#179551 - 02/06/08 09:11 PM
Anybody planted tomatoes yet?
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obywan59
The Jedi
Dream Gardener
Registered: 04/10/04
Posts: 1627
Loc: Copper Hill, Virginia
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It's way too early for my main crop yet, but I always plant a few seeds on January 1. I planted 6 varieties, but I managed to break the top off my one New Girl seedling, so now I have only 5. They are now about 6 inches tall with their second pair of true leave and are ready to transplant into 4 inch liners. They will be transplanted once more into 8 inch pots before being planted outside around March 31. I will immediately protect them with Wall o' Waters (and plastic tunnels if needed). I once had 5 of 6 plants survive a night with a low of 14 degrees with only Wall o' Waters for protection. My goal is to have a ripe tomato by Memorial Day. I've not succeeded in this the last few years as I reduced the fertilizer in the soil mix to try to keep the plants shorter. I am giving them the full allotment this year.
I have replanted my New Girls, but they will probably not repeat as my first ripe tomato. I also have Moscvich, Oregon Spring, Sophie, Big Rainbow, and Brandywine OTV. Big Rainbow and Brandywine will most definately not be first. I just plant them early because they are 2 of my favorite tomatoes. I'm expecting Moscvich to be my first tomato of the year.
_________________________
 Terry May the force be with you
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#179558 - 02/07/08 01:49 AM
Re: Anybody planted tomatoes yet?
[Re: obywan59]
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flowergirlcfc
Member
Registered: 10/24/07
Posts: 15
Loc: central Pa.
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Good morning,
Yes, I just had the "itch" to get SOMETHING into the dirt and have 3 tomatoes that have come up. These are an old variety called "Winsall" that I have gotten from an elderly lady friend. I also planted some apple seeds as I was really feeling like Johnny Appleseed one day. Right now I have Fuji, Gala, and Winesap that have succesfully started and are about 1 inch high. Also started some grapefruit seeds and they too are about 1 inch high. Don't know if I will ever see a fruit off any of these things, but mainly just did it for fun and to see if anything would happen. Anybody else ever grow an apple seed into a tree?
Carol
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#179587 - 02/07/08 08:06 AM
Re: Anybody planted tomatoes yet?
[Re: flowergirlcfc]
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obywan59
The Jedi
Dream Gardener
Registered: 04/10/04
Posts: 1627
Loc: Copper Hill, Virginia
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I LOVE Wins All! That's one of my favorite tomatoes. I'll be planting it next month with the rest of my main crop tomatoes. I got my seed from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.
I've never planted any apple seeds, but I have a small asian pear tree that came from a seed that Tammy (TKHooper) sent me. It's about 2 feet tall and would be even taller except for the deer nibbling on it a couple of times. I have it protected now with a tomato cage and a plant tube.
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Terry May the force be with you
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#180095 - 02/08/08 09:57 PM
Re: Anybody planted tomatoes yet?
[Re: tkhooper]
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obywan59
The Jedi
Dream Gardener
Registered: 04/10/04
Posts: 1627
Loc: Copper Hill, Virginia
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Hi Tammy,
I prefer the larger, sweeter, low-acid, indeterminate type tomato. Preferably heirloom. Although, I also really like Orange Sungold and Red Grape tomatoes and Oregon Spring which is determinate. I like OS because it's so early.
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Terry May the force be with you
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#181417 - 02/12/08 09:45 AM
Re: Anybody planted tomatoes yet?
[Re: Thornius]
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obywan59
The Jedi
Dream Gardener
Registered: 04/10/04
Posts: 1627
Loc: Copper Hill, Virginia
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I used to start mine this time of year using Jiffy Peat Pellets, and then would grow them indoors using 5-gallon buckets supplemented with grow-lights. You can grow tomatoes all year that way.
Now you're giving me ideas Thorny.
Here's the latest picture:
The two pots to the right are Santo cilantro and Italian Large Leaf basil.
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Terry May the force be with you
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#184752 - 02/22/08 11:31 AM
Re: Anybody planted tomatoes yet?
[Re: emdeGardener2]
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dodge
Hot Rod
Garden Helper
Registered: 10/06/05
Posts: 10288
Loc: Rural - Western Pennsylvania
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#185154 - 02/23/08 04:54 PM
Re: Anybody planted tomatoes yet?
[Re: emdeGardener2]
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dodge
Hot Rod
Garden Helper
Registered: 10/06/05
Posts: 10288
Loc: Rural - Western Pennsylvania
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#185379 - 02/24/08 05:28 AM
Re: Anybody planted tomatoes yet?
[Re: emdeGardener2]
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dodge
Hot Rod
Garden Helper
Registered: 10/06/05
Posts: 10288
Loc: Rural - Western Pennsylvania
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#185547 - 02/24/08 01:26 PM
Re: Anybody planted tomatoes yet?
[Re: emdeGardener2]
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dodge
Hot Rod
Garden Helper
Registered: 10/06/05
Posts: 10288
Loc: Rural - Western Pennsylvania
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#186470 - 02/26/08 03:18 PM
Re: Anybody planted tomatoes yet?
[Re: dodge]
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obywan59
The Jedi
Dream Gardener
Registered: 04/10/04
Posts: 1627
Loc: Copper Hill, Virginia
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Actually, they were supposed to get that tall. I've been growing my earliest tomatoes like this for 15 years or so. It's time to plant them into the 8 inch pots when they reach 7 inches tall. The idea is to bury a lot of stem which will result in a strong root system. They'll probably be a foot tall or more again by the time I plant them out the end of next month.
Some of my peppers are approaching 2 inches also. A few are beginning to get their second set of leaves. When they do, I'll pot them up into larger pots.
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Terry May the force be with you
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#186511 - 02/26/08 04:51 PM
Re: Anybody planted tomatoes yet?
[Re: emdeGardener2]
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suzydaze
Daisy
Dream Gardener
Registered: 08/03/04
Posts: 3113
Loc: Arkansas
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I've been itching to plant all week, but the itch leaves soon as I walk out the door, just too cold
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#186517 - 02/26/08 04:59 PM
Re: Anybody planted tomatoes yet?
[Re: suzydaze]
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obywan59
The Jedi
Dream Gardener
Registered: 04/10/04
Posts: 1627
Loc: Copper Hill, Virginia
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Enrique, you don't have to stop at the bottom set of leaves. I pull off all the leaves except for the cluster at the very top. Then bury the plant up to just below the top cluster of leaves. Roots will then form along the entire length of buried stem.
If you have tall plants, you don't have to dig such a deep hole either, you can dig a shallow trench and lay the tomato plant sideways with the tip turned up. You fill the trench in leaving only the tip exposed.
My preference, though is to dig a deeper hole straight down. I feel deeper holes result in more uniform soil moisture and less chance of blossom end rot.
Edited by obywan59 (02/26/08 05:04 PM)
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Terry May the force be with you
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