Started My 2011 Seedlings Today

[rnewste]

Somewhat ironic, but I am still picking Goose Creek, Dona, Indian Stripe tomatoes from my 2010 crop outside, and started seeds today for my 2011 Season. Here's my grow list for this year:

Tomatoes (15 EarthTainers)
Berkeley Tie Dye Pink (2)
Big Beef (Hybrid)
Black & Brown Boar
Bloody Butcher
Brandywine Cowlicks
Cuostralee
Dona
Druzba
Earl’s Faux
Ed’s Millennium
Gary ‘O Sena
Goose Creek (6)
Indian Stripe
JD’s Special C-Tex
Magnif Olympica
Marianna’s Peace
Momotaro
Moskovich
Neves Azorean Red x Brandywine (2)
Paul Robeson
Pink Boar
Purple Haze F6
Stump of the World
________
30 plants


Peppers (4 EarthTainers)
Big Bertha (8)
Colossal (4)
Early Thickset (2)
Orange
Yellow

MuMex (1 EarthBox)
Joe E. Parker (2)
Big Jim (1)

Cucumbers (4 EarthTainers)
Diva (1)
County Fair (1)
Straight Eight (1)
Sweet Success (1)

Sweetcorn (7 EarthTainers)
Northern Xtra Sweet (3)
Gurney’s Gotta-have-it (4)
Johnny’s Xtra-tender 277A (7) Second Crop


Winter here is unusually warm this year. 62 degrees right now with no hard freezes at all to date. Hopefully, this trend will continue into Spring.


Raybo

[roper2008]

Lucky you. Was it Big Beef hybrid's that did really good in
your earthtainers this summer? I have 2 hybrids, one I will
be growing for sure is Brandyboy.

[rnewste]

Roper,

I went back and checked my records, and yes, it was a Hybrid Big Beef from Park Seeds that I planted in 2010. I am repeating from the same seed packet again this Season, as I was very happy with productivity and longevity.

Raybo

[sprtsguy76]

Raybo-The 2011 season is underway! I've got a bad itch too! I'll be starting mine 10 days behind you, on the 15th. If you have any extra Cuostralee or Stump of the World I would be interested. I might have some stuff you'd be interested in. Lets stay in touch my friend.......

Damon

[rnewste]

Hey Damon,

I'll start a few more Stump seedlings. I used my last Cuostralee seed today, so can't help you there. Let me know if you are looking for anything else. I could use one JBT as I did not save any seed last year. Funny, I've got three tomato crop cycles currently growing: Outside 2010 plants still producing, Winter plants growing inside in 6 InnTainers, and now, 60 seedlings for Spring planting.

Let the good times roll.....

Raybo

[sprtsguy76]

Raybo-I'm not growing JBT this year but if you want a few seeds I can send you some. But if your interested you can grow one of my Brandywine Sudduth X JBT out. I'll have some other varieties that might raise your eyebrow too. Maybe Kosovo?

I still have one Goose Creek out there on the patio that has maybe 2 more fruit on it. I have officially extended the season to the max. After these two fruit are picked I'll probably pull it or maybe try to nurse it through the rest of the winter and see if it bounces back in the spring.

Damon

[rnewste]

Damon,

I would like one of your BW cross with JBT. Looks like an interesting cross.

I've got about 5 Goose Creek ripening on the vines today (had one with dinner tonight). Unbelievable mild weather we've had this Winter!!

Raybo

[Farmer Matt]

Here in Tracy, it has been realy cold this winter. Thalast couple of night's it's been freezing. With all of the fog it make's it realy cold.

[bugsy]

I'm starting mine late this year. I started today. In my area, I should be starting them in December, at the latest.

[habitat_gardener]

It's felt colder than usual here on the peninsula. Most years, my tomato plants freeze the first week of December. This year the freeze came Nov. 23, and it hasn't warmed up much since. Even though we don't have many nights below freezing, it's been around the low 40s at night when it's clear, and a little warmer just before rainstorms. It was in the low 30s last night (mid 50s indoors!) and is overcast now. More rain is forecast for the rest of the week. But, yeah, it's in the 40s and 50s during the day and there isn't snow on the ground, so I'm not complaining.

[rnewste]

Habitat,

Yeah, the cool weather we're now having is definitely taking its toll. My trusty Goose Creek plant is being affected with fruit drop:



And the Pink Boar has seen better days:



But the Snow Peas are loving this weather.



I was however, able to pick some Goose Creek and Dona tomatoes from the remaining plants:



Given it's January 10, I guess I am a Happy Camper....

Raybo

[dealsgapper]

Raybo, Where can I get the bark fines? I want to try the 3-2-1 mix in my earthtainers this year, but can't find the bark fines locally. Neither Home Depot or Lowes have them. Can I get them on line or is there another source out there. I thought about buying the regular bark nuggets and grinding them up myself.

Originally Posted by rnewste

Hey Damon,

I'll start a few more Stump seedlings. I used my last Cuostralee seed today, so can't help you there. Let me know if you are looking for anything else. I could use one JBT as I did not save any seed last year. Funny, I've got three tomato crop cycles currently growing: Outside 2010 plants still producing, Winter plants growing inside in 6 InnTainers, and now, 60 seedlings for Spring planting.

Let the good times roll.....

Raybo

[rnewste]

deals,

With all the Pine trees in Florida, it is amazing that the smaller Decorative Groundcover Bark is not available. Guess the insects would devour it, or something like that. You could try to get Pro-MIX BRK or Pro-Mix GSX which contain about the right ratio of Peat and Bark fines (1/2 inch is their recommended particle size, for reference).

Here is an excerpt from an Article on their website:

"""The process of aeration is one of the most important factors of productivity. Plants absorb oxygen (O2) and release carbon dioxide (CO2) during the respiration process. "Respiring" roots use the sugars made during photosynthesis to provide the energy necessary to drive mineral salt absorption. For most plants, internal transfer of oxygen from the leaves and stems to the roots is too slow to supply enough oxygen to the roots. In order to have good plant growth, the growing media needs to be "aerated", meaning that air exchange between the growing medium and atmosphere has to provide the plant roots with sufficient oxygen and to remove excess carbon dioxide from the root zone. This air exchange takes place through a mechanism called diffusion."""

And here is the link to the full Article:

http://www.premierhort.com/website/p...press7-1a.html

Alternatively, Kelloggs Clay Soil Amendment *may* contain bark fines - - I guess I would ask at a large Nursery in your area for recommendations on aerating Potting Mix in Containers.

Raybo

[dealsgapper]

Originally Posted by rnewste

deals,

With all the Pine trees in Florida, it is amazing that the smaller Decorative Groundcover Bark is not available. Guess the insects would devour it, or something like that. You could try to get Pro-MIX BRK or Pro-Mix GSX which contain about the right ratio of Peat and Bark fines (1/2 inch is their recommended particle size, for reference).

Here is an excerpt from an Article on their website:

"""The process of aeration is one of the most important factors of productivity. Plants absorb oxygen (O2) and release carbon dioxide (CO2) during the respiration process. "Respiring" roots use the sugars made during photosynthesis to provide the energy necessary to drive mineral salt absorption. For most plants, internal transfer of oxygen from the leaves and stems to the roots is too slow to supply enough oxygen to the roots. In order to have good plant growth, the growing media needs to be "aerated", meaning that air exchange between the growing medium and atmosphere has to provide the plant roots with sufficient oxygen and to remove excess carbon dioxide from the root zone. This air exchange takes place through a mechanism called diffusion."""

And here is the link to the full Article:

http://www.premierhort.com/website/p...press7-1a.html

Alternatively, Kelloggs Clay Soil Amendment *may* contain bark fines - - I guess I would ask at a large Nursery in your area for recommendations on aerating Potting Mix in Containers.

Raybo

Thanks for the options, I'll keep looking.

[rnewste]

deals,

Another thought - - you can use Reptile Bark as a (more costly) substitute. Depending on how many cu. ft. you need, this may be a better way than trying to chip it up yourself. Try the local Pet Store to check pricing.

Raybo