First Ripe Tomatoes of the Season June 19 (pics)

rnewste · June 19, 2010

Due to the poor Spring we've had in N. California this Season, my plants are about 3 weeks behind last year. But they are starting to mature and blush now. First for me is Bloody Butcher:

Druzba and Purple Haze F4 in the 'Tainer on the left, and JD Special C-Tex and Japanese Black Trifele on the right:

JBT is an interesting pear shape:

Big Beef continues to look like a jungle by itself (note to Self: Start more Big Beef seeds next year).

The 3 'Tainers of Goose Creek in the fertilizer trials also are lush:

With tomatoes in the Tomaten Dunger really "Hittin-it":

Corn has pretty much reached full height, with the ears filling out now:

You can see 3 ears on this one stalk (I am going to pull off the third ear as I'm sure it won't fully develop:

Peppers are growing too dense, and next Season I am going to put only 4 plants per 'Tainer:

Several are now developing:

Not all is totally well on the "Farm", as I continue to do battle with pests:

Weekly spraying of Sevin seems to be maintaining a stand-off with them, but I may kick it up a notch changing to a diluted spray of Permethrin.

I've had to give all the plants a "hair-cut" when they reached 70 inches, as well as trim the sides to be able to walk through:

Raybo

sprtsguy76 · June 19, 2010

Looking good Ray! As far as I can see everything looks pretty green from top to bottom. I like to keep it to 2 peppers for my 18 gallon swc's, so that makes sense for you to maybe chop it down to 4 per 31 gallon ET. I've already harvested a few peppers from the in ground plants believe or not, but the ones in my containers are not yet ready. Wasn't it Bloody Butcher for you last year to first blush? Oh and I have one JBT blushing, maybe another 3-4 days.

Damon

**Lee** · June 19, 2010

Lookin' great Ray! Next time I'm out in the Valley, I'm going to
have to come by and check this suburban farm of yours!

Lee

rnewste · June 19, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee

Lookin' great Ray! Next time I'm out in the Valley, I'm going to
have to come by and check this suburban farm of yours!

Lee

Lee,

You are most welcome anytime!!

You'll also have to show me how to grow Cuostralee as I have tried for 3 Seasons, and have yet to taste one.

BTW, This was my (former) raised bed exactly 14 years ago to the day. Guess I've learned some things on Tomatoville over the past few years!!

Raybo

Duh_Vinci · June 19, 2010

Nice going Raybo! Great looking plants, and love the picture from 1996! Things have changed quite a bit!

Regards,
D

rnewste · June 20, 2010

Hey Damon,

Yep, Bloody Butcher was my first one last Season. May 27, as I recall.

My Danko is really loaded up - probably 40 tomatoes and it is only about 3 ft. tall. An amazing plant! Nothing blushing as of today.

I guess I am a bit surprised that Early Girl (on the left) while prolific, still is not blushing:

Raybo

matereater · June 20, 2010

nice setup & great looking plants!!

ubergoober · June 20, 2010

Raybo you are going to have to start crawling through there ninja style soon! lol Great job!

Talon1189 · June 21, 2010

I just was wondering Raybo if you pruned your path between these plants with a hedge trimmer? .....

rnewste · June 21, 2010

Talon,

You laugh - - but I use a small, battery powered Black and Decker hedge trimmer down the rows of the tomato plants.

Next Season, I think I'll do a "Tomato Topiary" for laughs....

Raybo

Farmer Matt · June 21, 2010

What kind of fert. do you use?

rnewste · June 22, 2010

Matt,

I am trialing 7 different fertilizers in the 'Tainers this Season. So far, Tomaten Dunger (courtesy of Ami) is blowing everything else away.

Of course, you CAN'T buy Tomaten Dunger in the States so I conclude that my friend Ami simply wants to torment me!!

Raybo

veggie babe · June 23, 2010

Ray, you have come a long way in 14 years. I hope I can do as well as you have.

Neva

rnewste · June 23, 2010

Neva,

Thanks, but I still would be a Tomato "Neanderthal" if it were not for folks on Tomatoville like Earl and others, who provided knowledge and encouragement to experiment in creating the EarthTainer design. Now, the fun part in "tuning" the Grow Media to provide optimum results - in both taste, productivity, and plant health.

Raybo

GatorStamp · June 24, 2010

Nice job Ray! I wish my garden was as prolific. We had a cold winter in CF and then a hot spring. Oh well.

I'd like to ask a couple of questions if I may....

1.) What are those containers you are using?

2.) What medium do you use for your tomatoes in them?

Again, excellent garden and thanks for the photos.

EDIT: Never mind by looking further I found the ET construction guide. Thanks.

June 19, 2010	#1
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	First Ripe Tomatoes of the Season June 19 (pics) Due to the poor Spring we've had in N. California this Season, my plants are about 3 weeks behind last year. But they are starting to mature and blush now. First for me is Bloody Butcher: Druzba and Purple Haze F4 in the 'Tainer on the left, and JD Special C-Tex and Japanese Black Trifele on the right: JBT is an interesting pear shape: Big Beef continues to look like a jungle by itself (note to Self: Start more Big Beef seeds next year). The 3 'Tainers of Goose Creek in the fertilizer trials also are lush: With tomatoes in the Tomaten Dunger really "Hittin-it": Corn has pretty much reached full height, with the ears filling out now: You can see 3 ears on this one stalk (I am going to pull off the third ear as I'm sure it won't fully develop: Peppers are growing too dense, and next Season I am going to put only 4 plants per 'Tainer: Several are now developing: Not all is totally well on the "Farm", as I continue to do battle with pests: Weekly spraying of Sevin seems to be maintaining a stand-off with them, but I may kick it up a notch changing to a diluted spray of Permethrin. I've had to give all the plants a "hair-cut" when they reached 70 inches, as well as trim the sides to be able to walk through: Raybo Last edited by rnewste; June 19, 2010 at 06:36 PM.

June 19, 2010	#3
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	Lookin' great Ray! Next time I'm out in the Valley, I'm going to have to come by and check this suburban farm of yours! Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

June 20, 2010	#7
matereater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: S.E. Michigan (Livonia) Posts: 1,264	nice setup & great looking plants!! __________________ Steve Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult

June 21, 2010	#9
Talon1189 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Farmington, Michigan. Zone 5b/6a Posts: 421	I just was wondering Raybo if you pruned your path between these plants with a hedge trimmer? ..... __________________ Always looking for a better way to grow tomatoes ..........

June 21, 2010	#10
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	Talon, You laugh - - but I use a small, battery powered Black and Decker hedge trimmer down the rows of the tomato plants. Next Season, I think I'll do a "Tomato Topiary" for laughs.... Raybo Last edited by rnewste; June 22, 2010 at 12:59 AM.

June 19, 2010	#2
sprtsguy76 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Santa Clara CA Posts: 1,125	Looking good Ray! As far as I can see everything looks pretty green from top to bottom. I like to keep it to 2 peppers for my 18 gallon swc's, so that makes sense for you to maybe chop it down to 4 per 31 gallon ET. I've already harvested a few peppers from the in ground plants believe or not, but the ones in my containers are not yet ready. Wasn't it Bloody Butcher for you last year to first blush? Oh and I have one JBT blushing, maybe another 3-4 days. Damon

June 19, 2010	#5
Duh_Vinci Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Locust Grove, VA Posts: 292	Nice going Raybo! Great looking plants, and love the picture from 1996! Things have changed quite a bit! Regards, D

June 20, 2010	#8
ubergoober Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Brampton, Ontario Canada Posts: 202	Raybo you are going to have to start crawling through there ninja style soon! lol Great job!

June 21, 2010	#11
Farmer Matt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tracy, California Posts: 63	What kind of fert. do you use?

June 22, 2010	#12
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	Matt, I am trialing 7 different fertilizers in the 'Tainers this Season. So far, Tomaten Dunger (courtesy of Ami) is blowing everything else away. Of course, you CAN'T buy Tomaten Dunger in the States so I conclude that my friend Ami simply wants to torment me!! Raybo

June 23, 2010	#13
veggie babe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: east texas Posts: 686	Ray, you have come a long way in 14 years. I hope I can do as well as you have. Neva

June 24, 2010	#15
GatorStamp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Central Florida Posts: 5	Nice job Ray! I wish my garden was as prolific. We had a cold winter in CF and then a hot spring. Oh well. I'd like to ask a couple of questions if I may.... 1.) What are those containers you are using? 2.) What medium do you use for your tomatoes in them? Again, excellent garden and thanks for the photos. EDIT: Never mind by looking further I found the ET construction guide. Thanks. Last edited by GatorStamp; June 24, 2010 at 01:17 AM.