making myself think of other things..
This is informative. I’d never removed tomato lateral growth before but I will this year.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2010/07/tomato-pruning-techniques.html
growing a single leader up a string is still favoured by most gardeners of Mediterranean origin. I saw pictures of one lady who grow her tomatoes in a green house that grew up and over the pathways on a frame made of concrete reinforcing or something, and the tomatoes hung in their bunches overhead with the stems on the sides almost bare.
…Checking out eden seeds or GH to see if they have amish paste tomato seeds.
Does anyone here have these tomatoes seeds at all ?
Happy Potter said:
…Checking out eden seeds or GH to see if they have amish paste tomato seeds.Does anyone here have these tomatoes seeds at all ?
I don’t think I have seen the Amish style Roma type of paste tomato in Australia as yet. Brandywines I’ve seen but they aren’t so suited to growing in Australia.. or all of Australia.
Happy Potter said:
…Checking out eden seeds or GH to see if they have amish paste tomato seeds.Does anyone here have these tomatoes seeds at all ?
You could try IronBarkBob…just type this name + heritage tomato seeds + australia into your search engine and he should pop up…
Dinetta said:
Happy Potter said:
…Checking out eden seeds or GH to see if they have amish paste tomato seeds.Does anyone here have these tomatoes seeds at all ?
You could try IronBarkBob…just type this name + heritage tomato seeds + australia into your search engine and he should pop up…
Here:
IronBarkBob Tomato seeds
Dinetta said:
Dinetta said:
Happy Potter said:
…Checking out eden seeds or GH to see if they have amish paste tomato seeds.Does anyone here have these tomatoes seeds at all ?
You could try IronBarkBob…just type this name + heritage tomato seeds + australia into your search engine and he should pop up…
Here:
IronBarkBob Tomato seeds
Thanks D :) Found them first up. Roma’s, but bigger!
Thanks. :)
I didn ‘t know about IronBarkBob..I’ve ordered amish paste and big boy tomato seeds. That should do me for this years planting :)
roughbarked said:
Thanks. :) I didn ‘t know about IronBarkBob..
He’s quite the character…when you first logged in, some of us thought you were he, with a different moniker…
Happy Potter said:
I’ve ordered amish paste and big boy tomato seeds. That should do me for this years planting :)
It really depends more upon where you live than the heritage variety.. as many heritage varieties are only going to bring disease to your yard.
Many tomatoes do well but they do best in their correct lattitudes.
From my experience it is best to stick to what you know does well in your area.
and.. check all the listings on anything new you want to bring in.. to decide whether it is going to work for you and be worth spending your time and money on.
roughbarked said:
Happy Potter said:
I’ve ordered amish paste and big boy tomato seeds. That should do me for this years planting :)
It really depends more upon where you live than the heritage variety.. as many heritage varieties are only going to bring disease to your yard.
Many tomatoes do well but they do best in their correct lattitudes.
From my experience it is best to stick to what you know does well in your area.
and.. check all the listings on anything new you want to bring in.. to decide whether it is going to work for you and be worth spending your time and money on.
Umm, as a home grower I wouldn’t have a clue how to find out that info. Is there a list of ‘ toms for your area’ ? They grow fine here but I haven’t had great harvests because of rodents (last year) or a one day scorcher can wipe out the lot (year before). Thee just seems to always be something that thwarts my efforts to grow beaut fruit. What I do harvest tastes wonderful.
The market garden farmers in the area seem to stick to brassicas. The tomato farms further out grow them in giant shade/hothouses.
Happy Potter said:
…Checking out eden seeds or GH to see if they have amish paste tomato seeds.Does anyone here have these tomatoes seeds at all ?
I got some in my Diggers Low Income Pack.
Is there a list of Tomatoes for any area? no.. but there is a list of acceptable climates for certain varieties. If a man sells you seed.. in reality that man should also provide a list of in which clime that seed will grow best.
bluegreen said:
Happy Potter said:
…Checking out eden seeds or GH to see if they have amish paste tomato seeds.Does anyone here have these tomatoes seeds at all ?
I got some in my Diggers Low Income Pack.
and they are grown in Vic so are acclimatised for our weather – in theory.
bluegreen said:
bluegreen said:
Happy Potter said:
…Checking out eden seeds or GH to see if they have amish paste tomato seeds.Does anyone here have these tomatoes seeds at all ?
I got some in my Diggers Low Income Pack.
and they are grown in Vic so are acclimatised for our weather – in theory.
A point well made
The theory behind collecting your own seed from the tomatoes that work best for you is why heritage varieties exist.
roughbarked said:
Happy Potter said:
I’ve ordered amish paste and big boy tomato seeds. That should do me for this years planting :)
It really depends more upon where you live than the heritage variety.. as many heritage varieties are only going to bring disease to your yard.
Many tomatoes do well but they do best in their correct lattitudes.
From my experience it is best to stick to what you know does well in your area.
and.. check all the listings on anything new you want to bring in.. to decide whether it is going to work for you and be worth spending your time and money on.
IronBarkBob’s remarks are quite handy in this regard…advises if heat tolerant, suited to early summer / late summer…resistant to a particular disease…
Happy Potter said:
The market garden farmers in the area seem to stick to brassicas. The tomato farms further out grow them in giant shade/hothouses.
blink you’re kidding…tomatoes in shade houses down in Melbourne…altho’ to tell the truth, we put shadecloth over our summer vegetables…generally if I can keep the roots moist and cool, the tops will look after themselves, with tomatoes…also I plant where there’s nearly always a good breeze, almost a cross-wind…keeps the fungal diseases to a minimum, I reckon…
Dinetta said:
roughbarked said:
Happy Potter said:
I’ve ordered amish paste and big boy tomato seeds. That should do me for this years planting :)
It really depends more upon where you live than the heritage variety.. as many heritage varieties are only going to bring disease to your yard.
Many tomatoes do well but they do best in their correct lattitudes.
From my experience it is best to stick to what you know does well in your area.
and.. check all the listings on anything new you want to bring in.. to decide whether it is going to work for you and be worth spending your time and money on.
IronBarkBob’s remarks are quite handy in this regard…advises if heat tolerant, suited to early summer / late summer…resistant to a particular disease…
That’s good then.. It is really wise to read such info before attempting new varieties.
SweetPea did say, on the “old” Forum, or was it in her Blog? that the BrandyWines did no good in her area (Riverina)…summer too hot…and I can’t remember what she said did splendidly…does anybody have her Blog URL?
Dinetta said:
Happy Potter said:The market garden farmers in the area seem to stick to brassicas. The tomato farms further out grow them in giant shade/hothouses.
blink you’re kidding…tomatoes in shade houses down in Melbourne…altho’ to tell the truth, we put shadecloth over our summer vegetables…generally if I can keep the roots moist and cool, the tops will look after themselves, with tomatoes…also I plant where there’s nearly always a good breeze, almost a cross-wind…keeps the fungal diseases to a minimum, I reckon…
40 deg temps in our dry season pays its toll
Dinetta said:
Happy Potter said:The market garden farmers in the area seem to stick to brassicas. The tomato farms further out grow them in giant shade/hothouses.
blink you’re kidding…tomatoes in shade houses down in Melbourne…altho’ to tell the truth, we put shadecloth over our summer vegetables…generally if I can keep the roots moist and cool, the tops will look after themselves, with tomatoes…also I plant where there’s nearly always a good breeze, almost a cross-wind…keeps the fungal diseases to a minimum, I reckon…
some good points there.. Yes, tomatoes require some shade from our relentless sun, even in Melbourne, as does the soil. The movement of breezes is a subject all by itself.
bluegreen said:
Dinetta said:blink you’re kidding…tomatoes in shade houses down in Melbourne…altho’ to tell the truth, we put shadecloth over our summer vegetables…generally if I can keep the roots moist and cool, the tops will look after themselves, with tomatoes…also I plant where there’s nearly always a good breeze, almost a cross-wind…keeps the fungal diseases to a minimum, I reckon…
40 deg temps in our dry season pays its toll
We get that here, day in day out…the tomatoes love it…so do the basil, the eggplant and the capsicum…our summer starts in September…I’ve found with tomatoes, you really need to get the soil right first, then the mulch: after they reach about 12 to 18 inches, they’re on the way to water-wise and really only need a good soak every couple of days…who am I telling this to? You all know that…
Not sure what Happy Potter can do about her rodents, tho’…bird netting (the chicken wire stuff, half-inch holes)??
Dinetta said:
SweetPea did say, on the “old” Forum, or was it in her Blog? that the BrandyWines did no good in her area (Riverina)…summer too hot…and I can’t remember what she said did splendidly…does anybody have her Blog URL?
Riverina is actually a large chunk of both south western NSW and north western Victoria.
Brandywines only work here in the long cool end of the season.roughbarked said:
Dinetta said:
Happy Potter said:The market garden farmers in the area seem to stick to brassicas. The tomato farms further out grow them in giant shade/hothouses.
blink you’re kidding…tomatoes in shade houses down in Melbourne…altho’ to tell the truth, we put shadecloth over our summer vegetables…generally if I can keep the roots moist and cool, the tops will look after themselves, with tomatoes…also I plant where there’s nearly always a good breeze, almost a cross-wind…keeps the fungal diseases to a minimum, I reckon…
some good points there.. Yes, tomatoes require some shade from our relentless sun, even in Melbourne, as does the soil. The movement of breezes is a subject all by itself.
A home we visited in Holland puts covers over their tomatoes, but that was more to provide protection from rain! They kept the sides open for cross breezes. Fungal disease is a big factor there.
roughbarked said:
Dinetta said:
Happy Potter said:The market garden farmers in the area seem to stick to brassicas. The tomato farms further out grow them in giant shade/hothouses.
blink you’re kidding…tomatoes in shade houses down in Melbourne…altho’ to tell the truth, we put shadecloth over our summer vegetables…generally if I can keep the roots moist and cool, the tops will look after themselves, with tomatoes…also I plant where there’s nearly always a good breeze, almost a cross-wind…keeps the fungal diseases to a minimum, I reckon…
some good points there.. Yes, tomatoes require some shade from our relentless sun, even in Melbourne, as does the soil. The movement of breezes is a subject all by itself.
It’s common to see gardens with a purpose-built shade cloth structure over them, here…
Not everybody thinks about breezes, aka air circulation, in gardens…
Half inch?
surely you mean 12.5 cm? ;)roughbarked said:
Dinetta said:
SweetPea did say, on the “old” Forum, or was it in her Blog? that the BrandyWines did no good in her area (Riverina)…summer too hot…and I can’t remember what she said did splendidly…does anybody have her Blog URL?
Riverina is actually a large chunk of both south western NSW and north western Victoria.
Brandywines only work here in the long cool end of the season.
Ah OK, the way BrandyWines were marketed all those years ago (about 5 now), they were Mother Nature’s tomato answer to the Australian summer…The Riverina has such a short summer, if I remember aright, but gee is it savage?
Did anything come of those seeds I sent you RB?
either move my decimal point or convert it to mm rather than cm.. ;)
bluegreen said:
A home we visited in Holland puts covers over their tomatoes, but that was more to provide protection from rain! They kept the sides open for cross breezes. Fungal disease is a big factor there.
Protection from the rain! I’m amazed…wouldn’t it be too cool for fungal disease over there? Although I guess nearly every climate has it’s home grown fungus…
Dinetta said:
bluegreen said:A home we visited in Holland puts covers over their tomatoes, but that was more to provide protection from rain! They kept the sides open for cross breezes. Fungal disease is a big factor there.
Protection from the rain! I’m amazed…wouldn’t it be too cool for fungal disease over there? Although I guess nearly every climate has it’s home grown fungus…
temps were in the mid to high 20s when we were there. Warm enough.
roughbarked said:
Half inch? surely you mean 12.5 cm? ;)
To keep the rats out: I mean half inch…hang on…yes, 12.5mm.. :P
Dinetta said:
roughbarked said:
Dinetta said:
SweetPea did say, on the “old” Forum, or was it in her Blog? that the BrandyWines did no good in her area (Riverina)…summer too hot…and I can’t remember what she said did splendidly…does anybody have her Blog URL?
Riverina is actually a large chunk of both south western NSW and north western Victoria.
Brandywines only work here in the long cool end of the season.Ah OK, the way BrandyWines were marketed all those years ago (about 5 now), they were Mother Nature’s tomato answer to the Australian summer…The Riverina has such a short summer, if I remember aright, but gee is it savage?
short?
OK well it is often 40˚C here on the long weekend in October.. yes the one we call labour day. 45˚C often continues into April.It is also not uncommon to get sunburned here in July.
roughbarked said:
either move my decimal point or convert it to mm rather than cm.. ;)
sprung!
roughbarked said:
Dinetta said:
roughbarked said:Riverina is actually a large chunk of both south western NSW and north western Victoria.
Brandywines only work here in the long cool end of the season.Ah OK, the way BrandyWines were marketed all those years ago (about 5 now), they were Mother Nature’s tomato answer to the Australian summer…The Riverina has such a short summer, if I remember aright, but gee is it savage?
short?
OK well it is often 40˚C here on the long weekend in October.. yes the one we call labour day. 45˚C often continues into April.It is also not uncommon to get sunburned here in July.
Whoah! OK, not a short summer then…however that was the impression I got from reading SweetPea’s posts…
Dinetta said:
roughbarked said:
Dinetta said:Ah OK, the way BrandyWines were marketed all those years ago (about 5 now), they were Mother Nature’s tomato answer to the Australian summer…The Riverina has such a short summer, if I remember aright, but gee is it savage?
short?
OK well it is often 40˚C here on the long weekend in October.. yes the one we call labour day. 45˚C often continues into April.It is also not uncommon to get sunburned here in July.
Whoah! OK, not a short summer then…however that was the impression I got from reading SweetPea’s posts…
The riverina is quite a large area.. probably fit Italy and the British Isles in with room left over.
Not sure what Happy Potter can do about her rodents, tho’…bird netting (the chicken wire stuff, half-inch holes)??
—————————————-
That doesn’t stop them, they chew through it.
They made nests under spud beds for easier access to the tomatoes! We have caught heaps and left traps set. Max will sniff and dig where they are so he’s turned out to be a great mouser dog.
Sounds like you have rodents who eat nails for breakfast LOL!
Dinetta said:
Sounds like you have rodents who eat nails for breakfast LOL!
Rodents eat whatever is in their way or rather, they at least chew anything that is in their way. It is quite clear by evidence left behind that they don’t actually swallow everything they chew.
I cannot leave windows open in my shed for they chew through the insect screens. I recall trying to stuff holes with aluminium foil. useless.. so I used steel wool.. marginally better, found that coarse stainless steel scrubbers are at least a deterrent for a while but the rodents will simply work around it.
Dinetta said:
Dinetta said:
Happy Potter said:
…Checking out eden seeds or GH to see if they have amish paste tomato seeds.Does anyone here have these tomatoes seeds at all ?
You could try IronBarkBob…just type this name + heritage tomato seeds + australia into your search engine and he should pop up…
Here:
IronBarkBob Tomato seeds
that’s a site worth bookmarking.
pepe said:
Dinetta said:Here:
IronBarkBob Tomato seeds
that’s a site worth bookmarking.
and to think we wouldn’t have “met” him if he hadn’t broken a leg…
Umm, as a home grower I wouldn’t have a clue how to find out that info. Is there a list of ’ toms for your area’ ? They grow fine here but I haven’t had great harvests because of rodents (last year) or a one day scorcher can wipe out the lot (year before). Thee just seems to always be something that thwarts my efforts to grow beaut fruit. What I do harvest tastes wonderful.
The market garden farmers in the area seem to stick to brassicas. The tomato farms further out grow them in giant shade/hothouses.
————-
me too.
this climate will grow them and i have now quit smoking for 2 months + so i am ready to grow big toms – if only i knew how. for the first few decades of my gardening life it was always grosse lisse that failed – now there are over 100 varieties to fail with. that’s progress.
pepe said:
this climate will grow them and i have now quit smoking for 2 months + so i am ready to grow big toms – if only i knew how. for the first few decades of my gardening life it was always grosse lisse that failed – now there are over 100 varieties to fail with. that’s progress.
good for you Pepe on quitting smoking! My tomato growing attempts have been pretty mediocre at best the last few years, when I used to be able to grow them well. I think that the extremely dry conditions have been a factor and am looking forward to how they will do this season now that the soil has become saturated from the rain we have been having this year.
bluegreen said:
pepe said:this climate will grow them and i have now quit smoking for 2 months + so i am ready to grow big toms – if only i knew how. for the first few decades of my gardening life it was always grosse lisse that failed – now there are over 100 varieties to fail with. that’s progress.
good for you Pepe on quitting smoking! My tomato growing attempts have been pretty mediocre at best the last few years, when I used to be able to grow them well. I think that the extremely dry conditions have been a factor and am looking forward to how they will do this season now that the soil has become saturated from the rain we have been having this year.
excuses don’t work.
there’s this garden in town where a showoff grows tomatoes over his six foot (1800mm) high fence every year. …. and my barber gives me a quick count of how many boxes of toms he harvested every time i go for a haircut.
pepe said:
excuses don’t work.
there’s this garden in town where a showoff grows tomatoes over his six foot (1800mm) high fence every year. …. and my barber gives me a quick count of how many boxes of toms he harvested every time i go for a haircut.
oh dear! Maybe they already had a tank?
Oh tomato fails..I can relate.
But I’m so determined I will get great toms here. I used to grow them bigger too, gross lisse’s that one slice would cover a piece of bread.
I must have read a hundred sites on them, watched numerous videos and read books to find out what I’m doing wrong. Outside influences that I cannot control apart ..I want more fruit and bigger fruit.
What I’ve read most:
Feed the soil not the plants. Add barrow load of chook manure , barrow of compost ,and a handful of lime and some potash to the soil at least a month before.
Dig a hole and fill with compost, build it up so draining is not an issue, add above goodies and plant in that. Keep moist, not wet. Mulch plants and prune out suckers as they grow.
Thats what I’ve done so far this time around. Now to get the seeds and raise them. I’ll plant them the start of october.
Excuses do work, if you believe them. That’s why so many smokers find it hard to quit. Due to the brain making up excuses as to why you need another smoke.
That’s only an excuse.. is what you have to tell your brain.
getting back to tomatoes.. giving up smoking will surely reduce your chances of giving your tomatoes mosaic virus, at least.Happy Potter said:
What I’ve read most: Feed the soil not the plants. Add barrow load of chook manure , barrow of compost ,and a handful of lime and some potash to the soil at least a month before.
Dig a hole and fill with compost, build it up so draining is not an issue, add above goodies and plant in that. Keep moist, not wet. Mulch plants and prune out suckers as they grow.Thats what I’ve done so far this time around. Now to get the seeds and raise them. I’ll plant them the start of october.
i can grow them but the wilt gets them every time.
the most wilt resistant are – romas and cherries. i think?
your big romas do sound about right.
i have now quit smoking for 2 months
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
awesome. Go Pepe.
Dinetta said:
pepe said:
Dinetta said:Here:
IronBarkBob Tomato seeds
that’s a site worth bookmarking.
and to think we wouldn’t have “met” him if he hadn’t broken a leg…
I remember that, pity he doesn’t frequent anymore, nice chap.
pepe said:
bluegreen said:
pepe said:this climate will grow them and i have now quit smoking for 2 months + so i am ready to grow big toms – if only i knew how. for the first few decades of my gardening life it was always grosse lisse that failed – now there are over 100 varieties to fail with. that’s progress.
good for you Pepe on quitting smoking! My tomato growing attempts have been pretty mediocre at best the last few years, when I used to be able to grow them well. I think that the extremely dry conditions have been a factor and am looking forward to how they will do this season now that the soil has become saturated from the rain we have been having this year.
excuses don’t work.
there’s this garden in town where a showoff grows tomatoes over his six foot (1800mm) high fence every year. …. and my barber gives me a quick count of how many boxes of toms he harvested every time i go for a haircut.
go to a different barber, or grow your hair?
roughbarked said:
Excuses do work, if you believe them. That’s why so many smokers find it hard to quit. Due to the brain making up excuses as to why you need another smoke. That’s only an excuse.. is what you have to tell your brain. getting back to tomatoes.. giving up smoking will surely reduce your chances of giving your tomatoes mosaic virus, at least.
there is a physical addiction involved with smoking as well…..but you’re right – the brain is fooled by its own excuses.
Longy said:
i have now quit smoking for 2 months
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
awesome. Go Pepe.
it was either that or be a toothless cripple LOL.
Good to hear pepe, two and a half yrs not smoking for me :)
This has been a great topic and i have saved the soil mixtures to put to use in our garden, we are going to really get into it this year . I always get the feral cherry toms every year and they are just fantastic, they only just finished due to a couple of hard frosts in a row but I got thousands of tomatoes off of them.
We ahd a lot of trouble with the big tomatoes though, had some kind of ?? eatingn at them and then got something that looked like a mould eating into them, weird stuff and i did use powder and also a natural garlic spray to try to combat it, but ot no avail, so this year i was thinking of buying Dipel, apparently that is good.
Longy said:
i have now quit smoking for 2 months
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
awesome. Go Pepe.
hear, hear…
pain master said:
Dinetta said:
pepe said:that’s a site worth bookmarking.
and to think we wouldn’t have “met” him if he hadn’t broken a leg…
I remember that, pity he doesn’t frequent anymore, nice chap.
“Nice chap”? He was loaded with personality!
pepe said:
roughbarked said:
Excuses do work, if you believe them. That’s why so many smokers find it hard to quit. Due to the brain making up excuses as to why you need another smoke. That’s only an excuse.. is what you have to tell your brain. getting back to tomatoes.. giving up smoking will surely reduce your chances of giving your tomatoes mosaic virus, at least.
there is a physical addiction involved with smoking as well…..but you’re right – the brain is fooled by its own excuses.
I found that avoiding the social situations where one is accustomed to absent-mindedly light-up, helped immenseley….
It is so difficult to give up smoking…even if they do know more about it now…
pepe said:
Longy said:
i have now quit smoking for 2 months
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
awesome. Go Pepe.
it was either that or be a toothless cripple LOL.
Wow, some motivation, that!
pepe said:
Longy said:
i have now quit smoking for 2 months
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
awesome. Go Pepe.
it was either that or be a toothless cripple LOL.
WOrthy of another thread…Smoking is my pet hate. My pets hate it too….End hijack.
Dipel is very useful for many caterpillars though devised specifically for the white cabbage moth. Is good because it can be applied to single plants and affect only the species on that plant. We have to face the fact that in Australia if we expect tomatoes to do well, they’d have to be wild tomatoes. Somee growers graft onto wild tomatoes which does improve the ability to avoid drainage and fungal problems as well it improves drought resistance. However this usually leaves wild tomato roots in your ground to sucker up everywhere. Choice of rootstock species may improve this. Apart from the usual garden pests many lizards and rodents don’t mind muching on tomatoes.
daff said:
Good to hear pepe, two and a half yrs not smoking for me :)
This has been a great topic and i have saved the soil mixtures to put to use in our garden, we are going to really get into it this year . I always get the feral cherry toms every year and they are just fantastic, they only just finished due to a couple of hard frosts in a row but I got thousands of tomatoes off of them.
We ahd a lot of trouble with the big tomatoes though, had some kind of ?? eatingn at them and then got something that looked like a mould eating into them, weird stuff and i did use powder and also a natural garlic spray to try to combat it, but ot no avail, so this year i was thinking of buying Dipel, apparently that is good.
g’ay daff – congrats on the 2.5 years abstinence.
dipel is necessary for the brassicas and i occassionally use it for a potato caterpillar as well.
the tomato growers use – derris dust and lime sulphur mainly. i have heard of neem oil being used. none of them save me from wilt.
on the topic of pruning tomatoes. i have been using cages but these are not overly good for pruning – i tend to just let them grow – which prevents sunburnt fruit but doesn’t let the breezes in.
i might try heavily pruning a couple and tying them to three stakes this year.
pepe said:
Longy said:
i have now quit smoking for 2 months
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
awesome. Go Pepe.
it was either that or be a toothless cripple LOL.
Guess which option my mother-in-law went with.. :D
methods of pruning may vary with varietal morphology and location, sun/shade/soil temps etc.
It is accepted that larger and more easily maintained fruit ie: an actual clean harvest can be obtained from pruning out laterals and tying to a stake. However, many simply lay their tomatoes down in straw mulch to get more roots on the laterals.. One problem with laying them down is that the sun will burn the stems and perhaps also the fruit. Growing the plant vertically at least shades the stems and fruit below.
I havent had the bug problems with tomatoes luckily, but probs with rodents and birds wanting their share. I have the bird netting, mouse traps, shade cloth for scorching days.. I think I’m all set lol..
Happy Potter said:
I havent had the bug problems with tomatoes luckily, but probs with rodents and birds wanting their share. I have the bird netting, mouse traps, shade cloth for scorching days.. I think I’m all set lol..
Had a landlord used to walk around his house, with a BB gun, “ratting”…he was fun but a bit of a nut in that respect…
Dinetta said:
Happy Potter said:
I havent had the bug problems with tomatoes luckily, but probs with rodents and birds wanting their share. I have the bird netting, mouse traps, shade cloth for scorching days.. I think I’m all set lol..
Had a landlord used to walk around his house, with a BB gun, “ratting”…he was fun but a bit of a nut in that respect…
My brother and I did that when we were kids with air rifles around an old grain silo. Fun lol
Happy Potter said:
Dinetta said:
Happy Potter said:
I havent had the bug problems with tomatoes luckily, but probs with rodents and birds wanting their share. I have the bird netting, mouse traps, shade cloth for scorching days.. I think I’m all set lol..
Had a landlord used to walk around his house, with a BB gun, “ratting”…he was fun but a bit of a nut in that respect…
My brother and I did that when we were kids with air rifles around an old grain silo. Fun lol
we still do it here, around the chook pens at night time.
Happy Potter said:
Dinetta said:
Happy Potter said:
I havent had the bug problems with tomatoes luckily, but probs with rodents and birds wanting their share. I have the bird netting, mouse traps, shade cloth for scorching days.. I think I’m all set lol..
Had a landlord used to walk around his house, with a BB gun, “ratting”…he was fun but a bit of a nut in that respect…
My brother and I did that when we were kids with air rifles around an old grain silo. Fun lol
I remember my dad chasing a rat in the kitchen with a speargun once!!
bluegreen said:
I remember my dad chasing a rat in the kitchen with a speargun once!!
WOW! Best one yet…top that, y’all (‘twould have been a sight to see!)
Happy Potter said:
I havent had the bug problems with tomatoes luckily, but probs with rodents and birds wanting their share. I have the bird netting, mouse traps, shade cloth for scorching days.. I think I’m all set lol..
I caught one of the possums eating a tomato the other night… boy did he look embarrassed. The next day he still wouldn’t look me in the eye.
Happy Potter said:
…Checking out eden seeds or GH to see if they have amish paste tomato seeds.Does anyone here have these tomatoes seeds at all ?
Diggers sell amish paste. I have just ordered a new lot of seed (gave mine to #1 daughter a few weeks ago). I grew amish paste last year and was really happy with them. They are quite fleshy tomato, great for sauces but they also have a nice flavour for salads.
I’ve decided to plant my tomatoes late from now on….although it is tempting to get some in early, but the in recent years I have had better crops from the later sown toms. Then again I suppose I could continue with successive planting and just have a couple in the early season
AnneS said:
I’ve decided to plant my tomatoes late from now on….although it is tempting to get some in early, but the in recent years I have had better crops from the later sown toms. Then again I suppose I could continue with successive planting and just have a couple in the early season
I think some prefer the cooler weather towards the end of summer / autumn. Others “like it hot”. But I don’t really know which is which…
Dinetta said:
AnneS said:
I’ve decided to plant my tomatoes late from now on….although it is tempting to get some in early, but the in recent years I have had better crops from the later sown toms. Then again I suppose I could continue with successive planting and just have a couple in the early season
I think some prefer the cooler weather towards the end of summer / autumn. Others “like it hot”. But I don’t really know which is which…
I was told at a tomato workshop not to plant the seedlings out until the night temps were 12C or over. Otherwise they would just sit there and do nothing because the soil is still too cold. That made it the middle of Nov to plant them here.
Happy Potter said:
Dinetta said:
AnneS said:
I’ve decided to plant my tomatoes late from now on….although it is tempting to get some in early, but the in recent years I have had better crops from the later sown toms. Then again I suppose I could continue with successive planting and just have a couple in the early season
I think some prefer the cooler weather towards the end of summer / autumn. Others “like it hot”. But I don’t really know which is which…
I was told at a tomato workshop not to plant the seedlings out until the night temps were 12C or over. Otherwise they would just sit there and do nothing because the soil is still too cold. That made it the middle of Nov to plant them here.
Yes, I think Pepe said something like that once, too…so for winter tomatoes I need to get them (seedlings) into the garden bed about early May…
When the frosts have finished burning the old ones it is time to sow seed indoors. Most tomatoes don’t like our summers. Though I find that if you plan to get them finished fruiting before January and have another crop that is just starting, is the way to go. You don’t want to try and keep older plants going during summer.. This you can do in autumn.
There are so many varieties but it is really hard to beat rouge de marmande.
I think I mentioned earlier that Brandywine is a cooler season tomato, while Roma seems to cope with the hot stuff better.
roughbarked said:
When the frosts have finished burning the old ones it is time to sow seed indoors. Most tomatoes don’t like our summers. Though I find that if you plan to get them finished fruiting before January and have another crop that is just starting, is the way to go. You don’t want to try and keep older plants going during summer.. This you can do in autumn.There are so many varieties but it is really hard to beat rouge de marmande.
I think I mentioned earlier that Brandywine is a cooler season tomato, while Roma seems to cope with the hot stuff better.
Good post there, RoughBarked…seems to be a refrain when I respond to some of your posts, doesn’t it? but it is good…informative and succint…Rouge de Marmande, hey? Is that a coolie or a hottie?
I agree about Romas and hot weather…I had one come up as a result of dropped seed and in spite of early neglect and a ferociously hot summer, it just kept on cropping and in the end I pulled it out (nearly 12 months old) because I wanted to clean up the garden bed…
Our big huge tomato (I know, a tautology) was suffering from the cold, while it was still fruiting, the fruit weren’t ripening that well, you know, just going orange and not continuing on to the red stage. So because there are some younger healthier plants in and just starting to flower/fruit, the big old bush got removed. Made some space for something else.
Dinetta said:
roughbarked said:
When the frosts have finished burning the old ones it is time to sow seed indoors. Most tomatoes don’t like our summers. Though I find that if you plan to get them finished fruiting before January and have another crop that is just starting, is the way to go. You don’t want to try and keep older plants going during summer.. This you can do in autumn.There are so many varieties but it is really hard to beat rouge de marmande.
I think I mentioned earlier that Brandywine is a cooler season tomato, while Roma seems to cope with the hot stuff better.
Good post there, RoughBarked…seems to be a refrain when I respond to some of your posts, doesn’t it? but it is good…informative and succint…Rouge de Marmande, hey? Is that a coolie or a hottie?
I agree about Romas and hot weather…I had one come up as a result of dropped seed and in spite of early neglect and a ferociously hot summer, it just kept on cropping and in the end I pulled it out (nearly 12 months old) because I wanted to clean up the garden bed…
My romas have been in since late autumn, along with the Black Russians. I’m picking big, fat Russians by the kilo but the romas, although they have fruit on them are very slow to fill out and ripen in comparison. You could all be right about which season is their best.
Thanks for your input RB, AnneS, and others. I feel like I have picked the right one’s to grow now :)
Happy Potter said:
Dinetta said:
AnneS said:
I’ve decided to plant my tomatoes late from now on….although it is tempting to get some in early, but the in recent years I have had better crops from the later sown toms. Then again I suppose I could continue with successive planting and just have a couple in the early season
I think some prefer the cooler weather towards the end of summer / autumn. Others “like it hot”. But I don’t really know which is which…
I was told at a tomato workshop not to plant the seedlings out until the night temps were 12C or over. Otherwise they would just sit there and do nothing because the soil is still too cold. That made it the middle of Nov to plant them here.
bee activity is lower at those temps too.
I’m planting the seeds I stuck to the top of the coffee jar back in autumn
roughbarked said:
I’m planting the seeds I stuck to the top of the coffee jar back in autumn
I can’t finish pondering the universe until I ask .. why did you stick tomato seeds to the top of a coffee jar ?
Scratching my head…
Happy Potter said:
roughbarked said:
I’m planting the seeds I stuck to the top of the coffee jar back in autumn
I can’t finish pondering the universe until I ask .. why did you stick tomato seeds to the top of a coffee jar ?
Scratching my head…
some will place there toms seeds on a tissue, and then place that inside a coffee jar for safe keeping with some water for moisture and let it go mouldy. The jar can be inverted so the seeds fall to the lid and stored. This makes it easier to remove when it is time for planting out.
Or something along those lines.
pain master said:
Happy Potter said:
roughbarked said:
I’m planting the seeds I stuck to the top of the coffee jar back in autumn
I can’t finish pondering the universe until I ask .. why did you stick tomato seeds to the top of a coffee jar ?
Scratching my head…some will place there toms seeds on a tissue, and then place that inside a coffee jar for safe keeping with some water for moisture and let it go mouldy. The jar can be inverted so the seeds fall to the lid and stored. This makes it easier to remove when it is time for planting out.
Or something along those lines.
Ok. I’ll believe anything atm. I’ll be keeping the seeds of this years lot.
roughbarked said:
I’m planting the seeds I stuck to the top of the coffee jar back in autumn
Don’t ever leave this forum, RoughBarked…it will lose some “colour” :D
Why thanks Dinetta.. I had thought most people thought I was just a rude git. ;)
roughbarked said:
Why thanks Dinetta.. I had thought most people thought I was just a rude git. ;)
Nnnaa not me:)
What is the photo of RB???
roughbarked said:
Why thanks Dinetta.. I had thought most people thought I was just a rude git. ;)
Not sure where the “rude” comes from…we had our share of “rude” on the Old Forum, I can assure you, and you’re nowhere close…
What a gem of a photo! Droplets of water, or ice, along a spider’s web? Lucky you had your camera with you!
Why isn’t the photo showing again?
roughbarked said:
Why thanks Dinetta.. I had thought most people thought I was just a rude git. ;)
I’d only call you a rude git if you don’t tell me how you got this photo! Its super!
Dinetta said:
Why isn’t the photo showing again?
he may have moved it, or deleted it already.
roughbarked said:
Why thanks Dinetta.. I had thought most people thought I was just a rude git. ;)
Why would you think that? I love your pics and your gardening imput. If you’re a rude git then I must have missed something…..and if you were we would never have said so anyway. Sorry. I’m only kidding. Just had to say it.
Anytime you’ve got something to say or add we’re here reading.
roughbarked said:
Why thanks Dinetta.. I had thought most people thought I was just a rude git. ;)
That is a beautiful shot.
pain master said:
Dinetta said:
Why isn’t the photo showing again?
he may have moved it, or deleted it already.
No it’s still in his post, but is not showing up in yours or my post, only the link name…
Dinetta said:
pain master said:
Dinetta said:
Why isn’t the photo showing again?
he may have moved it, or deleted it already.
No it’s still in his post, but is not showing up in yours or my post, only the link name…
MIght be Much Ado about a Comma? (or summink)
pain master said:
roughbarked said:
Why thanks Dinetta.. I had thought most people thought I was just a rude git. ;)
I’d only call you a rude git if you don’t tell me how you got this photo! Its super!
;)
yes it is a photo of thawed frost on spider webbing way down deep in the close to the ground stakes.There’s plenty of them on my flickr.. where the birdman often appears to make deliciously lovely comments.
for which I am in gratitude. 
roughbarked said:
Why thanks Dinetta.. I had thought most people thought I was just a rude git. ;)
testing.
roughbarked said:
pain master said:
roughbarked said:
Why thanks Dinetta.. I had thought most people thought I was just a rude git. ;)
I’d only call you a rude git if you don’t tell me how you got this photo! Its super!
;)
yes it is a photo of thawed frost on spider webbing way down deep in the close to the ground stakes.There’s plenty of them on my flickr.. where the birdman often appears to make deliciously lovely comments.
for which I am in gratitude.
WOW!!!!!! Blue ribbon to you today RB
roughbarked said:
yes it is a photo of thawed frost on spider webbing way down deep in the close to the ground stakes.There’s plenty of them on my flickr.. where the birdman often appears to make deliciously lovely comments.
for which I am in gratitude.
roughbarked said:
pain master said:
roughbarked said:
Why thanks Dinetta.. I had thought most people thought I was just a rude git. ;)
I’d only call you a rude git if you don’t tell me how you got this photo! Its super!
;)
yes it is a photo of thawed frost on spider webbing way down deep in the close to the ground stakes.There’s plenty of them on my flickr.. where the birdman often appears to make deliciously lovely comments.
for which I am in gratitude.
Why that is a very hirsute flower that bee is getting stuck into. Hopefully it is an odd tomato strain just to try and keep this thread on topic…
pain master said:
roughbarked said:
Why thanks Dinetta.. I had thought most people thought I was just a rude git. ;)
testing.
Yep, it worked that time…I think my habit of taking the last couple of “Enter“s before the bottom /quote might affect whether the photo shows in the Reply or not…
pain master said:
roughbarked said:
pain master said:I’d only call you a rude git if you don’t tell me how you got this photo! Its super!
;)
yes it is a photo of thawed frost on spider webbing way down deep in the close to the ground stakes.There’s plenty of them on my flickr.. where the birdman often appears to make deliciously lovely comments.
for which I am in gratitude.
Why that is a very hirsute flower that bee is getting stuck into. Hopefully it is an odd tomato strain just to try and keep this thread on topic…
:)
close in appearance at least.. it is Borago officinalis.. and if you click on the photo you get to go to my flickr to see more.. check out the water&webs&wind set..Dinetta said:
pain master said:
roughbarked said:
Why thanks Dinetta.. I had thought most people thought I was just a rude git. ;)
testing.
Yep, it worked that time…I think my habit of taking the last couple of “Enter“s before the bottom /quote might affect whether the photo shows in the Reply or not…
Strange, I had to include enters into the original post.
or for those who haven’t found it.. it is here http://www.flickr.com/photos/99559986@N00/
This threads been shot to pieces lol!
No matter :)
The pics are gorgeous RoughB!
I got my tomato seeds, amish paste, big boy, and a bonus packet of roma’s. Yay :)
I shall clean out the lightbox and get it fired up in a warm spot with some clean seed pots, in sept.
Happy Potter said:
This threads been shot to pieces lol!
No matter :)The pics are gorgeous RoughB!
I got my tomato seeds, amish paste, big boy, and a bonus packet of roma’s. Yay :)
I shall clean out the lightbox and get it fired up in a warm spot with some clean seed pots, in sept.
;) yeah i do get off track at times.. had fun taking those pics though.
Happy Potter said:
This threads been shot to pieces lol!
No matter :)The pics are gorgeous RoughB! I got my tomato seeds, amish paste, big boy, and a bonus packet of roma’s. Yay :) I shall clean out the lightbox and get it fired up in a warm spot with some clean seed pots, in sept.
it is time to plant the summer seedlings. i have started to think about seed and seed raising mix.
my old urn has karked it. it was very handy for hot mash and dissolving coir bricks in warm water.
if a new urn costs $30 i won’t bother putting in a new element – since that will cost $50.