Been to the toyshop and to start off this season’s marties…… I bought for $1.99 each the folowing single pot varieties.

Rouge De Marmande
Cherry red
Black Russian
Oxheart
Tigerella

With my dad and Step mum coming to stay….. at least I have them in the yard and can plant them out after this cold front that is coming.

This will give me time to get some seeds started……I wanted them started well before now, just not enough time in the day.

OK. Let’s talk soil preparation.
I dig through about a shovelfull of old poultry manure as well as compost and worm castings per plant.
Also give the soil a drink of molasses water to give nematodes a gut ache.
Plant deeply a few weeks later.
Build up around stems with compost and mulch as plants grow.
A side dressing of Sulphate of potash once flowering begins.
Use cages instead of stakes.
Best Summer crop for me is Big Beef. Good disease resistance and lots of massive to medium size fruit.

What’s your methods?

What’s your methods?
—————————
Good read there Longy:)

Me I feed the soil up with compost, old chicken bedding and sheep manure. After a few weeks I plant out the tomato seedlings.

I stake mine and pinch out the side shoots until I forget to do this.

Feed them potash and worm wee as the flower and fruit.

Mulch as well.

Longy said:

What’s your methods?

Self-sown cherry tomatoes out of the compost ;)

Nothing else I plant comes close!

well this weekend i may work on the chook house making a smaller door so other aniamls cant get in and steal the food, and then ill work on the veggie patches. hopefully plant seeds out in a few weeks (after exams).

Yeehah said:

Longy said:

What’s your methods?

Self-sown cherry tomatoes out of the compost ;)

Nothing else I plant comes close!

I’m growing a cherry tomato this year…… only 1 plant though. Think only 1 will do us just nicely:D

Cherry toms are a year round weed at my place. Chooks get most of them.

Longy said:

Cherry toms are a year round weed at my place. Chooks get most of them.

Oh your lucky, last year my house keeping with the heat wasn’t the best and so I only got just under 500 grams of marties…….. planning better this year round.

Lucky1 said:

Been to the toyshop and to start off this season’s marties…… I bought for $1.99 each the folowing single pot varieties. Rouge De Marmande Cherry red Black Russian Oxheart Tigerella
With my dad and Step mum coming to stay….. at least I have them in the yard and can plant them out after this cold front that is coming. This will give me time to get some seeds started……I wanted them started well before now, just not enough time in the day.

good topic – i’ll take notes.

Longy said:

OK. Let’s talk soil preparation. I dig through about a shovelfull of old poultry manure as well as compost and worm castings per plant. Also give the soil a drink of molasses water to give nematodes a gut ache. Plant deeply a few weeks later.
Build up around stems with compost and mulch as plants grow.
A side dressing of Sulphate of potash once flowering begins.
Use cages instead of stakes. Best Summer crop for me is Big Beef. Good disease resistance and lots of massive to medium size fruit. What’s your methods?

taking notes – molasses, potash when flowering………
hey – is potash immediately available to the plant’s roots?

my method ?- changes every year – phosphates are big – pigeon manure and guano

taking notes – molasses, potash when flowering………
hey – is potash immediately available to the plant’s roots?
——————————————-
Hhmm interesting. Potash it often watered over the leaves isn’t it… for quicker in take.

I’d either water in the morning with the potash if watering on the leaves or water it into the soil around the plants.

is potash immediately available to the plant’s roots?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Depends on what form you use it.
Potassium permanganate, (Condies crystals) Is an immediate hit.
S of P depends how big the granules are and how much of a drink the plants get i guess.
The stuff i use has big granules, about 5 lumps to a pea size. I’ve seen it in fine powdered form as a fully soluble application too, which i would imagine would be immediate.
P also leaches out of soil. Apparently adding Zeolite helps retain the P.
Zeolite is a one time application.

Lucky1 said:

taking notes – molasses, potash when flowering………
hey – is potash immediately available to the plant’s roots?
——————————————-
Hhmm interesting. Potash it often watered over the leaves isn’t it… for quicker in take.

I’d either water in the morning with the potash if watering on the leaves or water it into the soil around the plants.

liquid potash ? umm – taking notes
- not sure – i thought it was a powder

Longy said:

is potash immediately available to the plant’s roots?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Depends on what form you use it.
Potassium permanganate, (Condies crystals) Is an immediate hit.
S of P depends how big the granules are and how much of a drink the plants get i guess.
The stuff i use has big granules, about 5 lumps to a pea size. I’ve seen it in fine powdered form as a fully soluble application too, which i would imagine would be immediate.
P also leaches out of soil. Apparently adding Zeolite helps retain the P.
Zeolite is a one time application.

condies crystals – never used it – good good – i use a powder form of s of potash – fine powder but it forms lumps quite a lot.

pepe said:

Lucky1 said:

taking notes – molasses, potash when flowering………
hey – is potash immediately available to the plant’s roots?
——————————————-
Hhmm interesting. Potash it often watered over the leaves isn’t it… for quicker in take.

I’d either water in the morning with the potash if watering on the leaves or water it into the soil around the plants.

liquid potash ? umm – taking notes
- not sure – i thought it was a powder

The one I use is mixed in 9 litres of water…..

http://www.manutec.com.au/default.asp?pageid=5&template=PRODUCTCAT&catid=27&catalogue=6&prodid=MTO0500

The one I use is mixed in 9 litres of water…..
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
OK. I buy mine in 20KG bags, like everything i use. It lasts many years though.
Not soluble completely so more of a slow release.
Gonna go read a book.
See yuz later.

Longy said:

The one I use is mixed in 9 litres of water…..
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
OK. I buy mine in 20KG bags, like everything i use. It lasts many years though.
Not soluble completely so more of a slow release.
Gonna go read a book.
See yuz later.

I didn’t know it could be bought in that size bag…..

What is it sold as in shops?? Is potash know by other names???

Cya longy.

What is it sold as in shops?? Is potash know by other names???
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Same stuff L1. I get it from a produce store.

Longy said:

What is it sold as in shops?? Is potash know by other names???
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Same stuff L1. I get it from a produce store.

Oh thanks Longy:)

I’m catching up on my blogs I subscribe too…..oh man those overseas blogs are chock block full of marties……

pepe said:

Longy said:

is potash immediately available to the plant’s roots?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Depends on what form you use it.
Potassium permanganate, (Condies crystals) Is an immediate hit.
S of P depends how big the granules are and how much of a drink the plants get i guess.
The stuff i use has big granules, about 5 lumps to a pea size. I’ve seen it in fine powdered form as a fully soluble application too, which i would imagine would be immediate.
P also leaches out of soil. Apparently adding Zeolite helps retain the P.
Zeolite is a one time application.

condies crystals – never used it – good good – i use a powder form of s of potash – fine powder but it forms lumps quite a lot.

I’ve only used Condy’s crystals as an anti-fungal application. What strength would you use it for tomatoes ?

Can you over potassium a plant and if yes….what are the tell tail signs.??

Lucky1 said:

Can you over potassium a plant and if yes….what are the tell tail signs.??

Hmmm that’s something I’d like to know!

hiyas, back after a late nana nap. I add liquid potash to the watering can ( searles brand) and let the tomatoes , and other things, have it fortnightly. In that water I also add worm wee and capfull of charlie carp. If it’s fiercly hot, more often.

Happy Potter said:

hiyas, back after a late nana nap. I add liquid potash to the watering can ( searles brand) and let the tomatoes , and other things, have it fortnightly. In that water I also add worm wee and capfull of charlie carp. If it’s fiercly hot, more often.

Is the Charlie carp with your marties?? Doesn’t this over feed the plants with leaves and not fruit.

Seasol is great for strengthening plant cells.

I’ve enjoyed this thread. I have learnt a bit. One day our vegie growing will get serious here.

Right now we are enjoying the other side of gardening. The flowers and plants. Shrubs and trees and foliage.

Happy Potter said:

hiyas, back after a late nana nap. I add liquid potash to the watering can ( searles brand) and let the tomatoes , and other things, have it fortnightly. In that water I also add worm wee and capfull of charlie carp. If it’s fiercly hot, more often.

umm – do you have a cocktail shaker ?
ok – i get the idea – youse guys hit your marties with everything.

i have no idea if toms can be over-magnesitised – but aquarium says calcium and magnesium somehow balance (?) and ph and water are involved as well.

pepe said:

Happy Potter said:

hiyas, back after a late nana nap. I add liquid potash to the watering can ( searles brand) and let the tomatoes , and other things, have it fortnightly. In that water I also add worm wee and capfull of charlie carp. If it’s fiercly hot, more often.

umm – do you have a cocktail shaker ?
ok – i get the idea – youse guys hit your marties with everything.

After last years 450gram harvest…. this year I am putting more thought into my crop.

Mind you a lot of people in my area had poor crops.

I am thinking stronger stem cells …. healthier plants, higher crops produced.

I’ll do the seasol, potash and worm wee….. if anything, I may have the gum tree martie variety…..

Lucky1 said:

Happy Potter said:

hiyas, back after a late nana nap. I add liquid potash to the watering can ( searles brand) and let the tomatoes , and other things, have it fortnightly. In that water I also add worm wee and capfull of charlie carp. If it’s fiercly hot, more often.

Is the Charlie carp with your marties?? Doesn’t this over feed the plants with leaves and not fruit.

Seasol is great for strengthening plant cells.

I have no idea, but if I saw Pete using it, then that’s what I do lol

Happy Potter said:

Lucky1 said:

Happy Potter said:

hiyas, back after a late nana nap. I add liquid potash to the watering can ( searles brand) and let the tomatoes , and other things, have it fortnightly. In that water I also add worm wee and capfull of charlie carp. If it’s fiercly hot, more often.

Is the Charlie carp with your marties?? Doesn’t this over feed the plants with leaves and not fruit.

Seasol is great for strengthening plant cells.

I have no idea, but if I saw Pete using it, then that’s what I do lol

same here, now i cant plant stuff out when he does.

Happy Potter said:

Lucky1 said:

Happy Potter said:

hiyas, back after a late nana nap. I add liquid potash to the watering can ( searles brand) and let the tomatoes , and other things, have it fortnightly. In that water I also add worm wee and capfull of charlie carp. If it’s fiercly hot, more often.

Is the Charlie carp with your marties?? Doesn’t this over feed the plants with leaves and not fruit.

Seasol is great for strengthening plant cells.

I have no idea, but if I saw Pete using it, then that’s what I do lol

Yes Pete hits them with potassium, once they start to flower.

I planted mine out now , they were starting to flower in the hothouse. I just hit them with whatever I saw being used on them.. and judging by last years crop, I did something right .

Happy Potter said:

I planted mine out now , they were starting to flower in the hothouse. I just hit them with whatever I saw being used on them.. and judging by last years crop, I did something right .

I have my first 5 little plants out the back and I want to sooooooooooooooo plant them out tomorrow.

Going to check my moon charts, weather (cold front coming) and with Dad & Betty here on Sunday evening for goodness how long……I am having tomato fantasies…….. anyone else??

What strength would you use it for tomatoes ?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Maybe Bubba can check this for me in Tom Wyatt’s book, but i think, turn the water just pink. As a fungal jigger it’s a tablespoon to a watering can of water i think. Need to check up on this though.

orchid40 said:

Lucky1 said:

Can you over potassium a plant and if yes….what are the tell tail signs.??

Hmmm that’s something I’d like to know!

Yes you can. I can’t recall the symptoms. Yates garden guide has them from memory.
I don’t have my Fav’s here at work or i could check. Might get a chance to look later.

Longy said:

orchid40 said:

Lucky1 said:

Can you over potassium a plant and if yes….what are the tell tail signs.??

Hmmm that’s something I’d like to know!

Yes you can. I can’t recall the symptoms. Yates garden guide has them from memory.
I don’t have my Fav’s here at work or i could check. Might get a chance to look later.

Heyas , I was looking for this info and came a cross a few sites on Potassium, deficiencies and overuse.

“Toxicity symptoms
Plants can happily take up more potassium than they require, and this is not toxic to the plant. However, if too much potassium is applied to plants it can result in magnesium or calcium deficiencies in plants, because of competition amongst these nutrients.”

“If amounts of K in the root zone are more than enough to meet crop needs, K will be absorbed by plants in amounts higher than required for optimum yield. This can lead to higher than normal concentrations of K in plant tissue and is referred to as “luxury consumption.” Luxury consumption has no known negative effect on plant growth.”

I’ve bookmarked the sites.

Longy said:

orchid40 said:

Lucky1 said:

Can you over potassium a plant and if yes….what are the tell tail signs.??

Hmmm that’s something I’d like to know!

Yes you can. I can’t recall the symptoms. Yates garden guide has them from memory.
I don’t have my Fav’s here at work or i could check. Might get a chance to look later.

Thanks Longy, I’ll have a boo-peep in my Yates book.

Longy said:

What strength would you use it for tomatoes ?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Maybe Bubba can check this for me in Tom Wyatt’s book, but i think, turn the water just pink. As a fungal jigger it’s a tablespoon to a watering can of water i think. Need to check up on this though.

Methinks a tablespoonful would be too strong!

Longy said:

What strength would you use it for tomatoes ?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Maybe Bubba can check this for me in Tom Wyatt’s book, but i think, turn the water just pink. As a fungal jigger it’s a tablespoon to a watering can of water i think. Need to check up on this though.

Gees LF, I imagine a tablespoon turning 9 litres of water a hell of a lot more than pale pink. One crystal turns a litre pale pink. I know your quoting from memory but that needs checking I think.

pepe said:

Lucky1 said:

taking notes – molasses, potash when flowering………
hey – is potash immediately available to the plant’s roots?
——————————————-
Hhmm interesting. Potash it often watered over the leaves isn’t it… for quicker in take.

I’d either water in the morning with the potash if watering on the leaves or water it into the soil around the plants.

liquid potash ? umm – taking notes
- not sure – i thought it was a powder

You can buy it as a liquid as well.

Longy said:

What strength would you use it for tomatoes ?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Maybe Bubba can check this for me in Tom Wyatt’s book, but i think, turn the water just pink. As a fungal jigger it’s a tablespoon to a watering can of water i think. Need to check up on this though.

I can’t see anything. What would it be under?

watch for western flower thrips after stormy weather. they’ll congregate in the flowers. until the spring weeds on derelict land have died out, they’ll be a source of viral (bacterial spot) infection via the said thrips. you need a 20X loupe to see the thrips. invariably people confuse bacterial spot with similar looking symptoms from fusarium or verticulum wilt. the tell-tale sign of bacterial spot is totally healthy plants right up until stormy weather…which is when the weak flying thrips “rise” and get taken to your yard by wind. no use trying to save infected plants, which will be a continued source of infection onto your other plants. rip them out and bin, so the rest of the plants can prosper.

aquarium said:

watch for western flower thrips after stormy weather. they’ll congregate in the flowers. until the spring weeds on derelict land have died out, they’ll be a source of viral (bacterial spot) infection via the said thrips. you need a 20X loupe to see the thrips. invariably people confuse bacterial spot with similar looking symptoms from fusarium or verticulum wilt. the tell-tale sign of bacterial spot is totally healthy plants right up until stormy weather…which is when the weak flying thrips “rise” and get taken to your yard by wind. no use trying to save infected plants, which will be a continued source of infection onto your other plants. rip them out and bin, so the rest of the plants can prosper.

Wow thanks Aquarium…. never heard of this…….

it can result in magnesium or calcium deficiencies in plants,
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Yeah OK. All being mobile in the water in plants. Too much of one reduces the plants ability to take another.

Bubba Louie said:

Longy said:

What strength would you use it for tomatoes ?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Maybe Bubba can check this for me in Tom Wyatt’s book, but i think, turn the water just pink. As a fungal jigger it’s a tablespoon to a watering can of water i think. Need to check up on this though.

I can’t see anything. What would it be under?

Gees Bubba. I reckon maybe under “home remedies”. maybe i just heard him yacking about it on the radio.

pomolo said:

Longy said:

What strength would you use it for tomatoes ?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Maybe Bubba can check this for me in Tom Wyatt’s book, but i think, turn the water just pink. As a fungal jigger it’s a tablespoon to a watering can of water i think. Need to check up on this though.

Gees LF, I imagine a tablespoon turning 9 litres of water a hell of a lot more than pale pink. One crystal turns a litre pale pink. I know your quoting from memory but that needs checking I think.

Yeah right again Pom. A tablespoon would cause another red sea.
Gees. So this is what being a grandpappy is about. Head like a busted apple.
I reckon Tom says turn the water just pink for a hit of potash. A bit heavier for a fungal spray.
Again though, i aint a dead cert’. Point is, the stuff is asable for these two applications but you need to check the rates before use.

ok – lets talk pruning.
i am trying one method for my hothouse tommies and another for the outdoor ones.
- hothouse – stakes or strung to the ceiling – use secateurs dipped in metho to cut off all leaves below fruiting bud.
- outdoors – wait for them to grow 300mm high and then allow two stems and when they get to 600mm high allow them to branch again, forming four stems. grow inside wire cage and don’t prune laterals or any more after second prune. mainly for romas.

wait for them to grow 300mm high and then allow two stems and when they get to 600mm high allow them to branch again, forming four stems. grow inside wire cage and don’t prune laterals or any more after second prune. mainly for romas.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That’s roughly my method too Pepe. Only once they have 2 stems i just let them go berko then or they grow out the top of tha cages too far.

Longy said:

wait for them to grow 300mm high and then allow two stems and when they get to 600mm high allow them to branch again, forming four stems. grow inside wire cage and don’t prune laterals or any more after second prune. mainly for romas.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That’s roughly my method too Pepe. Only once they have 2 stems i just let them go berko then or they grow out the top of tha cages too far.

yes that is your method that i have interpreted Longy – sorry. the hothouse idea came from Aquarium.
i have a lot of trouble with disease and i think my pruning has been at fault. it seems that if you prune at the wrong time of day, or before rain …blah, blah…. disease can easily get into the crop.
am i spose to dust with sulphur everytime i prune?
if not sulphur with what ? how often do i dust ?

am i spose to dust with sulphur everytime i prune?
if not sulphur with what ? how often do i dust ?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gees mate, buggered if i know. I give the plants a hit with bordeaux when they’re younguns and the soil around them. Water the soil, not the plants. Water in the mornings. Mulch to prevent splash and use disease resistant varieties. You could always put up an umbrella or use a dehumidifyer. LOL.

Longy said:

am i spose to dust with sulphur everytime i prune?
if not sulphur with what ? how often do i dust ?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gees mate, buggered if i know. I give the plants a hit with bordeaux when they’re younguns and the soil around them. Water the soil, not the plants. Water in the mornings. Mulch to prevent splash and use disease resistant varieties. You could always put up an umbrella or use a dehumidifyer. LOL.

thanks – good hints.

regards overdosing….refer to Mulder’s chart as reproduced here http://members.optusnet.com.au/~chriswww/mulder_chart.png
overdosing potash makes magnesium and boron less available.

chicken litter mulch black seeping hose lime ground 2 weeks before planting (helps to stop blosssom rot)
fungal spray ( bicarb one )as needed if it humid … + charlie carp

sweetpea2008 said:

chicken litter mulch black seeping hose lime ground 2 weeks before planting (helps to stop blosssom rot)
fungal spray ( bicarb one )as needed if it humid … + charlie carp

about the liming for toms…..better to use dolomite lime or gypsum, which don’t raise the ph much, as toms like it slightly acidic conditions. although there may be certain cases of true calcium deficiency causing blossom end rot in toms; more likely is uneven watering, or maybe just soil that fails to wet properly and stay moist.

aquarium said:

sweetpea2008 said:

chicken litter mulch black seeping hose lime ground 2 weeks before planting (helps to stop blosssom rot)
fungal spray ( bicarb one )as needed if it humid … + charlie carp

about the liming for toms…..better to use dolomite lime or gypsum, which don’t raise the ph much, as toms like it slightly acidic conditions. although there may be certain cases of true calcium deficiency causing blossom end rot in toms; more likely is uneven watering, or maybe just soil that fails to wet properly and stay moist.

I was wondering about the ph.

pepe said:

Longy said:

wait for them to grow 300mm high and then allow two stems and when they get to 600mm high allow them to branch again, forming four stems. grow inside wire cage and don’t prune laterals or any more after second prune. mainly for romas.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That’s roughly my method too Pepe. Only once they have 2 stems i just let them go berko then or they grow out the top of tha cages too far.

yes that is your method that i have interpreted Longy – sorry. the hothouse idea came from Aquarium.
i have a lot of trouble with disease and i think my pruning has been at fault. it seems that if you prune at the wrong time of day, or before rain …blah, blah…. disease can easily get into the crop.
am i spose to dust with sulphur everytime i prune?
if not sulphur with what ? how often do i dust ?

Pepe, if you have trouble with disease…just a thought…can you plant them where the breezes are likely to blow in your garden??? My bed is just past the dam water storage tank…about 15 yards…and it gets the end of any puffs of breezes because they are forced between the house and the tank and onto the garden…however in the summer I will have to lay some kind of drip watering system because even with this breeze, they tend to succumb to fungal infections…in the winter it was too cold for the fungal infections even after heavy rain…

Hopefully by the end of the week I shall order some disease-resistant seeds…I notice that IBB has not any more Brandy Wines for sale…

:(

aquarium said:

sweetpea2008 said:

chicken litter mulch black seeping hose lime ground 2 weeks before planting (helps to stop blosssom rot)
fungal spray ( bicarb one )as needed if it humid … + charlie carp

about the liming for toms…..better to use dolomite lime or gypsum, which don’t raise the ph much, as toms like it slightly acidic conditions. although there may be certain cases of true calcium deficiency causing blossom end rot in toms; more likely is uneven watering, or maybe just soil that fails to wet properly and stay moist.

I only used gypsum…alter the pH by other means…like composting…I do notice, however, that “agricultural lime” is now available in the local Mitre10….

i had some blossom end rot pretty much every year until i improved the soil. it would occur during the height of summer, when the soil used to be impossible to wet.

I only used gypsum…alter the pH by other means…like composting…I do notice, however, that “agricultural lime” is now available in the local Mitre10….
——————————-
i am reading this thread.

molasses, bordeaux, potash, lime – omg – these toms are getting spoilt.
except for the wind tunnel, the umbrella and the dehumidifier the advice so far has been extremely helpful LOL.

pepe said:

I only used gypsum…alter the pH by other means…like composting…I do notice, however, that “agricultural lime” is now available in the local Mitre10….
——————————-
i am reading this thread.

molasses, bordeaux, potash, lime – omg – these toms are getting spoilt.
except for the wind tunnel, the umbrella and the dehumidifier the advice so far has been extremely helpful LOL.

LOL the wind tunnel was accidental…but it helps…true…

Dinetta said:

pepe said:

I only used gypsum…alter the pH by other means…like composting…I do notice, however, that “agricultural lime” is now available in the local Mitre10….
——————————-
i am reading this thread.

molasses, bordeaux, potash, lime – omg – these toms are getting spoilt.
except for the wind tunnel, the umbrella and the dehumidifier the advice so far has been extremely helpful LOL.

LOL the wind tunnel was accidental…but it helps…true…

there is some breeze in the spot i’m growing toms this year – so i was listening to your advice – and you might be right – but the wind howled yesterday and the small toms don’t need full wind.

but the wind howled yesterday and the small toms don’t need full wind.
=====================================================

No they don’t, but I try to stake them as I plant them…less disruption to the roots later…this is a tip I got from Lucky…

works for me in my conditions .. its interesting to learn how others do it …. the slight differences are interesting .

i’ve been taking notes and so far this is what we’ve added to the soil to make tomatoes grow

poultry manure, compost, worm wee, molasses, mulch, potash, zeolite, phosphate, charlie carp, seaweed, dolomite, gypsum, magnesium, calcium, boron, lime and bicarb fungal spray or bordeaux.

makes you wonder if its worth it – and how did they becomes australia’s favourite homegrown vege?

I have tomato flowers coming on some of the plants:D

Lucky1 said:

I have tomato flowers coming on some of the plants:D

Not long now, Lucky…about 4 weeks to harvest?

Dinetta said:

Lucky1 said:

I have tomato flowers coming on some of the plants:D

Not long now, Lucky…about 4 weeks to harvest?

Oh you lucky girl:)

Lucky1 said:

Dinetta said:

Lucky1 said:

I have tomato flowers coming on some of the plants:D

Not long now, Lucky…about 4 weeks to harvest?

Oh you lucky girl:)

Oh No, I was asking if it’s only 4 weeks to harvest for you? Mine got a bit delayed with their serious harvest because of the minus temps for a couple of weeks there…mind you the cherry type ones are coping best with little or no water (as is the feral)…all my others basically died with the effort of putting forth decent fruit with almost no water, particularly once the days warmed up…

Dinetta said:

Lucky1 said:

Dinetta said:

Lucky1 said:

I have tomato flowers coming on some of the plants:D

Not long now, Lucky…about 4 weeks to harvest?

Oh you lucky girl:)

Oh No, I was asking if it’s only 4 weeks to harvest for you? Mine got a bit delayed with their serious harvest because of the minus temps for a couple of weeks there…mind you the cherry type ones are coping best with little or no water (as is the feral)…all my others basically died with the effort of putting forth decent fruit with almost no water, particularly once the days warmed up…

Earliest I egg-specting any is Dec…….

Just found some green kermits on my black Russian plant:D

Pepe, forgot to ask you while browsing your garden and the elf was grazing your garden….LOL

You had some tomatoes in round wire support cages. Have you done this before or is this your first year???

I’m thinking how good it looked and am wondering how well that support system works.??

I’ve been wondering about the wire support cages; like the peas that were posted the other day. How do you get to the fruit on the inside?

Lucky1 said:

Pepe, forgot to ask you while browsing your garden and the elf was grazing your garden….LOL

You had some tomatoes in round wire support cages. Have you done this before or is this your first year???

I’m thinking how good it looked and am wondering how well that support system works.??

cages are an idea i got from some forumites here.
seems to work well – paticularly on romas.

SueBk said:

I’ve been wondering about the wire support cages; like the peas that were posted the other day. How do you get to the fruit on the inside?

my cages are old five strand sheep fencing so its easy to put your hand thru’.

pepe said:

Lucky1 said:

Pepe, forgot to ask you while browsing your garden and the elf was grazing your garden….LOL

You had some tomatoes in round wire support cages. Have you done this before or is this your first year???

I’m thinking how good it looked and am wondering how well that support system works.??

cages are an idea i got from some forumites here.
seems to work well – paticularly on romas.

Have you used them in other seasons???

Have you used them in other seasons???
————————-
i made and used them last year.
for me its a relief to not have to tie them to stakes – i end up with a jumble of stalks and rags that you wouldn’t believe when i stake toms.

pepe said:

Have you used them in other seasons???
————————-
i made and used them last year.
for me its a relief to not have to tie them to stakes – i end up with a jumble of stalks and rags that you wouldn’t believe when i stake toms.

I’m tying up my toms tomorrow.

How often should I be feeding the tomatoes, with potash??

I have these cute trussles of tomatoes forming on my Cherry Tomato plant. I know…how can a trussle of tomatoes look cute……..easy… their on my plants and looking cute.;P

I have a feeling in my bones, I’m in for a good season of marties this year.

Lucky1 said:

I have these cute trussles of tomatoes forming on my Cherry Tomato plant. I know…how can a trussle of tomatoes look cute……..easy… their on my plants and looking cute.;P

I have a feeling in my bones, I’m in for a good season of marties this year.

mumble mumble – all my hothouse toms got the wilt – waaaahhh

pepe said:

Lucky1 said:

I have these cute trussles of tomatoes forming on my Cherry Tomato plant. I know…how can a trussle of tomatoes look cute……..easy… their on my plants and looking cute.;P

I have a feeling in my bones, I’m in for a good season of marties this year.

mumble mumble – all my hothouse toms got the wilt – waaaahhh

Bugger…….. wonder if there was enough air flowing through…..

Lucky1 said:

pepe said:

Lucky1 said:

I have these cute trussles of tomatoes forming on my Cherry Tomato plant. I know…how can a trussle of tomatoes look cute……..easy… their on my plants and looking cute.;P

I have a feeling in my bones, I’m in for a good season of marties this year.

mumble mumble – all my hothouse toms got the wilt – waaaahhh

Bugger…….. wonder if there was enough air flowing through…..

i wonder if a serial tom killer is the gardener.
still i have 5 outside that are coming on and about ten small ones in pots.
i’ll get there.
congrats on yours btw.

In about a month I will drown in toms. I started poking my joint stems in the ground thinking maybe about 10% or so would take. Looks like they all took. Means I have about 2 dozen plants. I’ve stopped planting my stems.

I’ve got two big ones – Oxheart and something else, maybe Beefsteak? A cherry tomato and the mystery Brisbane City Council tomato. I suspect also a cherry since they say its good for pots and balconies. I’m not 100% sure which ones are which, but I think I’ve got 3 Oxhearts and about a dozen Beefsteak and about 3 or 4 each of the others.

pepe said:

Lucky1 said:

pepe said:

Lucky1 said:

I have these cute trussles of tomatoes forming on my Cherry Tomato plant. I know…how can a trussle of tomatoes look cute……..easy… their on my plants and looking cute.;P

I have a feeling in my bones, I’m in for a good season of marties this year.

mumble mumble – all my hothouse toms got the wilt – waaaahhh

Bugger…….. wonder if there was enough air flowing through…..

i wonder if a serial tom killer is the gardener.
still i have 5 outside that are coming on and about ten small ones in pots.
i’ll get there.
congrats on yours btw.

Thanks:)

I thought you had some out in the garden.

Oh Debbie was telling me today….. there is a tomato plant growing in the drum where the dog poo is thrown, when collected. Only dog that eats tomatoes is Jasmine as she sneaks down to raid the pig trough.

Deb has planted the little seedling out in her cottage garden.

SueBk said:

In about a month I will drown in toms. I started poking my joint stems in the ground thinking maybe about 10% or so would take. Looks like they all took. Means I have about 2 dozen plants. I’ve stopped planting my stems.

I’ve got two big ones – Oxheart and something else, maybe Beefsteak? A cherry tomato and the mystery Brisbane City Council tomato. I suspect also a cherry since they say its good for pots and balconies. I’m not 100% sure which ones are which, but I think I’ve got 3 Oxhearts and about a dozen Beefsteak and about 3 or 4 each of the others.

Get some jars and make tomato sauce:)

My babies…. just took these photo and up loaded them onto my blog

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/2008/10/sshh-tomatoes-growing.html

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v402/Luckyland/My%20Garden/toms01.jpg

Try again

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v402/Luckyland/My%20Garden/th_toms02.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v402/Luckyland/My%20Garden/th_toms01.jpg

Last time, if it doesn’t work…I’m gonna sulk;P

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v402/Luckyland/My%20Garden/th_toms02.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v402/Luckyland/My%20Garden/th_toms01.jpg

ok now my turn with luckys photos.

veg gardener said:

ok now my turn with luckys photos.

there we go lucky.

veg gardener said:

ok now my turn with luckys photos.

lucky might be a photobucket failure but she sure can grow those toms.

pepe said:

veg gardener said:

ok now my turn with luckys photos.

lucky might be a photobucket failure but she sure can grow those toms.

:D

i watered my toms – over the leaves this evening.
its very dry here and i had no option but i guess it was the wrong way
should have been on the roots ah?

pepe said:

i watered my toms – over the leaves this evening.
its very dry here and i had no option but i guess it was the wrong way
should have been on the roots ah?

I have read where tomatoes should be watered at the base. But when I feed mine worm wee, potash and liquid manure.

I do both, but in the morning…. so the leaves dry quicker.

that’s 50 lashes for you Peps ;)
a long watering wand is helpful in watering on the soil/mulch around plants without wetting foliage too much. a watering nozzle without a wand is pretty frustrating. if you don’t have a good watering wand yet..Dramm brand is best, if a bit pricey.
pepe said:

i watered my toms – over the leaves this evening.
its very dry here and i had no option but i guess it was the wrong way
should have been on the roots ah?

Dramm brand is best, if a bit pricey.
——
ok
i’m having trouble visualising how this is going to help with a small tomato bush.
still i’m bereft of ideas without drippers.

aquarium said:

that’s 50 lashes for you Peps ;)
a long watering wand is helpful in watering on the soil/mulch around plants without wetting foliage too much. a watering nozzle without a wand is pretty frustrating. if you don’t have a good watering wand yet..Dramm brand is best, if a bit pricey.
pepe said:

i watered my toms – over the leaves this evening.
its very dry here and i had no option but i guess it was the wrong way
should have been on the roots ah?

I have watering wands on all my garden hoses. I find them much more watering friendly than the standard nozzle. Hanging baskets, broad gardens, and to avoid wetting foliage are much easier tasks with a wand. They also have to have a soft shower spray choice and a flow regulator. Go the watering wands.

BTW. I have noticed they are a bit harder to find in the shops than they used to be.

pepe said:

Dramm brand is best, if a bit pricey.
——
ok
i’m having trouble visualising how this is going to help with a small tomato bush.
still i’m bereft of ideas without drippers.

I’d say they are good in this case because you can get right in under the bush without drowning the whole thing and it can still be a soft spray even if it’s right on the soil.

Aqua might disagree tho.

First of my toms is turning red :-) These are (I think) … hmmmm, now I’ve forgotten … Big Beefy or Beefsteak or something like that. My mystery Brisbane City Council plants are loaded with fruit. My rosentraube cherry toms are starting to flower in earnest.

Should I be fertilising more often? How often? Potash? Or something else required?

SueBk said:

First of my toms is turning red :-) These are (I think) … hmmmm, now I’ve forgotten … Big Beefy or Beefsteak or something like that. My mystery Brisbane City Council plants are loaded with fruit. My rosentraube cherry toms are starting to flower in earnest.

Should I be fertilising more often? How often? Potash? Or something else required?

I give mine a feed weekly of potash (helps with setting fruit) as well a feed or worm wee and seasol for stem strength and keeping diseases away.

pomolo said:

aquarium said:

that’s 50 lashes for you Peps ;)
a long watering wand is helpful in watering on the soil/mulch around plants without wetting foliage too much. a watering nozzle without a wand is pretty frustrating. if you don’t have a good watering wand yet..Dramm brand is best, if a bit pricey.
pepe said:

i watered my toms – over the leaves this evening.
its very dry here and i had no option but i guess it was the wrong way
should have been on the roots ah?

I have watering wands on all my garden hoses. I find them much more watering friendly than the standard nozzle. Hanging baskets, broad gardens, and to avoid wetting foliage are much easier tasks with a wand. They also have to have a soft shower spray choice and a flow regulator. Go the watering wands.

BTW. I have noticed they are a bit harder to find in the shops than they used to be.

well – that does it – two in favour of wands.
must get myself one soon.

Oh, Oh ,Oh….I’m so egg-cited.

Just back from the shop centre and I got 5 little white craft bags and I’m going to save my won seeds this years of the following marties……

Tigerella
Black Russian
Oxheart
Grosse Lisse

Saw some photo snaps over on Ozgarden on how to do this………bounces off another wall…….. this is such an egg-citing new journey for me in vegie gardening. Bounces to the opposite wall, just think if I get enough seeds, 1 less item on my list for me to buy. Bounces from wall to ceiling to wall, I’ll be able to share some “special” seeds with people who want to trade here. Bang hits another wall…… I’m so egg-cited.

careful of your arthritis lassie!

(tch)

Dinetta said:

careful of your arthritis lassie!

(tch)

Yes mum:)

Fully share your excitement here…how about you just run around and high-five the cats instead????

Dinetta said:

Fully share your excitement here…how about you just run around and high-five the cats instead????

They are all asleep:(

Oh Dinetta, my tomatoes are full of trusses this year…….. oodles of them…… makes summer worth going through…..just thought.

Oh Dinetta, my tomatoes are full of trusses this year…….. oodles of them…… makes summer worth going through…..just thought.
=======================================================================

Well Done Lucky!!

Very much looking forward to the progress reports!

Dinetta said:

Oh Dinetta, my tomatoes are full of trusses this year…….. oodles of them…… makes summer worth going through…..just thought.
=======================================================================

Well Done Lucky!!

Very much looking forward to the progress reports!

Me too!
I have lots of tomato flowers , but no fruits as yet..but I’ll be harvesting by xmas no doubt.

Happy Potter said:

Dinetta said:

Oh Dinetta, my tomatoes are full of trusses this year…….. oodles of them…… makes summer worth going through…..just thought.
=======================================================================

Well Done Lucky!!

Very much looking forward to the progress reports!

Me too!
I have lots of tomato flowers , but no fruits as yet..but I’ll be harvesting by xmas no doubt.

I’m hanging out to try the Tigerellas……

http://www.tomato.com.au/pages/varieties/tigerella.html

All bagged for a pure strain of tomato

http://luckysduckfarm.blogspot.com/2008/11/blog-post.html

Lucky1 said:

Oh, Oh ,Oh….I’m so egg-cited.

Just back from the shop centre and I got 5 little white craft bags and I’m going to save my won seeds this years of the following marties……

Tigerella
Black Russian
Oxheart
Grosse Lisse

Saw some photo snaps over on Ozgarden on how to do this………bounces off another wall…….. this is such an egg-citing new journey for me in vegie gardening. Bounces to the opposite wall, just think if I get enough seeds, 1 less item on my list for me to buy. Bounces from wall to ceiling to wall, I’ll be able to share some “special” seeds with people who want to trade here. Bang hits another wall…… I’m so egg-cited.

LOL – no wonder elf is always repairing plasterboard.
ever thought of writing comedy scripts.

pepe said:

Lucky1 said:

Oh, Oh ,Oh….I’m so egg-cited.

Just back from the shop centre and I got 5 little white craft bags and I’m going to save my won seeds this years of the following marties……

Tigerella
Black Russian
Oxheart
Grosse Lisse

Saw some photo snaps over on Ozgarden on how to do this………bounces off another wall…….. this is such an egg-citing new journey for me in vegie gardening. Bounces to the opposite wall, just think if I get enough seeds, 1 less item on my list for me to buy. Bounces from wall to ceiling to wall, I’ll be able to share some “special” seeds with people who want to trade here. Bang hits another wall…… I’m so egg-cited.

LOL – no wonder elf is always repairing plasterboard.
ever thought of writing comedy scripts.

LOL….. my mum always said, she would have drowned me at birth, if she knew what I was going to turn out like……:P

your tomatoes do look eggciting.
can i come and have a look friday afternoon – say 3pm ?

pepe said:

your tomatoes do look eggciting.
can i come and have a look friday afternoon – say 3pm ?

Oh sure….. that would be great:D

Lucky1 said:

pepe said:

your tomatoes do look eggciting.
can i come and have a look friday afternoon – say 3pm ?

Oh sure….. that would be great:D

excellent
- i have top dressed my toms with straw and manure – they have set small green fruit – but nothing like your trusses.
spinach seedlings have all taken so i’ll bring those.

pepe said:

Lucky1 said:

pepe said:

your tomatoes do look eggciting.
can i come and have a look friday afternoon – say 3pm ?

Oh sure….. that would be great:D

excellent
- i have top dressed my toms with straw and manure – they have set small green fruit – but nothing like your trusses.
spinach seedlings have all taken so i’ll bring those.

Oh great:D I’ll save you some boiled fruit cake to go with the cuppa:D

Morning. We grew Tigerella last year. They aren’t a very big tomato, but a lot of flavour. Unfortunately didn’t have a huge crop, and didn’t get around to saving the seed….have 3 plants in this year. Will try to save some this time.

One of my favourites for flavour is Black Krim and it is quite fleshy too. I have a couple of them in this year as well. Also have Amish Paste, Rouge de Marmande, Cherry Cerise and Grosse Lisse.

Have never had really brilliant crops, but have been noting all the ideas here and I think a trip to get some potash is in order. Mine have only just started to flower.

AnneS said:

Morning. We grew Tigerella last year. They aren’t a very big tomato, but a lot of flavour. Unfortunately didn’t have a huge crop, and didn’t get around to saving the seed….have 3 plants in this year. Will try to save some this time.

One of my favourites for flavour is Black Krim and it is quite fleshy too. I have a couple of them in this year as well. Also have Amish Paste, Rouge de Marmande, Cherry Cerise and Grosse Lisse.

Have never had really brilliant crops, but have been noting all the ideas here and I think a trip to get some potash is in order. Mine have only just started to flower.

Morning Anne:)

Flavour is what I am after….. and so this makes me more egg-cited about the Tigerella. I had some Black Krim seeds and I sort of didn’t keep them moist when my dad was here sick…. and they didn’t germinate:(

I have a Azoychka tomato seed germinate over night:D Never heard of it before.

!http://www.tomatogrowers.com/2005/3680.jpg1

Its yellow!!!! How cool is that…….yeah just searched for pic now;P Info below on the martie:)

This is a delightful small yellow beefsteak tomato that matures so early it will be one of the first varieties to ripen in your garden. Beautifully smooth, lemon yellow fruit weighs about 8 ozs. and is very flavorful, rich but pleasantly sweet with a delicious hint of citrus. Heirloom variety from Russia. Our stock seed is from Craig Le Houllier. Indeterminate. 70 days.

Hhhmm lets try that again.

Much better:D

Oh Yes!!

Dinetta said:

Oh Yes!!

Hey Dinetta…… gonna nurse this baby and hopefully save some seeds later on in the new year.

I sowed 8 cells with this variety……

Talking of toms. I noticed this morning that one of my unripe fruit has a dirty great big split. Might have come from the storm. Surprised there’s actually any fruit on the plants at all.

Should I remove it? I was thinking damaged fruit might attract bugs that could then damage good fruit. Is that logical?

SueBk said:

Talking of toms. I noticed this morning that one of my unripe fruit has a dirty great big split. Might have come from the storm. Surprised there’s actually any fruit on the plants at all.

Should I remove it? I was thinking damaged fruit might attract bugs that could then damage good fruit. Is that logical?

Remove all damaged fruit….. as it’ll only rot and this could lead to a bug infestation or disease.

SueBk said:

Talking of toms. I noticed this morning that one of my unripe fruit has a dirty great big split. Might have come from the storm. Surprised there’s actually any fruit on the plants at all.

Should I remove it? I was thinking damaged fruit might attract bugs that could then damage good fruit. Is that logical?

I’d remove it.

SueBk said:

Talking of toms. I noticed this morning that one of my unripe fruit has a dirty great big split. Might have come from the storm. Surprised there’s actually any fruit on the plants at all.

Should I remove it? I was thinking damaged fruit might attract bugs that could then damage good fruit. Is that logical?

I’d use it for a “cooker”…throw it in with something that’s got tomatoes, or you can use it in a salad if it’s not gone rotten…would still be OK to eat…

Dinetta said:

SueBk said:

Talking of toms. I noticed this morning that one of my unripe fruit has a dirty great big split. Might have come from the storm. Surprised there’s actually any fruit on the plants at all.

Should I remove it? I was thinking damaged fruit might attract bugs that could then damage good fruit. Is that logical?

I’d use it for a “cooker”…throw it in with something that’s got tomatoes, or you can use it in a salad if it’s not gone rotten…would still be OK to eat…

It’s still green. If there were lots of them, I’d make green tom chutney. But, as much as I love GTC, I’m not picking good fruit that should eventually turn red.

I grew Tigerellas last year, they’re yummy and self-seed very readily.

orchid40 said:

I grew Tigerellas last year, they’re yummy and self-seed very readily.

Cool:D

Lucky that big yellow tomato looks great!!

Tigerella……. so close……. waiting over on Ozgrow to know if it’s pickable yet.

My tigerella as of 5 mins ago

Lucky1 said:

My tigerella as of 5 mins ago

not that we are counting the minutes at all LOL.
you will be eating lots by xmas.

Lucky1 said:

My tigerella as of 5 mins ago

they look yummy.

pepe said:

Lucky1 said:

My tigerella as of 5 mins ago

not that we are counting the minutes at all LOL.
you will be eating lots by xmas.

Oh for sure my Black Russian has a martie colouring up now too. I’ve had such a good gut feeling I’m going to have a FABBER TABBER season. I swear by the worm wee and potash I have been adding weekly.

veg gardener said:

Lucky1 said:

My tigerella as of 5 mins ago

they look yummy.

Thanks VG. I haven’t tasted one yet.. stay tuned:D

You are an inspiration Lucky.

I think I will have to wait until after Christmas to get the vegetable garden going again, but Sonny Joe did ask what the “gunna” bed (beside the compost heap) was for, and he has informed me that as a result of him and Sonny Jim finally cleaning out the gutters (usually my job) the compost is stuffed any way…(full of leaves)…so I said oh Yippee! oh Joy!! any more leaves, just put them on the garden bed out the front…

I might get them to consider a few spare pieces of roofing iron and some tomato stakes and make me a small compost bin that they can turn?? …as he is taking an interest in the compost process…

You are an inspiration Lucky.
—————————————————————-
Thanks Dinetta:D

Just picked another Black Russian, couple of Tigerellas and our first Oxheart:D

I tried the black russians, they loved my soil and care but hated my climate. The fruit tended to be almost designed to boil in the sun. The taste of them wasn’t a patch on a good rouge de marmand. I tried the yellow tomatoes onc again they grew and produced bountifully but again weren’t a patch on the KY1. Grosse lisse grew gigantean heights and are a lot of work to manage. Oxhearts are a good tomato but again not so well suited to my conditions. Beefhearts did well before the hot weather really hit. Mortgage lifetr just smashed it’s own bushes down with weight of fruit. I could go on forever but it is something that most will agree. There are some varieties that suit your soil and sun and water and it is best to stick to those. Saves money and wasted time. I usually pick early mid season and late varieties and plant them according to their season. I will be doing the brandywines later for they are a late season tom. I have been eating yummy rouge de marmandes for a while and expect Burkes backyarders soon etc.

Come to think of it it didn’t matter what variety.. they mostly ended up in my tomato sauce and it tasted great.

Interesting Roughbarked. I have the burkes backyard ones this year, and the mortgage lifters, but mine wont break under fruit weight, they will be picked as they grow to beat the birds to them. Golf ball sized fruits atm.

A major problem in my area is that the tomatoes get scorched by the intensity of th sun.

roughbarked said:

A major problem in my area is that the tomatoes get scorched by the intensity of th sun.

Yes here too Roughbarked. This year though I hope I’ve fixed that by where I have planted a metre out from a north facing wall , mine get full morning sun from 6 am and afternoon shade from about 2 pm, also planted on a 1.2 m wire mesh, they are growing up one side and trailing down the other. And as there’s only 6 plants, I can throw some shade cloth over during scorchers. Thats the plan anyways.
I’m in Werribee, Vic. What area of Oz are you ?

I hail from the banks of the Murrumbidge as Al Grassby used to call the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. However my area is Mallee country.

roughbarked said:

I hail from the banks of the Murrumbidge as Al Grassby used to call the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. However my area is Mallee country.

Oh ok, yep a hot dry area in summer.

Warming up today currently 26 C in this room

My area is famous for rice and wine much tomato sauce is made and many tomatoes are preserved here and we have commercial tomato growers in business for at least forty years within the one family owned business. My town also made news related to shipping tomatoes in cans.

The way the commercial growers do it here are to only grow bushy varieties and have constant drip tape flow under a strip of weed mat allowing the tomato plant to sprawl over the ground.

Some very useful posts in this thread, RoughBarked…

Dinetta said:

Some very useful posts in this thread, RoughBarked…

I haven’t relly read the whole thread yet.. but I shall later.. The onus is on me to make opal jewellery for my daughter-in-law in Norway

roughbarked said:

I tried the black russians, they loved my soil and care but hated my climate. The fruit tended to be almost designed to boil in the sun. The taste of them wasn’t a patch on a good rouge de marmand. I tried the yellow tomatoes onc again they grew and produced bountifully but again weren’t a patch on the KY1. Grosse lisse grew gigantean heights and are a lot of work to manage. Oxhearts are a good tomato but again not so well suited to my conditions. Beefhearts did well before the hot weather really hit. Mortgage lifetr just smashed it’s own bushes down with weight of fruit. I could go on forever but it is something that most will agree. There are some varieties that suit your soil and sun and water and it is best to stick to those. Saves money and wasted time. I usually pick early mid season and late varieties and plant them according to their season. I will be doing the brandywines later for they are a late season tom. I have been eating yummy rouge de marmandes for a while and expect Burkes backyarders soon etc.

that’s one heck of a paragraph. tomato killers like me stand in awe. LOL.
by chance my toms are in semi-shade this year – so growing slow but seemingly alright.

Tomatoes are sun lovers but there is a limit to how much of it they can stand. True flavour requires good sun but sun isn’t necessary to ripen the ruit.

roughbarked said:

Tomatoes are sun lovers but there is a limit to how much of it they can stand. True flavour requires good sun but sun isn’t necessary to ripen the ruit.

So true. I picked my winter tomatoes at the first sign of blush and they would ripen in the kitchen…I left a few for the birds, tho’…bonuses to the bug-catchers…

After the Christmas break, I’ll be looking at shadecloth for my next tomato garden bed…pretty keen to try the brandywines, SweetPea swears by them…

There are some varieties that suit your soil and sun and water and it is best to stick to those. Saves money and wasted time.
+++++++

I quite agree with you there…I also appreciated the point that growers in your area grow bushy types on weedmat (are we speaking of woven weedmat here?) … no staking… must be a dry heat at your place: I’d be worried about humidity in the summer (but not in the winter)…

yes weed mat/ no staking/ very dry climate.

Only reason anything grows here was because there was water in the rivers once.

This is all about to change unless it starts raining.

As I pick martie seeds out from between my teeth, I am happy to announce, we have passed last years weight quota……. seeing as I only harvested less than 500 grams last year…. I’m pretty stoked:D

something is eating my tomatoes only the lost ones and eating half of them tomato happened sometime last night as i checked them all yesterday, could it be rats, my dog, possums.

veg gardener said:

something is eating my tomatoes only the lost ones and eating half of them tomato happened sometime last night as i checked them all yesterday, could it be rats, my dog, possums.

If you have a rat problem there Veg , they could well be the culprit.
What can you do about it ? If they get in big enough numbers they will eat more than food and can be a serious and dangerous pest, spreading disease.

Happy Potter said:

veg gardener said:

something is eating my tomatoes only the lost ones and eating half of them tomato happened sometime last night as i checked them all yesterday, could it be rats, my dog, possums.

If you have a rat problem there Veg , they could well be the culprit.
What can you do about it ? If they get in big enough numbers they will eat more than food and can be a serious and dangerous pest, spreading disease.

yeah its in the garden out to front… ill put the next over them when it stops raining.

veg gardener said:

Happy Potter said:

veg gardener said:

something is eating my tomatoes only the lost ones and eating half of them tomato happened sometime last night as i checked them all yesterday, could it be rats, my dog, possums.

If you have a rat problem there Veg , they could well be the culprit.
What can you do about it ? If they get in big enough numbers they will eat more than food and can be a serious and dangerous pest, spreading disease.

yeah its in the garden out to front… ill put the next over them when it stops raining.

Nets wont stop rats, so you will know if it’s rats eating them then.

Happy Potter said:

veg gardener said:

Happy Potter said:

veg gardener said:

something is eating my tomatoes only the lost ones and eating half of them tomato happened sometime last night as i checked them all yesterday, could it be rats, my dog, possums.

If you have a rat problem there Veg , they could well be the culprit.
What can you do about it ? If they get in big enough numbers they will eat more than food and can be a serious and dangerous pest, spreading disease.

yeah its in the garden out to front… ill put the next over them when it stops raining.

Nets wont stop rats, so you will know if it’s rats eating them then.

yeah thats what i was thinking. normally the birds get into them.

veg gardener said:

something is eating my tomatoes only the lost ones and eating half of them tomato happened sometime last night as i checked them all yesterday, could it be rats, my dog, possums.

Could be birds…I busted a bird snacking on a ripe one the other day…

OK … All and sundry loves tomatoes.

I have seen rats goannas blackbirds as well as slaters ants and many beetles, not to mention human guests chomping on my toms.

Talking to the elf about starting the tomato planting this coming week.

Tonight while eating tea, I said maybe we should go tomorrow and buy the tomatoes. We want “Black Russian” and they may not be there for us to buy mid week. They get their seedlings in at the toyshop on Friday.

Could go to Garden Grove too……..hhhhmmm. I’ll see what the boss says.

For Dinetta:)

Lucky1 said:

For Dinetta:)

Thanks ever so, Lucky :)

OK, you know how we get these “ideas” that we’d like to try something? Well I’d like to try hanging gardens of cherry tomatoes, as a way of clearing up a bit of the front bed for other plantings such as: parsley, sage, rosemary and lemon thyme, also aubergines and capsicums, chilli. This all around a couple of the big pasting type tomatoes, this is a 2 metre at least round bed, so I think 3 × 2 metre pasting tomatoes will be all it will take…

How big a pot would I need? Would it need to be plastic or should I buy the coconut fibre / wire baskets?

Dinetta said:

OK, you know how we get these “ideas” that we’d like to try something? Well I’d like to try hanging gardens of cherry tomatoes, as a way of clearing up a bit of the front bed for other plantings such as: parsley, sage, rosemary and lemon thyme, also aubergines and capsicums, chilli. This all around a couple of the big pasting type tomatoes, this is a 2 metre at least round bed, so I think 3 × 2 metre pasting tomatoes will be all it will take… How big a pot would I need? Would it need to be plastic or should I buy the coconut fibre / wire baskets?

why hanging baskets? what are you hanging from? why not just stake them?
i’m currently building temporary trellises of all sorts – for toms, climbing peas and beans and cueys.
is it possible to have a more vertical garden rather than a hanging one?

pepe said:

Dinetta said:

OK, you know how we get these “ideas” that we’d like to try something? Well I’d like to try hanging gardens of cherry tomatoes, as a way of clearing up a bit of the front bed for other plantings such as: parsley, sage, rosemary and lemon thyme, also aubergines and capsicums, chilli. This all around a couple of the big pasting type tomatoes, this is a 2 metre at least round bed, so I think 3 × 2 metre pasting tomatoes will be all it will take… How big a pot would I need? Would it need to be plastic or should I buy the coconut fibre / wire baskets?

why hanging baskets? what are you hanging from? why not just stake them?
i’m currently building temporary trellises of all sorts – for toms, climbing peas and beans and cueys.
is it possible to have a more vertical garden rather than a hanging one?

Because the space, after the big 2 metre tomatoes go in, will be very limited…

I am hanging from the front deck patio structure, does not have a roof and never had one but is solid enough to cope with a roof…currently has bouganvillea all over it but that needs pruning back…will get plenty of sun…yes I fleetingly thought of a vertical garden as well, as in a hanging one…but too hard to plan…

I think with the trellises, you’d need to spend a bit of time training the plants, a little bit each day…in the front bed, these climbing plants tend to slither up the nearest trees and such…

http://www.instructables.com/id/how-to-plant-hanging-upsidedown-tomatoes/

http://www.hangingtomatoplanter.com/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningadvice/5054902/Best-tomatoes-for-hanging-baskets.html

http://www.diynetwork.com/outdoors/growing-tomatoes-in-hanging-baskets/

roughbarked said:

http://www.hangingtomatoplanter.com/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningadvice/5054902/Best-tomatoes-for-hanging-baskets.html

http://www.diynetwork.com/outdoors/growing-tomatoes-in-hanging-baskets/

ah – cherry tomatoes in pots. they look good.
if you have a permanent trellis with sun – go for it D !

Dinetta said:

Lucky1 said:

For Dinetta:)

Thanks ever so, Lucky :)

Most welcome:)

pepe said:

roughbarked said:

http://www.hangingtomatoplanter.com/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningadvice/5054902/Best-tomatoes-for-hanging-baskets.html

http://www.diynetwork.com/outdoors/growing-tomatoes-in-hanging-baskets/

ah – cherry tomatoes in pots. they look good.
if you have a permanent trellis with sun – go for it D !

Yes, they’re a great idea and I’m keen to give it a go…just need to check with MrD or the Boyz re how to hang the baskets, butchers hooks being hard to get or we would just use some fencing wire…interesting concept having the perlite or whatever on the top of the basket, for water retention…

Dinetta said:

pepe said:

roughbarked said:

http://www.hangingtomatoplanter.com/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningadvice/5054902/Best-tomatoes-for-hanging-baskets.html

http://www.diynetwork.com/outdoors/growing-tomatoes-in-hanging-baskets/

ah – cherry tomatoes in pots. they look good.
if you have a permanent trellis with sun – go for it D !

Yes, they’re a great idea and I’m keen to give it a go…just need to check with MrD or the Boyz re how to hang the baskets, butchers hooks being hard to get or we would just use some fencing wire…interesting concept having the perlite or whatever on the top of the basket, for water retention…

Derrrr, I only looked at the upside down tomato…have now checked the more conventional…think I will go for upside down just for the heck of it…

:)

I’ve actually seen it done and yes.. make the pots on a pulley so that you can raise them as they grow and bring them down to pick or feed. The fruit is all in the air.. which makes it hard for many pesties that make life difficult on the ground. The leaves and fruit are in less direct sun and not on the baking earth.

Thanks for that, RoughBarked…I seriously believe that tomatoes at least, need good air circulation if they’re to avoid fungal attacks…the same with roses but I’m still dithering about growing a climbing rose…

I’m off now, the brian is wandering…I’ve done as much office work as I can without heading into mistakes…

Cheerio :)

Dinetta said:

Dinetta said:

pepe said:

ah – cherry tomatoes in pots. they look good.
if you have a permanent trellis with sun – go for it D !

Yes, they’re a great idea and I’m keen to give it a go…just need to check with MrD or the Boyz re how to hang the baskets, butchers hooks being hard to get or we would just use some fencing wire…interesting concept having the perlite or whatever on the top of the basket, for water retention…

Derrrr, I only looked at the upside down tomato…have now checked the more conventional…think I will go for upside down just for the heck of it…

Science project. Do both. Compare.

:)

Dinetta said:

pepe said:

roughbarked said:

http://www.hangingtomatoplanter.com/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningadvice/5054902/Best-tomatoes-for-hanging-baskets.html

http://www.diynetwork.com/outdoors/growing-tomatoes-in-hanging-baskets/

ah – cherry tomatoes in pots. they look good.
if you have a permanent trellis with sun – go for it D !

Yes, they’re a great idea and I’m keen to give it a go…just need to check with MrD or the Boyz re how to hang the baskets, butchers hooks being hard to get or we would just use some fencing wire…interesting concept having the perlite or whatever on the top of the basket, for water retention…

you can get S hooks of various lengths at the B shop, or any nursery I would imagine.

mutter ……strangle….mutter….

Just went out to see how the garden was going and found a tomato….ripened and freshly half eaten:(

Me thinks its a frigg’n rat.

Looks like it was a Black Russian after all.

Lucky1 said:

mutter ……strangle….mutter….

Just went out to see how the garden was going and found a tomato….ripened and freshly half eaten:(

Me thinks its a frigg’n rat.

Looks like it was a Black Russian after all.

Well it passed the taste test with someone!

Dinetta said:

Lucky1 said:

mutter ……strangle….mutter….

Just went out to see how the garden was going and found a tomato….ripened and freshly half eaten:(

Me thinks its a frigg’n rat.

Looks like it was a Black Russian after all.

Well it passed the taste test with someone!

True…hope is suffers heart burn…lol

Lucky1 said:

mutter ……strangle….mutter….

Just went out to see how the garden was going and found a tomato….ripened and freshly half eaten:(

Me thinks its a frigg’n rat.

Looks like it was a Black Russian after all.

Bugga. Chuck a net over it? in case it’s birds doing the illegal raid.

Happy Potter said:

Lucky1 said:

mutter ……strangle….mutter….

Just went out to see how the garden was going and found a tomato….ripened and freshly half eaten:(

Me thinks its a frigg’n rat.

Looks like it was a Black Russian after all.

Bugga. Chuck a net over it? in case it’s birds doing the illegal raid.

Hhhmmmm… seems like a good idea….. but then me getting in and harvesting could be a pain in the bum….thinking.

Lucky1 said:

Happy Potter said:

Lucky1 said:

mutter ……strangle….mutter….

Just went out to see how the garden was going and found a tomato….ripened and freshly half eaten:(

Me thinks its a frigg’n rat.

Looks like it was a Black Russian after all.

Bugga. Chuck a net over it? in case it’s birds doing the illegal raid.

Hhhmmmm… seems like a good idea….. but then me getting in and harvesting could be a pain in the bum….thinking.

i had mice nibble my strawbs until i put out the bait station*

*a tin with a mouse sized hole in it.

Lucky1 said:

mutter ……strangle….mutter….

Just went out to see how the garden was going and found a tomato….ripened and freshly half eaten:(

Me thinks its a frigg’n rat.

Looks like it was a Black Russian after all.

On the plus side, you have a garden and vegies. Wouldn’t have a rat to moan about if you didn’t have those lushly attractive tomatoes!

.
.
.
.

And rhubarb, even :)

Solution, grow enough tomatoes to feed the denziens of the deep depths of the garden and some left over for you.

Au de naturale, happy tomato.

roughbarked said:

Au de naturale, happy tomato.

Should be in the cuties thread lol!

There must be many, tons, of perfect tomatoes thrown out because of that scarring. You never see that scarring on toms in the supermarket, yet I get many every year.
What causes it anyway?

I’ve ended up with tomato bushes scattered throughout my vege beds. I started with seven..three amish pastes and three big boy seedlings and one gifted grafted tomato.
Then added some seedlings I was given at various fairs and functions. I can’t throw a great seedling, so I planted them here and there. Couple Roma and a Red Pear going great guns, then there’s a couple self seeded ones that I’ve left in.
Up to 11 tomato bushes now and there’s tons of green fruit starting to change colour.

Happy Potter said:

I’ve ended up with tomato bushes scattered throughout my vege beds. I started with seven..three amish pastes and three big boy seedlings and one gifted grafted tomato.
Then added some seedlings I was given at various fairs and functions. I can’t throw a great seedling, so I planted them here and there. Couple Roma and a Red Pear going great guns, then there’s a couple self seeded ones that I’ve left in.
Up to 11 tomato bushes now and there’s tons of green fruit starting to change colour.

:) yes I’ve been harvesting for a while.. both Christmas and New Years dinners were well served with fresh tomato sauces.

The scarring? possibly simply a glitch in the growth of the tomato., could be caused by a number of things but doesn’t affect the quality and taste.

roughbarked said:

Happy Potter said:

I’ve ended up with tomato bushes scattered throughout my vege beds. I started with seven..three amish pastes and three big boy seedlings and one gifted grafted tomato.
Then added some seedlings I was given at various fairs and functions. I can’t throw a great seedling, so I planted them here and there. Couple Roma and a Red Pear going great guns, then there’s a couple self seeded ones that I’ve left in.
Up to 11 tomato bushes now and there’s tons of green fruit starting to change colour.

:) yes I’ve been harvesting for a while.. both Christmas and New Years dinners were well served with fresh tomato sauces.

The scarring? possibly simply a glitch in the growth of the tomato., could be caused by a number of things but doesn’t affect the quality and taste.

No it doesn’t affect the taste.
It’s been too cold here for the toms to ripen. Spring was like winter with mostly grey cloudy days with hardly a sun ray to see.
They are starting to colour up now tho’ :)

roughbarked said:

Au de naturale, happy tomato.

That’s one happy tomato, I like it!

roughbarked said:

Au de naturale, happy tomato.

:D

roughbarked said:

Au de naturale, happy tomato.

hehehehe

Today’s harvest….the soft ones have been cut and sorted for cooking and now in the freezer. The rest in the fridge or on the table to finish off ripening. Black Russian variety.

White nectarines…not all of them. Eggs as well.

!!

Lucky1 said:

Today’s harvest….the soft ones have been cut and sorted for cooking and now in the freezer. The rest in the fridge or on the table to finish off ripening. Black Russian variety.

White nectarines…not all of them. Eggs as well.

!!

mmmmm….need a hand with them? lol!

Dinetta said:

Lucky1 said:

Today’s harvest….the soft ones have been cut and sorted for cooking and now in the freezer. The rest in the fridge or on the table to finish off ripening. Black Russian variety.

White nectarines…not all of them. Eggs as well.

!!

mmmmm….need a hand with them? lol!

Much slirp…no not really…lol

Lucky1 said:

Today’s harvest….the soft ones have been cut and sorted for cooking and now in the freezer. The rest in the fridge or on the table to finish off ripening. Black Russian variety.

White nectarines…not all of them. Eggs as well.

that’s a lot of tomatoes!

bluegreen said:

Lucky1 said:

Today’s harvest….the soft ones have been cut and sorted for cooking and now in the freezer. The rest in the fridge or on the table to finish off ripening. Black Russian variety.

White nectarines…not all of them. Eggs as well.

that’s a lot of tomatoes!

Yep and we had a lovely big pat juicy one with our salad tonight:)

Lucky1 said:

Dinetta said:

Lucky1 said:

Today’s harvest….the soft ones have been cut and sorted for cooking and now in the freezer. The rest in the fridge or on the table to finish off ripening. Black Russian variety.

White nectarines…not all of them. Eggs as well.

!!

mmmmm….need a hand with them? lol!

Much slirp…no not really…lol

Pretty fair crop there Lucky.

Lucky1 said:

Today’s harvest….the soft ones have been cut and sorted for cooking and now in the freezer. The rest in the fridge or on the table to finish off ripening. Black Russian variety.

White nectarines…not all of them. Eggs as well.

!!

5kilos – do i get a prize for guessing correct weight?
they look special.

pomolo said:

Lucky1 said:

Dinetta said:

mmmmm….need a hand with them? lol!

Much slirp…no not really…lol

Pretty fair crop there Lucky.

Yeah rather pleased with today’s haul…more still to come.

pepe said:

Lucky1 said:

Today’s harvest….the soft ones have been cut and sorted for cooking and now in the freezer. The rest in the fridge or on the table to finish off ripening. Black Russian variety.

White nectarines…not all of them. Eggs as well.

!!

5kilos – do i get a prize for guessing correct weight?
they look special.

Stupid scales wouldn’t record them….only records a fat naked gardener on them….sigh…VERY heavy though.

Stupid scales wouldn’t record them….only records a fat naked gardener on them….sigh…VERY heavy though.
——————————————
Me and the tomatoes….lol

Lucky1 said:

bluegreen said:

Lucky1 said:

Today’s harvest….the soft ones have been cut and sorted for cooking and now in the freezer. The rest in the fridge or on the table to finish off ripening. Black Russian variety.

White nectarines…not all of them. Eggs as well.

that’s a lot of tomatoes!

Yep and we had a lovely big pat juicy one with our salad tonight:)

Snicker! Great typo ;) hee-hee-hee!