Has anyone ever used one of those tomato tent's that you fill with water a put it around your tomato plant in the garden? You're suppose to be able to put your tomato plant outside in the garden very early. Even while there is snow on the ground and even though it is way before the last frost date. You're suppose to get an earlier crop by using them.
Darrell
I tried them many years ago before they had the red ones. I found that them not worth the fussing over but then I am not a good fusser. And my plants are generally big enough that there are some bits that don't fit and they will get frosted anyway.
I agree, they were pretty fussy. Kept getting tiny holes so one part leaked, and then the rest would collapse onto my tender tomatoes. And my tomatoes were quickly too tall for them anyhow. Now, I rarely bother putting tomatoes outside at all. They don't like setting fruit below about 55F, and our nights are regularly below that all summer.
I guess I'll pass on them. lol
You'll have to admit though, it sounds look a good idea.
I am on the opposite end here, I love them! I probably have about 25 of them and buy a pack every year. I put them on the tomatoes and peppers, last year I put out a few brug seedlings to. Yes they are messy things but so am I! lol! You can buy replacement sleeve's for holes. Joelle
I like them too. Found if I fill them with a 5g pail in the middle it is easier.
IMCANADIAN and echos.....are you able to put your tomatoes and peppers out a lot sooner like they clame?
I'm going to say my last frost date is June 1st. Do you think if I got some, (to try out), I would see the difference when it comes time to pick vegetables, i.e., tomato and pepper?
How soon before the last frost date do you suggest putting the plants out with the Kozy Coat around them? Weeks? Months?
Last year I put 4 tomato plants out on April 24th and then we had major snowfall in May (When I was in BC) Returned mid-May to find all was well. Had first tiny tomato nefore end of June. I wouldn't be without them.
I set them up and leave them for about a week or more to warm the soil before I plant inside them.
Inanda
Wow!
These tomato plants will grow big and the tomatoes are big. They would grow out of the tent before the last frost date. That is, if I put them out in April. I think maybe I could do it in May though. If my last frost date is June 1st, maybe put the plants out on May 1st?
It's hard to believe that those things will work. But what the heck, I'll give it a try.
I'll take a picture and post it so everyone can see what happens.
darrell, i just noticed that you are zone 5a. what are you doing with a last frost date of june 1?
Would you believe last year there was frost on the ground, of and on, during May.
I asked someone when I could plant my garden and they told me anytime after June 17th. (that wasn't anybody from in here)
I don't know what I'm doing. I might be able to start in May. I don't know where to go to find out my last frost date. If there is such a thing in Moncton, NB
Hi Darrell, This is from the Vesseys site. Shows first and last frost days. Hope it helps you. Joelle
http://www.veseys.com/sub.cfm?source=canada_frost
New Brunswick
Station Last Frost First Frost
Bathurst May 19 September 26
Edmunston May 28 September 18
Fredericton May 20 September 22
Grand Falls May 24 September 24
Moncton May 24 September 27
Saint John May 18 October 4
Thank you Joelle. I look high and low for that.
Yes, thanks, Joelle. That's handy. Good luck with the tomato tents, Darrell. Hope to hear how you make out.
I've been thinking of trying the red plastic mulch, for tomatoes...but would have to poke a lot of holes in it to let water through. Hey, maybe the leaky tents can be used for mulch afterwards! :-)
Shannon
The walls of water, Kosy Kotes, whatever do an excellent job of protecting against frost--I just found that the plants I wanted to protect, were too tall already by the time I could risk putting them out in the water walls.
Shannon, I bought that red mulch and then never used it. Thought I'd try it in the greenhouse--would that make sense?
Don't see why not....I think I read that the main purpose of it being red (as opposed to black mulch) was to reflect a certain wavelength of light onto the tomato plants, that they find useful. Hmm....you could always conduct an experiment - red mulch on half the tomatoes...take measurements...post pics...yep, I'm full of good, time-consuming suggestions! lol
It would be interesting to find out, though. If I end up getting some, I'll give it a shot and let you know. Then you may decide that yours is better used as an emergency tarp or something. :-)
Today I'm going to pot up tomatoes and green peppers.
I needed some Red Bell Peppers last year to make Chow Chow. I bought a couple at the grocery store. They were huge and well shaped and so I thought I'd save the seeds. (never did that before) I dried them for probably a couple weeks, and made sure I had them all seperated.
I put them in one of those Asprin bottles that have that little round thing in them to keep things dry.
Low and behold, they sprouted and the seedlings are thicker and bigger than the seeds I bought.
I did the same thing with tomatoes too but didn't find out untill this year that you have to ferment the seeds on a tomato. (and cucumbers too I think)
I bought some Acorn Squash and Spaghetti Squash for dinner last year and saved the seeds from those too. I didn't know if I could save seeds from things I bought from the grocery store, but I thought why not give it a try.
Well, the Acorn Squash and the Spaghetti Squash seeds I saved from last year are good seeds. I planted 3 each and all of them sprouted.
I'll be planting them as soon as I can start my garden.
Can you tell me what you mean about "fermenting" the tomato and cucumber seeds, Darrell? I would like to try and collect some seeds this summer from my tumbler tomatos, so would like to know what's involved. I am going to try and save some seeds from the Orange and Yellow Bell peppers that I buy, since you have had good luck with them. Thanks. :Donna
I always assumed for some reason that the peppers (and other veggies) fm the grocery stores don't come true from seed - perhaps even to discourage people from growing their own, I don't know. I'm glad to hear that this isn't the case! Looking forward to hearing more about fermenting too, when you have a chance - I've heard about it but not sure how the process works.
Shannon
donna, you have to make sure that your tumblers are not a hybrid because those seeds will be sterile
Donna & spklatt
This fermenting thing is for "Heirloom" tomatoes. The information came from:
http://www.saltspringseeds.com/
The jelly seed coat that surrounds each seed prevents early germination in nature. In the wild, a tomato falls from the plant and slowly ferments, allowing this seed coat to break down. Without imitating this process, we will get very poor germination. Seeds are fermented in a warm spot for 3 or 4 days in small containers with lids. Add a small amount of water for small amounts. When mould starts to form, it’s time to wash the seeds. If you leave this process too long, you will sprout the seeds or they will darken and rot. Add water to your container slowly. The debris and infertile seeds will float to the top. Then slowly pour this out and you will be left with good seeds at the bottom. Wash thoroughly and place on sheets of wax paper to dry. This avoids sticking. You can also place them on screen if you have a greenhouse, and then let them dry for a couple of days.
I was surprised too when my Acorn Squash, Spaghetti Squash, and the Red Bell Pepper seeds sprouted. I didn't do anything special except make sure they were dry and keep the dry all winter.
The reason I started to save them was because I was going to make chow chow last year and the Red Bell Peppers were something like $5.00 a pound. I thought to myself. .....Lordy! I better grow some of these in the garden next year. I'm not paying that again. lol So, now I have like 50 Red Bell Peppers planted and sprouted. All I can think of is, $$$$$ Cha-Ching, Cha-Ching at the produce stand this year. lol
Perfect....thanks, Darrell. LOL, about the $! I'm sure it'll be very rewarding, in all senses. I'd sure buy some, if I were passing by.
Shannon
I know I said "Heirloom" tomatoes, but I could be wrong.
I think if you tried your tomato, you know, a little bit of it and fermented it like those directions say, and the bad seeds floated to the top, I'm going to guess that the ones that stayed to the bottom would be good seeds.
He also said, that if you leave it too long, they will sprout in that fermentation process. So, another good way to find out would be to take the good seed from the bottom, stick a couple in some soil and see what happens.
It's worth a shot.
Oh!
On those bell peppers.........
You know how you cut around the top of a pepper and then you see that ball inside that has all those seeds attached?
Well, I didn't stand there and pick them off. I took the whole thing and laid it on a saucer. I waited for it, oh, i'm going to say a couple weeks anyway when it all sort of shriveled up and then picked at it a bit to see if it was dry.
When it was dry, "thats" when I picked them off that ball thingy and put them into the Asprin jar and that thing that is packed in with the Asprin to keep them dry. Stuck the jar in an empty candy box with other jars, and put it on the closet shelf.
Oh! Another thing......I tried doing the same thing with a Green Bell Pepper and it didn't work. :(
Thanks Darrell, I'll give the pepper a try. Can't hurt. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work.
Lynn, how do I know if my Tumbler is a hybrid or not? I got the seeds from Nichols in Oregon. It doesn't say anything on the seed package. Can I still use the seeds left over from this years planting, next year? Will they still be good?
Donna... the newbie veggie grower %-)
What is a "tumbler"?
A cherry tomato plant.
tomato seeds tend to remain viable for a long time - i have 4 yr old seeds i am still using
what is the specific variety of tumbler you grew? post it in the tomato forum. there are a number of amazingly knowledgeable folks there who would be able to tell you if it was open pollinated variety or not
OK, thanks Lynn. I'll do that. :)
Thanks Donna
Re hybrids--I don't think the seeds from a hybrid plant necessarily are sterile, but they won't usually breed true. I've had some pretty interesting plants from hybrids!
In my greenhouse, a lot of tomatoes end up rotting (I'm not a very good housekeeper there) and even after freezing hard all winter, I get seedlings. I've tried doing the fermentation process but it took a lot of my limited patience so wouldn't bother except with non-hybrids, such as Brandywine, so I know for sure what I'm getting.
I'm posting a question about hybrids on a new thread.
