Taking a cue from the gardeners at the Epcot Center in Florida,who grew a single tomato plant that covered a quarter-acre and produced 32,000 fruit, we’re trying our hand at it. In the back of the main greenhouse we’ve got a Sun Gold tomato plant that has currently hit 29 feet and still growing. Stop by and take a gander and pick a tomato in winter, if you can reach them.
Archive for the ‘Tomatoes’ Category
The Tomato Plant That Swallowed Boulder - 29 Feet and Growing
Saturday, February 6th, 2010Tomato Tips
Friday, May 15th, 2009
These tips are also great for peppers and eggplants.
Plant when the weather warms up the soil: usually the last two weeks in May.
Remove the bottom sets of leaves and plant tomatoes deeper. This increases the root mass and means more tomatoes.
Harden off your seedlings by exposing them to increasing amounts of sunlight before planting. A few hours in the shade the frist day, then increase their exposure. Plant them on a cloudy day or in the evening.
For each plant, dig a hole at least 12″ in diameter and 10″ deep. Even bigger is better. Backfill with a misture of 50% top soil, 40% compost, 10% manure.
Pinch off the first few sets of blossoms to encourage better rooting, growth, and, ultimately, yields.
Fertilize every two weeks with a relatively low-nitrogen, high-phosphorous fertilizer. Water with 1 tablespoon Epsom salts/1 gallon water every two weeks. Liquid iron and Super Thrive are also good ideas.
The more often you pick, the better your plants will yield.
Always water at the base of your plants in the morning. Soaking the entire plant increases potential for disease later on.
Guide to Avant Gardening: Part 8 ~ Tomatoes, Squash, and Pumpkins
Monday, May 11th, 2009Tomatoes: 45 to 120 days. Grown from starts planted around Memorial Day. Few plants engender such passion as tomatoes. They’ve traveled the world from their origin in northern South America. And the best thing that ever happened to tomato lovers was the collapse of the Soviet Union. When the Wall came down dozens of terrific tasting varieties came running out. Tomatoes are classified as either determinate or indeterminate. Determinate tomatoes produce all their fruit at once. Indeterminate tomatoes produce their fruit over an entire season, with clusters of fruit ripening sequentially. Indeterminate plants tend to produce more fruit.