoam cup) before going into the garden because they outgrow the peat pellet. Next year i'm not using peat pellets.
I have a total of 15 tomato plants, but 1 is in a container and 4 are Amish paste (ahhhh! never again!).... These fruit were from my bed that has 10 plants... My favorite this year is WI 55.......
I have a total of 15 tomato plants, but 1 is in a container and 4 are Amish paste (ahhhh! never again!).... These fruit were from my bed that has 10 plants... My favorite this year is WI 55.......
dinopello
rwwff wrote:
Ludi wrote:
Maybe squirrel stew needs to become a favorite dinner item....
Post peak, turning that 80 cal tomato into a protein and fat containing soup may be a pretty good deal.
Ha, given this forum I was thinking that when I wrote the post and it didn't take long for people to point it out! The squirrels are big and fat this year...
xerces
dinopello wrote:
rwwff wrote:
Ludi wrote:
Maybe squirrel stew needs to become a favorite dinner item....
Post peak, turning that 80 cal tomato into a protein and fat containing soup may be a pretty good deal.
Ha, given this forum I was thinking that when I wrote the post and it didn't take long for people to point it out! The squirrels are big and fat this year...
Squirrils, rabbits, crows, everything seems to like tomatos. On that note, I did manage to shoot a rabbit with an arrow when it was trying to nibble one of the smaller tomatos in my garden.
NEOPO
Frank - we like the roma for paste.
Yeah we have hundreds of fruit from about 10 roma plants and 100-200 fruit off of 10 mr. stripey vines which could have grown to maybe 10 feet long if I wasnt a mad pruner!!!
Soil is vital folks - try adding 1/5 part Perlite and 1/5 part vermiculite to your mix.
Add some sand if you soil is to compact.
Mulch - from my experiences everything benefits from mulch especially during hot periods.
Yes peat pellets kinda suck
I guess we will go with wooden planter boxes ultimately yet for now those black plastic ones will suffice.
Ok watering - once a day??? for container gardening maybe but you should only need to water a tomato plant once a week or so unless perhaps during a drought.
Daily watering could easily lead to root rot unless you have some excellent soil drainage.
A one gallon container will bear fruit - try roma plants in containers - smaller fruit - and from my experiences they will wilt in 2-3 days so water every 2-3 days.
2+ gallon containers are expensive yet that is what I would go with on a balcony.
Pests - there are plenty of Companion plants that will repel pests away such as Garlic, Basil and Tansy.
Our vicious attack cats and dogs keep moles, rabbits and other critters far away from our garden and even though they sometimes litter here and there the trade off is worth it
BTW - FYI - the little white "eggs" on the back of the hornworm are not hornworm eggs but parasitic wasp eggs - we still pull the hornworms off yet if I had a real bad problem with them we would allow the wasps to mature on the worm.
Yeah we have hundreds of fruit from about 10 roma plants and 100-200 fruit off of 10 mr. stripey vines which could have grown to maybe 10 feet long if I wasnt a mad pruner!!!
Soil is vital folks - try adding 1/5 part Perlite and 1/5 part vermiculite to your mix.
Add some sand if you soil is to compact.
Mulch - from my experiences everything benefits from mulch especially during hot periods.
Yes peat pellets kinda suck
I guess we will go with wooden planter boxes ultimately yet for now those black plastic ones will suffice.
Ok watering - once a day??? for container gardening maybe but you should only need to water a tomato plant once a week or so unless perhaps during a drought.
Daily watering could easily lead to root rot unless you have some excellent soil drainage.
A one gallon container will bear fruit - try roma plants in containers - smaller fruit - and from my experiences they will wilt in 2-3 days so water every 2-3 days.
2+ gallon containers are expensive yet that is what I would go with on a balcony.
Pests - there are plenty of Companion plants that will repel pests away such as Garlic, Basil and Tansy.
Our vicious attack cats and dogs keep moles, rabbits and other critters far away from our garden and even though they sometimes litter here and there the trade off is worth it
BTW - FYI - the little white "eggs" on the back of the hornworm are not hornworm eggs but parasitic wasp eggs - we still pull the hornworms off yet if I had a real bad problem with them we would allow the wasps to mature on the worm.
rwwff
NEOPO wrote:
Ok watering - once a day??? for container gardening maybe but you should only need to water a tomato plant once a week or so unless perhaps during a drought.
My comment about daily water was specific to the container setting. I don't water my bedded tomatos more than a couple times a week. Roots need air as well as water, and they need a reason to drive down for water.
Such a balancing act though, to much water and you rot the roots, to little and you end up with blossom end rot... grrrrrrr.
coyote
frankthetank wrote:
And then heres the outcome...on Aug 7th (all from 1 picking trip from my 10 plant)...Showoff...
WildRose
A couple of things I've observed about growing tomatoes:
In my Alberta city, several people I know plant their tomatoes alongside their garage. The location is very sunny for the plants and the soil of the type that drains well. When the weather is hot and sunny, they water the plants every day. I've noticed they've been quite successful with their harvest.
That's all I know!
(I'll be planting my garden next spring...hmmm, I do have a flower bed alongside my garage...)
In my Alberta city, several people I know plant their tomatoes alongside their garage. The location is very sunny for the plants and the soil of the type that drains well. When the weather is hot and sunny, they water the plants every day. I've noticed they've been quite successful with their harvest.
That's all I know!
(I'll be planting my garden next spring...hmmm, I do have a flower bed alongside my garage...)
bellebouche
Doing well so far this year
70 plants, 3x4M rows of cordon varities on suspended framework (far less work)
1 extra 6m row of Romas (bush variety) that is cropping prolifically.
I've not fed them artificially, just used 'nettle soup' to help out on vegetative growth after transplanting outdoors.
More pics and spiel here
70 plants, 3x4M rows of cordon varities on suspended framework (far less work)
1 extra 6m row of Romas (bush variety) that is cropping prolifically.
I've not fed them artificially, just used 'nettle soup' to help out on vegetative growth after transplanting outdoors.
More pics and spiel here
auwolf
Oh they are NICE looking tomatoes! 70 plants? Wow... I'm looking at growing 4 plants LOL!
nocar
Coyote, a favorite of my for containers is peas, the kind where you eat the whole pod. In Southern Cal you can probable grow them in winter, perhaps in the shade in summer. I am in Sweden, so here it is too cold (winter) or cool (summer). I grow some indoors in spring, like an ordinary houseplant - not a big crop but at least something. In summer I have a big container on the balcony, sunny and deer-proof and slug-proof.
Get a low pea variety, they need less support. Peas prefer somewhat high ph - if you have acidic soil you can add eggshells I think.
You can eat the pods in early stages, the peas in all stages. And let some of them stay til ripe and dry - those you plant next for a new crop.
What sort of pests can enter your balcony? With peas I have no problem on the balcony, but I could imagine squirrels and birds in some places. A chicken net around the plants could help.
Water and drainage is equally important, for any plants (except water plants, I guess) Drainage so they do not stand in puddle, then the roots will rot. The common system for houseplants, a hole in the bottom and then an outside low bowl, I think is the best also for containers, but bigger of course.
I grow tomatoes too, but your problem with blossoms falling off I have never encountered.
nocar
Get a low pea variety, they need less support. Peas prefer somewhat high ph - if you have acidic soil you can add eggshells I think.
You can eat the pods in early stages, the peas in all stages. And let some of them stay til ripe and dry - those you plant next for a new crop.
What sort of pests can enter your balcony? With peas I have no problem on the balcony, but I could imagine squirrels and birds in some places. A chicken net around the plants could help.
Water and drainage is equally important, for any plants (except water plants, I guess) Drainage so they do not stand in puddle, then the roots will rot. The common system for houseplants, a hole in the bottom and then an outside low bowl, I think is the best also for containers, but bigger of course.
I grow tomatoes too, but your problem with blossoms falling off I have never encountered.
nocar
xerces
Some more tomatos picked this week from the square meter garden
http://backtowilderness.blogspot.com/
http://backtowilderness.blogspot.com/
wA29Kimberley
It's not so simply to make a good enough custom essays, especially if you are booked. I recommend you to define <a href="http://www.qualityessay.com">buy essays</a> and to be free from disbelief that your work will be done by essay writing services