Can't wait to see them Flip.
Ray_Der_Phan- Can't wait for the taste also
Fall Garden 2009
Thanks, Bob, for the tomato line-up. I've heard of all those but haven't grown any of them. Looking forward to your critique of them.
That last tomato pic looks great! Better post that on your site, "a picture is worth a thousand words"....
Shoe
Bob: Is around November 24th a good date to start tomatoes down where you are? He is not my boyfriend, just a really close friend, known each other over 20 years now. I might end up carting one of your seed starting kits down there with me and starting tomatoes myself then. LOL
joy
You can set out tomato plants from August through March here in Zone 10a according to the Florida Planting Guide.
Yes, that guide is really a great asset to us and Bob, you still continue to amaze me with your progress. I still say it has to be your fertilizer? This is not supposed to happen? Even Carolyn testifies tomatos will not pollinate with temps above 85* and high humidity? WOW!!!!
Will be ordering soon and looking forward to getting togeather again. Maybe we can all get togeather (Flip) someday soon when the weather cools and compare notes. Maybe down at Flip's place. They make a great BLT sandwich!
I grow tomatos in the spring, They do polinate over 85...if they didnt, I wouldnt have any. Well, heirloom wise, I can only attest to sungold and aunt gerdies gold ( I will have this one again!)
Ditto on what gardenglory said, I have tomatoes that pollinate at high temps also but yet I still look for varieties that will have fertile pollen at the highest temps possible. Normally 90º-95º is when pollen becomes non-viable for many tomatoes, a few varieties are less viable at lower temps. (Keep in mind that parthenocarpic varieties are a whole 'nother ballgame!) And no, fertilizer doesn't come into play with pollination.
Tplant, the "85 degree and high humidity" you mentioned are two separate factors. High humidity in itself, regardless of the temperature, will inhibit pollination.
I'm looking forward to pics of Bob eating one of those tomatoes, juice running down his chin, big smile on his face. :>)
Shoe
If everyone remembers right, I used Bob's fertilizer while I was doing the bury stem routine, used it from when they were just startings right on up till they blossomed with globes on them. I did not have BER on any of my tomatoes, not one, tired arms from lugging the watering cans around that had his fertilizer in it; but, no BER and delicious tomatoes they WERE (sigh - no more).
joy
Aries/Bob: Saw a post above that mentioned whitefly resistant varieties---can you share some variety names? Aside from the weather, white flies were my biggest problem this year (never had an issue any other year). They were so bad they looked like a cloud when you moved the plant leaves. Needless to say, it was a dismal growing season for tomatoes here. Would be interested in something that might be more resistant to this pest.
Also--just wanted to mention I'm so envious of you who can grow almost year 'round. We're cleaning out the garden in preparation for winter (already down into the 40s at night), and dreaming of next spring.
Hey mom, how are you? The varieties are not whitefly resistant, they are resistant to the devestating disease TYLCV (Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus) which is spread by infected whiteflies. In our warm climate, whiteflies live and breed all year and this disease is especially nasty in the south. I keep them controlled by spraying a organic detergent and water mix every other day. It's alot of work, but I HATE whiteflies. I use Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap ( buy online or at places like Whole Foods Market). I also have invested in a real good sprayer with good spray pressure to get under the leaf where they hide and lay their eggs. The fatty acids in the soap coats the fly and eggs and will kill them. If you let them get to a "cloud" stage like you said, you have a big problem. Even if they don't infect your tomato plants (they also love pepper plants) with a virus, they suck the juices out of the plant and really hurt it's production. Early in the season before my tomato and pepper plants get to big, I inspect under every leaf for eggs. Gotta stop the reproduction. By the way, the two resistant varieties atr MargoVFFT Hybrid and SunKing VFTA Hybrid. Both are determinate types
Mom- I just did alittle research and found this. http://www.reimerseeds.com/peron-tomato.aspx I am going to order a packet tonight.
Bob--excellent information, thank you. I sprayed with a soap/oil mixture I researched (trying to stay as organic as possible), which helped somewhat. Even some of my herbs got white fly this year--so odd, as I've never had a problem before. Strangely enough, my peppers and eggplants, which were just a few feet away from my tomatoes, were unaffected. I will look into the Dr. Bronner's soap for next year. I tried to take every precaution with the herbs I brought in to overwinter--did the soap/oil treatment for three weeks, then made sure to give everything a strong water spray before planting in fresh potting mix to being indoors.
I grew all heirloom tomatoes this year, and those I got were really good. This was also my first year with the coir in EBs--so far, so good. I think I might need to fertilize a little more next year, as I did have some issues with BER. I grew leeks in smart pots with coir--absolutely fabulous.
Will check into the tomato varieties you mentioned. Thanks for once again sharing all of your knowledge with us novices.
Bob: I'm anxious to grow tomatoes, you and TPlant are so lucky to be able to grow them this winter, I gotta wait til February (sniffles). I might just grow nothing but tomatoes this Spring.
joy
Im thinking the same exact thing joy. Maybe some different kinds of peppers in the HEB;s.
After the tomatoes, I might go with some okra and some butter beans when its hot...maybe not lol.
Bang for your buck wise, I dont think anything else comes close. Certainly taste wise nothing beats them, in my opinion. I mean the differance between home grown and store bought.
Money wise, the biggest money saver, even IF you could find the tomatoes.
I'm just getting ready to plant my seedlings into EBs but still have more prep work and correct placement of EBs as they put that darn drain in the center of my garden.
TPlant: When you are done post the pics so we can all see your setup ok? I'm anxious for Spring to get here already. LOL
joy
OK if this weather will only cool down some as I can either work in the early AM or late afternoon but not both the same day. I used to be able to work out there all day but no longer.
I went out this morning...gung ho and ready to do some catch-up. Clearly, that didnt last long. My word the humidity is wicked. Guess ill just keep gardening in my mind. ;-)
TPlant: I'm looking forward to seeing yours and Bob's tomatoes this year. But; I'm also looking forward to you being healthy, happy and with us this year too.
joy
If it will only cool down somewhat?
TPlant: Yeah, everyone I know down there says it's hot. It's cooling off fast up here, it's around 51 degrees at night already. And we got T storms predicted for all week, had hail stones the other night, so planting in between is fun right? LOL I bought way too many onion sets today, everyone had them in and I had already planted some bunching onion seeds, texas granex onion seeds, and then found the sets at Ace and the local nursery. Bought some Texas sweets at the Ace and bought some GA sweets and TX sweets at the nursery. Now the nieghbors and family can grow onions too, as I don't need this many. Got 6 totes full of them now, not to mention the two smart pots I planted first.
joy
Bob, thanks for the link. I learn something new everyday and I am trying to remember the top ones so I don't have to pester you all again.
I hope you are enjoying the season.
Annapet
Bob: Where are the pics bro? LOL It's supposed to snow here tonight? A friend in south FL called to let me know that I chose to live in the coldest city FL has. I needed to hear that hey?
joy