Rich - Large temperature swings and fast growth will give you BER - won't mater if you are in an EB or a container. I was fortunate to only get BER on one Big Boy in an EB. Early Girl and two Beefmasters were fine. Had one Big Boy in a container, got BER on that one too. We definetly had the temperature swings and when the temps finally settled down, the plants grew like crazy. Here come da BER. It is still a calcium deficiency, but not in the soil. During a fast growth spurt the roots can't get enough calcium to the maters, hence the deficiency. That is why most of the time you only get BER on the first batch and normal growth returns and the rest of the maters are fine. Even with the BER I harvested 57 from the BB in the EB and only 11 from the BB in a container.
The EBs proved their worth to me this year. Next planting will be all EBs. Containers were too much work and not many maters compared to the EBs. Winding down now, stopped spraying two weeks ago and cut way back on the watering. I'll start pulling plants next week. I don't think I'll plant much for our fall season. Maybe one EB with a couple of mater plants so I'll have plenty of fresh ones for sandwiches and salads. Got so many frozen off the spring season that I probably will still have some in the freezer next spring. Happy growin. Ed
Earth Boxes
I've learned to live with BER but minimize the effects by being consistent with my watering. It usually happens with the first batch and it seems to minimize the effect by pulling the infected tomatos ASAP. As far as the red plastic is concerned I just don't know ? Carolyn made a good point when she explained a 10% increase for a home gardener would not be considerable. If a plant has twenty tomatos that means an increase of two tomatos. It's not much but for a commercial farmer it could be substantial.
Dolomite lime is supposed to provide calcium which I use but still get BER. Go Figure ???
That reminds me Tplant how much dolomite do you add to your EB's?
Two cups for tomatos only !
Ok, thanks..I didn't mix any with my potting soil so I wasn't sure. I'm only going to have one EB for the fall so I'm putting maters in it but come next spring I hope to have enough to put cukes or beans in one.
Reading about everyone's problem with BER is making me nervous. NERVOUS I tell you!! I'm really looking forward to tasting the very first mater from my EB, which will probably be a roma. My BetterBoy plant has one that's about 1.5" and a whole lot of teeny tiny one's. The Roma has one that's about 2" long and quite a few that's just forming. My other EB that has a Yellow mater plant and two pepper plants is doing good too. I don't have any yellow's yet but I do have two bell peppers on each plant that are good sized. The cukes in the third EB are growing like gangbusters. I have several small cukes that I just can't wait to eat.
Cranky
I'm interested in your cucumbers. Do you have them on a trellis or anything? What kind of cukes are you using? How many plants per box? Have you ever thought of cantalope or watermelon in an EB?
How do you know if you have BER?
Not having problems with BER so far but my green maters are getting eaten by some sort of a rodent I am sure, yesterday I noticed 4 tomatoes half eaten, I am super mad because I figured that the bird net that I placed over them would help. Also I am treating all of my plants with some sort of insecticide I purchased at albertsons hopefully that will keep the caterpillars away, I actually saw a huge one on of the mater plants this morning so I went ahead and spraid it again.
Like I said before I am sure I am having so many problems with creatures eating my tomatoes because my back yard is a small jungle and so I am sure it attracts all kinds of bugs and rodents. I am going to have to convince my DH to just put pavers all over the back yard.
My Juliett plant is doing great so far I just picked a huge bag of small tomatoes. Actually Ritch my Juliett is a monster so I would definetely consider using a big trellis mine is going all over the place but it is so big right now that it is kind of late for me to do anything.
Hey Pedally. Sorry I haven't gotten back to you earlier. The tag that was in the cukes just show's "Burpless". We have our first cuke that's about 7" long. I'll probably eat that this coming weekend. The instructions show to put four plants in but since I used transplants that had four to five seedlings I cut them back to just two per hole. I didn't think that it would hurt anything since if you were to plant them in the ground you could grow five to six per mound. They do take a lot of water everyday. It's almost empty everyday when it gets filled. I used the 1"x1"x5' stakes that they suggested with twine back and forth. That isn't nearly enough. I got some shelving unit uprights from work that I'm going to use for a makeshift trellis.
I'll get some pix soon and post them.
carminator 1...the only time I had a problem with something eating my green tomatoes it turned out to be squirrels. It only happened one year and never again though I don't know why. There are commercial animal repellants that you can spray around the plants that will supposedly stop animals from eating them but I have never used them and don't know how well they work. Those green catapillars are tomato horn worms and left unchecked can strip a plant in days. I use Ortho Bug-B-Gone and tend to spray all the plants once a week just to be on the safe side. My Juliette is about 6 ft. tall and showing no signs of slowing down. Actually I prefer smaller plants like the Husky Cherries I have in another EB. They may reach 4 ft. for the entire season.
Rich
Rich,
My sweet million is the same way (3 sweet million in one EB) - over 6 ft tall now. I bought tall (7-8ft) sticks and pounded them into the ground next to branches that were spewing out of my 4 foot cage. They are out of control. I had 2 sweet 100 in a regular container last year but didn't grow nearly as tall as these guys this year. Just crazy. If anyone knows of any cherry tomatoes with controlled growth that are good and sweet as sweet million, let me know. These millions end up taking so much room everywhere around the EB that I'd rather get something that is more contained (I don't want to sacrifice the flavor though... Am I asking too much?)
Sorry to hear you have a BER problem with regular size tomatoes in EBs. I did experience BER on one plant but it is probably because this plant is suffering from stem rot and the main stem close to the branch has cankers and now that canker'ed part is drying up (the plant will soon dry up and die). So far two other regular tomato plants are doing OK (One Celebrity in a regular container and an unknown kind in EB). I am crossing my fingers!!
tmm
Ritch:
I think you are right it must be sqirrels, I am thinking of placing the bird net better and try to staple it to the ground that way there is no way in for the squirrels, I have seen some gardener staples in Walmart. I am spraying every week now for the horn worms, I hope that helps.
The Juliet plant is way too big but the tomatoes are delicious, I am also curious to know whether there is a more contained tomatoe plant that bears as many tomatoes and is also sweet.
I have learned so much in the proccess that next year I am definetely going to have a better garden, and a more organized one that is for sure.
T Plant: When would you recommend I start planting tomatoes, cuckes, peppers ect... for next year, like I said before here it gets in the low to mid 90's and the heat and humidity can be unbearable , which makes the experience not as pleasant.
carminator1-------Sept. or very early Oct. would be the best time for fall planting. That is when I start but continue up till Dec. My Brandywine prefer cool weather so they are the last ones to plant.
Oh well...it's bound to happen most every year so I shouldn't be surprised. A bad thunderstorm came through this afternoon with high wind and very heavy rain and when it was done half my garden was horizontal instead of vertical. Everything in cages survived just fine but a lot of chili plants in pots got beat up pretty good along with some cucumber, squash and basil plants. Had to run up to my local garden center and get some bamboo stakes and tie them back upright. They hopefully will be fine in a few days and I should have staked them earlier. The Juliet plants are the fastest growing tomato plants I have ever seen...not anything like what I would prefer but I hope the tomatoes are good when they ripen. I grew a determinate grape tomato last year called Jolly Elf I believe that I purchased as plants from Territorial. They arrived in such poor condition that I didn't order from them this year. They were however much more manageable growing to maybe 5 ft. and were loaded with very sweet fruit.
Rich
Ok, I'm having a problem with Arkansas Traveler. It's an heirloom tomato. Beside it, I have a hybrid that is doing great, but the heirloom is turning yellow - from the bottom up. It's twice as tall as the other, but not a tomato on it. The hybrid has 6-8 maters on it already. It's not the EB, surely. What's the deal?
My Ark Traveler's are not in boxes but they are as you describe...shoulder high and no fruit...
I am sorry about the storm Ritch, I have that happening to me more than once, we had tropical storm Arlene pass us by and I had no idea if my earthboxes were going to make it.
T- Plant I think I am going to take your advice and start in September or early Octover. Now if you are going to use seeds when do you recommend starting them.
Also I wanted to try some sugar snap pea and carrots this winter but I know they like it cold, so when do you recommend planting these?
And last but not least are your temps similar to mine, here we are always in the high 80's and mid 90's and sometimes close to the 100's with a lot of humidity.
smilin32 ---- Never had a problem with tomato plants turning yellow from the bottom up ? It sounds like an overdose of fertilizer. Could it be possible ? Did you plant according to instruction with the fertilizer strip along the opposite edge, two cups with a formula under 15-15-15 (I prefer to use 1/2 that formulation) and placed on the opposite and farthest side away from your plants ? Some times we forget.. Clip off the yellow leaves before they rot and cause problems.
carminator1 ------ I start my seeds indoors at the end of August and set them out in October, meanwhile a second batch is started in late September consisting of the Brandywine Sudduth and other cool weather varieties and set out in early November. Our weather after November averages in the hi 70's or low 80's and 60's in the evening. Occasionally in January the evening temperature may drop into the low 40's but only briefly and do no harm to the plants but the Brandies seem to enjoy a cool snap. Come June I take a break !
I clipped the leaves off yesterday. Good thing you validated my thoughts concerning that. Yes, I applied the fertilizer just as the instructions said to. This was my first time using the EB's (I bought 3), so I followed directions exactly. I haven't taken the plastic cover off to see what it all looks like, although I'd have to be careful doing so.
Interestingly enough, I was given permission to plant a small garden across the street from our neighborhood - at a horse farm. All of those tomato plants are producing so well, they've completely outgrown their cages and I'm having to support them with additional cages from the sides. It's crazy. Horsey poopoo is the magic, I'm sure.
Took the afternoon off from work today and wound up (where else) in the garden. I took a bunch of pictures and thought I'd post a few here. This is my back patio showing about half of my total planting. Sorry that it's a little dark but the angle of the sun was not cooperating with me. How's everyone else doing with their pots or EB's.
Rich
In all the years I have been gardening I have never grown celery. Last year a few stray plants showed up in a flat of Italian parsley I purchased and my wife liked it so much that I planted an EB with celery this year. This is about 4 weeks after transplanting.
Rich
This is a closer shot of the two EB's planted with cayenne peppers.
Rich
My cucumbers just starting to climb the trellis. These were direct seeded into the EB's the Wednesday before the Memorial Day weekend and because of our very cold May weather are about 2 weeks behind a normal year's planting. In front of the EB's are bell peppers in the ground.
Last of all here's a shot of my Juliet tomato EB still growing several inches per day. I really wish it would stop and I'm thinking of starting to pinch out the growing tips hoping it will branch out more from the bottom.
Rich
Hey Rich!
Your garden is looking fabulous. I can't believe how large and lush all your plants are already considering the late start we got this spring. You've got one green thumb man!
Here's a few pics of my efforts with the 3 EB's I got this year. My husband came up with the idea for the tomato trellis thingy. I use nylon-like twine and weave it inbetween and around the tomatoes to keep them upright. So far it's working. I have two Delicious in there and they're flowering pretty heavily. Been experiencing some weird curling and twisting of branches off and on but otherwise they're growing about 3 inches a day. The PVC supports are made to be adjustable so I can go as high as I want.
These are the cucumbers. I started them in the house and transplanted.
Last EB is the peppers.
Rich,
Your cucumbers look GREAT. (Well, everything looks great but cukes caught my eye especially.) Your leaves are almost twice as big as mine. Are they already setting fruit? My Diva hasn't set one fruit so far. The baby cukes are all drying up. I think I need to wait a little longer for them to start producing.
tmm
toni5735 ----- Is that another pepper in the white planter ? It is a great comparison ! EBs versus containers ?
Tplant...you got a keen eye. Yes that's actually two peppers planted kitty corner from each other. My backyard is turning into a lab experiment! LOL
Toni
Thanks Toni...your garden looks great too, especially those cucumbers. I too normally start them indoors about 4 weeks before I plan on putting them out. This year I just didn't get around to them and wouldn't you know it...our wonderful spring delayed the direct seeding till Memorial Day. My plants are at least 3 weeks behind normal but I am starting to see some small fruit forming although no blossoms as of yet.
Rich
Hi tmm99 and thanks. My cucumbers are just starting to show signs of small fruit although no blossoms as of yet. All I am growing (4 varities) are parthenocarpic as is your Diva (sets fruit without pollination). Many times the first few fruits just don't set because the plants are not mature enough to support fruit set. Just hang in there and hopefully you'll start to see some fruit. To be honest though (and I don't mean to discourage you) I've grown Diva twice and both times was not at all happy with the yields. Hopefully you won't have that problem.
Rich
Thank you Rich. Good to know even a cuke plant like yours will have trouble at the beginning.
I remember you grow Sweet Success. Are they like Diva and English cucumbers (thin skinned and mild flavored)? Do you have a better yield with Sweet Success? What do you prefer most yield-wise?
I like thin skinned mild cucumbers like Japanese cucumbers (I didn't plant any Japanese cukes this year since they came out bitter last year.) I will see how Diva does but so far, no cukes and it's hard to jump start them by hand pollination since male flowers are so hard to come by.
tmm
I prefer Sweet Success to all others both for fruit quality and yield. They are similar to the English Telegraph (12" to 14" long) and are sweet, thin skinned and near seedless. Their one problem is a huge vine growing 12 feet or more. I have had good success with Tasty Jade Hybrid which is a parthenocarpic Japanese burpless variety. This year I am trying Park's All-Season Burpless Hybrid for the first time and the vines are growing beautifully but we'll wait and see how the cukes are. Diva is thin skinned, spineless, sweet and grows to about 8" long, similar in shape to a standard slicer.
Rich
If any of you folks have been constantly frustrated like me with summer squash that was supposedly "compact" only to find it was a giant plant here's a picture of what might be the first truly compact plant I have been able to find. It's called Raven Hybrid and is available from Burpee and Park and I'm sure others. Also very early as these plants were direct seeded less than 6 weeks ago and each already has one squash plus tons of buds on them
Rich
Thank you Rich. I didn't know that Sweet Success was like English since the photos of Sweet Success I've seen looked big, like grocery store bought thick skinned variety. 12ft sounds awfully big, but if they taste good, why not.
Where did you get your Tasty Jade Hybrid? I've found one on Johnnyseeds but I didn't see the word "Hybrid" but I do see it's bitter-free. I love Japanese cukes and I think I will try this kind next year (even if Diva fares well.)
Have you ever tried seaweed based foliar spray? I read somewhere that this boots the plant and starts producing (instead of aborting). This is only my 2nd year with cukes so I have no idea...
tmm
Tasty Jade is an F1 Hybrid and I got the seeds at Johnny's. I think it is only listed as (F1) on their website but that means a first generation hybrid. I've used seaweed as a foliar spray in the past but didn't see any real difference in the plants. This year I am spraying everything on my property with Messenger every 3 weeks including my hydrangias, hostas, flowers, all vegetables and a fig tree. While it's still too early to tell for sure the results look very promising.
Rich
Great! I will surely get Tasty Jade next year. Couldn't find any Japanese cukes that are bitter free and that's the only reason I opted to other varieties this season, but next season, I will have bitter free Japapense cukes.
I will look into Messenger too.
Thanks Rich!
tmm
OK, ritchh.
I got Messenger and yesterday I sprayed it all over my veggy plants, flower plants and fruit trees (plus indoor plants). I know it's kind of a late start for veggy plants since they are already pretty big but I wanted to see if my puny yellowish cucumber leaves will get lush like yours. After reading some of the rave reviews on Messenger on other threads too, I knew I wanted to try it myself.
tmm