San Antonio - I need your help...

Hi.

I live in Phoenix and have been reading with interest about a new hybrid tomato called Phoenix that made it's debut recently at the San Antonio Stock Show. Living in the desert, I am always interested in hot-set tomatoes and would love to trial this tomato in my garden. There are actually a few of us here that are interested in trying it.

I have been in touch with the Bexar County Master Gardeners who directed me to some nurseries in your area that have plants. It's too late to start seeds for me and the only seed source I have found so far is close to $10 for 50 seeds. Yikes!

My dilemma is that none of these nurseries ship. As I do not plan to be in the San Antonio area anytime soon, I was wondering if there might be someone here experienced in shipping plants that would be willing to pick up some plants and ship them to me? The nurseries are Fanick's, Rainbow Gardens and Milberger's. Milberger's looks like they have excellent prices, but I do not know any of these nurseries and their reputations personally. Thus the reason for my request for help.

If anyone thinks they may be able to assist me in my quest to obtain these tomato plants, please d-mail me and we can work out the arrangements!

Gratefully - Kelly

Wow, how could you ship a live tomato plant? Would it work? I frequent milbergers and rainbow gardens so I look for them next time I go there. I just didn't know it was possible to ship a tomater plant.

Hi RATFOOD - I knew there was someone I knew from San Antonio - lol.

You can ship any live plant if you know how to do it. Many places ship tomato plants but unfortunately none of these nurseries do;o(

I'll try to stop by milbergers after work tomorrow and if they have any I will buy them. If they do, than anyone who wants them will have to get me some info on how to ship them ok.

I don't live in SA, but grew up there. All 3 are excellent to deal with. If you're familiar with the John Fanick Phlox variety, it's named after the gentleman who started Fanick's Nursery. We used to buy our roses and trees from Fanick's.

Ratty~To ship them you need a box big enough for them to stand up in, then some packing peanuts and newspaper. Make sure the plants are well watered, then wrap the plants in newspaper. Put packing peanuts down the tube to support the plant and the leaves. Place them in the box, then pack peanuts around the plants to give them enough cushion as they're shipping.

When I've shipped plants, I also tape the container or pot in place in the box. That way it absolutely can not bounce around.

How did it get named Phoenix when it is a TX native? LOL I will be curious to see how it withstands the hot for you.

That's what I was wondering pod. I just ran across an article on it so it's too late to start from seed for me as most of my 'maters are already in the ground. I really really want to test this baby out. I have a few veggie growers here who would trial them too. I've been calling and e-mailing around SA all day trying to get some plants - lol.

Willhite Seed is the only seed source I have found and they are pricey...

I don't think SA gets quite as hot as us but it's pretty close.

Wilhite Seed has great seeds, though.

Hmmm.... perhaps the seeds sprouted from the ashes?

I've heard they are good Steph. I'd splurge on the seeds if I had time to start them - lol.

pod - I think the term they used in the article I ran across in my research of hot-set tomatoes was "Rise From the Sawdust" - lol...

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100204006383&newsLang=en

What an enabler.... I've already got six different types of mater seeds germinating and only one of us can eat very many tomatoes. LOL

lol - I learned from the best... You should see some of the peeps on the SW Forum. They are true enablers...

Thanks for looking RATFOOD - let me know...

Weii they only have them in the 6-packs where the plants are 4-5" tall...

That will work RATFOOD... I'll send you a d-mail... If you can get them someone here can help us with how to pack and ship them.

Yeah I bought 4 of the 6-packs, they had a sale on all Texas-hot-weather tomatos so it worked out great for me. I got BN 444, celebrity, phoenix, solar fire, valey girl, and sunmaster. Some were 4" pots and some were only 6-packs like the phoenix.

OK Kelly no problem. Once they start putting out tomatos I will the send them to you for 50 tomato's for $10 if I put them in packing peanuts and throw in the local newspaper or a bubble wrap cocktail? Should I put an ice pack in there too to keep them fresh or you ferment them in the mail? Just send me the address of the nursery wou want me to ship them too OK.

lol - score on the maters RATFOOD! I feel a successful tomato season coming on...

Check your d-mail!

...

This message was edited Mar 7, 2010 12:36 PM

lol - check your dave's garden d-mail... I don't have your regular e-mail address...

Sorry hun, I was pretty tore up this evening (sat night and all) but im much better now!. Send me your address and any more pointers for them maters and i'll do my best to get them out there in one piece. I was thinking of taping them to toe bottom of the box like the esteemed Podster introduced, then filling the bottom of the box with peat moss or something to keep the moisture in. Or I can drop the 6-pk in a split 1-gallon canaster and fill it up with potting mix then packing peanuts. Anyways let me know what is the most successful way and I will try it OK. Maybe if I send you about 18 half will live? (I am still very skeptical about mailing maters but there is a first time for almost everything.....

Also, let me know soon because I want to get them out tuersday at the latest ok... Maybe fedex store. Otherwise I overnight them because they need a home before the weekend. What kind of awesome pepper seeds ya got?

It is personal preference but I would suggest sending them via post office if that would be convenient for you. They offer a flat rate box that should fit these plants. I do think I would tape it to the bottom and as Stephanie said, make sure they are moistened. I would loosely fill the rest with crushed paper. From San Antonio to Phoenix shouldn't take but a few days. The maters should arrive by the weekend and I feel certain will be in excellent shape.
I am flattered RATFOOD ~ esteemed? Thank you...
You had me excited for a moment there... thought I was missing the junque mail in my dmail ~ LOL

If you put anything wet or moist in the box, be sure to put it in a plastic bag. You could put some dampened newspaper or paper towels in the bottom, then secure the plastic bag at the base of the maters, just above the level of the dirt. Use a twistie or piece of string to bunch the plastic around the base of the plants. I wouldn't put the entire plant in a plastic bag. Tomatoes are so temperamental you know.

lol - you all crack me up! It's OK RF - happens to the best of us...

I will d-mail you my address in a few minutes. I will see what I have for pepper seeds - you like any kind, hot, sweet, whatever? Anything else you might want let me know!

I think pod is right - flat rate postal is the way to go. That way you don't have to worry about the weight. Send what you can fit in the medium or large flat rate and let me know what I owe you. There's good advice here on packing. As long as the plants can't move around much they'll be ok. You might even be able to cut the 6-packs and fit them that way. Or you can send them without the pots. Keep a bit of moist soil on the roots and then wrap the roots in plastic then newspaper. Just make sure plastic doesn't touch the leaves.

Thank you so so so much for helping me out! You don't know how much I appreciate it!

Thanks for the help folks. Plants went out this morning. I am waiting to see what they look like when they arrive in the copper state. Frankly, I will be surprised if they live. If they don't I'll get some more and send them 2-day fedex or something. I kinda got lucky that Kelly told me about these because all the tomatoes I have been growing from seed will be dead in 90 days. I forgot about getting some heat tolerant maters!!!

When they arrive I'll let you all know how they fared. I think pod is right RF - 'maters are tough.

RATFOOD - YOU ARE MY HERO!!!!!!!!!!

The tomatoes arrived today and with the exception of 2 broken leaves they look like I just picked them up at the nursery. Your packing job was excellent and it took me a while to unpack them as I was trying to be careful - lol. I took some photos and will try to upload them tonight after I get the babies potted up. I can't thank you enough!

Kelly

Woo Hoo!!! We will look forward to you test driving them and giving us a review. Good going RATFOOD.

Yup - just downloaded some pics...

another one...

another

final one for now

They look pretty darned good for such a long trip! How exciting!

Wow, they got there faster than I thought! Glad most of them made it~ Thanks for turning me onto those tomatoes too, I'm really looking forward to trying them.

Sometimes the good 'ol USPS will surprise you. My kids are on spring break this week and the mailman brought the package bright and early before the regular mail delivery. I get so many packages sometimes and he knows they might be plants so he takes extra care to get them to me before they sit in the hot truck all day! He even has a cool spot to stadh boxes in the Cape Honeysuckle bushes in case no one is home.

RATFOOD I hope they do well for you too! I will plant them tonight after the sun starts going down...

WOW! Hot in Phx already? Send some thisa way please ma'am?

Good luck with your tomatoes too RATFOOD ~ hoping you will let us know what you think also...

Yipper - we're up into the 80s next week. Let's hope it's not like last year where it skipped from 80s to 100s in APRIL!

Getting ready to plant the new 'maters now as soon as the sun starts going down.

Speaking of our hero, Ratfood...

I had so much fun planting the heirloom seeds you sent me awhile back. They came up like champs, and the golden Cal Wonder peppers are looking good, but I seem to be in the business of thwarting the tomatoes at every turn. They are all about 2 inches high and seem stressed and stalled. It's my first year with seedlings and I have a lot to learn.

Nothing to do now but wait and see if they catch up, but your comments about needing hot-set tomatoes have emphasized the point that I that I may never be able to send you a pic of the final tomatoes before our summer heat sets in -- and I feel bad because you were so nice to send me the seeds. But hey, ya never know. Maybe I'll yet have success. I know I lamented on here that my broccoli was refusing to head just a little while ago -- but I cut two heads this week! So hope springs eternal and it's fun no matter what happens.

Meanwhile, though, I'll be heading to the nursery to get some transplants. I can't stand looking at those big empty plant pots much longer, need something to go in them!

Just a little update.
Best to you, Ratfood, you did a really nice favor this week.