I offer greetings and request guidance!

[huntsman]

Hiya!

I'm brand new to the forum, and feel a leetle swamped!

Until very recently I thought a tomato was a tomato. Now I learn that some are actually heirlooms, and that there are hundreds of different ones!

I see that they are NOT all red, contrary to what my local Supermarket says, and that people all over the world swap seeds and advice. There's even a place called Tomatoville!!

Well, I know nothing at all about tomatoes, but would love to learn, so perhaps you can direct me to the correct threads/tutorials that will set me off in the right direction?

I've tried to read some of the threads that I have found here, but lack the basic knowledge to grasp much of what is said.

I'm also looking for a forum that will assist me with info on planting other veg, so if you have any ideas, I'd appreciate it.

Hope to, one day, be able to contribute to this fascinating forum!
Paul

[Moonglow]

Welcome to Tomatoville, Paul. We grow other veggies here, too. It's a one stop shop.

Starting From Seed is a good introduction. Like you, I'm also new (2nd season growing tomatoes). Last year, I bought plants. This year, I started most of my tomatoes from seeds. Victory Seeds and Tomato Growers Supply are both favorite of many here.

I had to check your location, AFRICA. Cool. OK, I'm such a rookie to even suggest a variety you can grow. Someone will come forward.
Growing tomatoes is very addicting . You'll love it!

[Zana]

Welcome to Tomatoville, Paul.

Lots of great info to browse through here. I still haven't made it through all the threads, especially since new ones keep popping up. Lots of great people here from which to borrow ideas or just plain pick their brains. LOL

You didn't mention where in Africa....that's allot of ground to cover - so in the interest in better assisting you with selections based on climate zones, etc. - where the heck are you? BTW I've still got relatives on the continent - some in the South and some near the north east coast of Africa....they cover both sides of the family. Small world.

Pull up a chair, have a seat and get comfortable, it may take a while to wade through all the information that piques your interest even at first....but no worries....just remember there is no such thing as a stupid or silly question here. God only knows I've asked my share over the years. The more I learn, the more I realise I don't have a flipping clue and need to learn more. Enjoy!

Zana
~ whose family is a mini - united nations ~

[huntsman]

Thank you very much!

I'm in South Africa, Zana ~

My winters have frost and temps of -4C to 14C. Summers are hot and fairly dry...12C to 44C

Certainly appears a warm group of folk, here!

[Zana]

Originally Posted by huntsman

I'm in South Africa, Zana ~

My winters have frost and temps of -4C to 14C. Summers are hot and fairly dry...12C to 44C

Well....well....with relatives in Jo'burg, Capetown, Durban, Transvaal area I'm aiming to get there to compare branches of the family tree with the family geneologists down there. But it won't be in the near future, got too much else stuff going on, before I can head down.

Once again, welcome and good luck with assimilating all the info found here. Mischka puts together a great gathering place.

Zana

[dice]

There are a lot of different methods for growing tomatoes.

The traditional way is simply cultivating soil, fertilizing if
necessary, planting started seedlings, and watering as
necessary. There is no-till planting, which usually involves
planting a winter cover crop (a plant that grows in the fall
and spring), mowing it or mashing it down in late spring before
planting, and transplanting through the cover crop mulch. Many
people grow tomatoes in raised beds, where the bed is filled
with organic matter or a mix of organic matter and topsoil
and planted into, usually with more organic matter added
annually. Some grow tomatoes in traditional containers,
where excess water drains out the bottom. Some grow in
self-watering containers (Earthboxes, homemade earthboxes,
and Earthtainers), which have a water reservoir in the
bottom and a wicking basket or similar that wicks water
from the reservoir up into the potting mix as it is used by
the plant or evaporates from the top of the soil. Some grow
hydroponically.

Basically tomato plants need good drainage (waterlogged
heavy clay lacking air space in the soil is not a good medium),
warmth (not frost-hardy), fertile soil with adequate N-P-K
and trace elements (lawn food is not a good choice of
fertilizers, too much nitrogen), and 6 hours or more of direct
sunlight per day. Temperatures beyond 90F/32C makes life
difficult for many cultivars of tomato (denatures pollen, so
that they fail to set fruit). People living in climates with
very hot summers tend to have two seasons for tomatoes,
in spring and fall, and they need careful timing on when
they start seeds and transplant to hit that window of
usable tomato growing temperatures. There is a lot of
variation among cultivars in their adaptation to cool and
hot weather.

Some people add fertilizer every year. Some just add compost
or composted horse manure. Tomatoes like a near neutral
soil, pH about 6.5. Soil pH from 6.0 to 7.2 is generally usable.
Outside that range plants will still grow, but the soil tends
to have nutrient availability problems, so it is usually more
efficient to add something that adjusts the soil pH into
that range than to try to add enough fertilizer to compensate.

Few tomatoes are direct seeded, because starting them indoors
or in a greenhouse 6-8 weeks before last frost gets one a jump
on the start of the growing season.

[Barbee]

Welcome to T-ville
Lots of knowledgable people post here and about a variety of veggies. I have always found this group to be very patient and helpful so don't be afraid to ask questions.
Here's a link I found on basic vegetable gardening. I just glanced thru it, but there might be something helpful in here:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Planting_You...getable_Garden

[amideutch]

huntsman, welcome to TVille. As you have found out all you need to do is ask and someone will jump in with an answer. Once you figure out how you are going to grow them, in the ground or containers and whether you want to do the organic/inorganic way of growing them you can narrow down as where to go here at the site for appropriate information. DANGER, growing tomatoes can be highly addictive and good for your health. Ami

[huntsman]

Originally Posted by Moonglow

Welcome to Tomatoville, Paul. We grow other veggies here, too. It's a one stop shop.

Starting From Seed is a good introduction. Like you, I'm also new (2nd season growing tomatoes). Last year, I bought plants. This year, I started most of my tomatoes from seeds. Victory Seeds and Tomato Growers Supply are both favorite of many here.

I had to check your location, AFRICA. Cool. OK, I'm such a rookie to even suggest a variety you can grow. Someone will come forward.
Growing tomatoes is very addicting . You'll love it!

Hey, great! Always nice to hear that a former n00b sticks around a forum, and encouraging that you have already moved on to planting seeds.

Thanks for the links, Moonglow!

Originally Posted by dice

There are a lot of different methods for growing tomatoes.

The traditional way is simply cultivating soil, fertilizing if
necessary, planting started seedlings, and watering as
necessary. There is no-till planting, which usually involves
planting a winter cover crop (a plant that grows in the fall
and spring), mowing it or mashing it down in late spring before
planting, and transplanting through the cover crop mulch. Many
people grow tomatoes in raised beds, where the bed is filled
with organic matter or a mix of organic matter and topsoil
and planted into, usually with more organic matter added
annually. Some grow tomatoes in traditional containers,
where excess water drains out the bottom. Some grow in
self-watering containers (Earthboxes, homemade earthboxes,
and Earthtainers), which have a water reservoir in the
bottom and a wicking basket or similar that wicks water
from the reservoir up into the potting mix as it is used by
the plant or evaporates from the top of the soil. Some grow
hydroponically.

Basically tomato plants need good drainage (waterlogged
heavy clay lacking air space in the soil is not a good medium),
warmth (not frost-hardy), fertile soil with adequate N-P-K
and trace elements (lawn food is not a good choice of
fertilizers, too much nitrogen), and 6 hours or more of direct
sunlight per day. Temperatures beyond 90F/32C makes life
difficult for many cultivars of tomato (denatures pollen, so
that they fail to set fruit). People living in climates with
very hot summers tend to have two seasons for tomatoes,
in spring and fall, and they need careful timing on when
they start seeds and transplant to hit that window of
usable tomato growing temperatures. There is a lot of
variation among cultivars in their adaptation to cool and
hot weather.

Some people add fertilizer every year. Some just add compost
or composted horse manure. Tomatoes like a near neutral
soil, pH about 6.5. Soil pH from 6.0 to 7.2 is generally usable.
Outside that range plants will still grow, but the soil tends
to have nutrient availability problems, so it is usually more
efficient to add something that adjusts the soil pH into
that range than to try to add enough fertilizer to compensate.

Few tomatoes are direct seeded, because starting them indoors
or in a greenhouse 6-8 weeks before last frost gets one a jump
on the start of the growing season.

WOW! Thanks, dice ~

Exactly what I needed: a precis of tom gardening in general. Much appreciated!

Originally Posted by Barbee

Welcome to T-ville
Lots of knowledgable people post here and about a variety of veggies. I have always found this group to be very patient and helpful so don't be afraid to ask questions.
Here's a link I found on basic vegetable gardening. I just glanced thru it, but there might be something helpful in here:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Planting_You...getable_Garden

Hi Barbee -

Thanks for the welcome and the link - I'll check it out this morning (My morning...most of you guys are asleep! lol)

Originally Posted by Zana

Well....well....with relatives in Jo'burg, Capetown, Durban, Transvaal area I'm aiming to get there to compare branches of the family tree with the family geneologists down there. But it won't be in the near future, got too much else stuff going on, before I can head down.

Once again, welcome and good luck with assimilating all the info found here. Mischka puts together a great gathering place.

Zana

Good luck finding anything out in this neck of the woods Zana - we're not the most organised bunch, as I'm sure you have heard! Seriously though, hopefully by the time you make it over here, I'll be able to invite you over to sample my tomato products. (Brave words from one as uneducated as I!)

Originally Posted by amideutch

huntsman, welcome to TVille. As you have found out all you need to do is ask and someone will jump in with an answer. Once you figure out how you are going to grow them, in the ground or containers and whether you want to do the organic/inorganic way of growing them you can narrow down as where to go here at the site for appropriate information. DANGER, growing tomatoes can be highly addictive and good for your health. Ami

Hey, Ami!

I will almost certainly go the organic route, but yeah, I'll be doing a whooooole lot of homework once again. (I've just finished a crash course on growing chilli peppers, too. As you surmise, I'm a real sucker for punishment!)

[cleo88]

huntsman,
I knew nothing in early January. I didn't know the difference between a Hybrid and an Heirloom, had never grown anything from seed. Despite our weather here this summer that has everyone heading to their therapists, I have 20+ plants about 6 feet tall, most with tomatoes on them - I can't believe it. All my learning came from the internet. Just keep reading!

[dice]

The direct sunlight is an important thing. You can see a big
difference in the rate of growth and days to maturity between
6 hours and 8 hours per day here in the coastal northwest US,
for example, and "sunrise to sunset" gets the best performance
from a tomato plant.

In the southern US, where the climate is quite a bit hotter,
plants often benefit from some dappled afternoon shade,
and 8 hours per day of direct sunlight can be more productive
overall than 12 hours per day, simply because the plants are
easier to keep hydrated and survive longer into the summer
to ripen fruit.

Anything less than 6 hours per day makes it difficult to bring
in a crop in both locales. They fail to ripen before first frost
in cool climates and in fall crops in hot climates, and they
fail to set fruit before the temperatures get out of hand
for spring crops in hot climates. They also tend to have long
and spindly stems growing in not enough direct sunlight.
Even if the season is long enough yet cool enough
to set and ripen fruit with short days, fruit set is usually
much reduced over what it would have been with 6 or more
hours of direct sunlight.

[veggie babe]

Like cleo88 stated, this is also my first year to go from seed and it has been very rewarding. Kat connected me to this community of tomato addicts in Dec. 08 and I am hooked.
Paul, like you I enjoy growing additional veggies and knowing what chemicals are not contaminating my food.

welcome, living in Africia must be very interesting, I would love to visit your country.

neva

[Penny]

Hi there and Welcome,

[huntsman]

Originally Posted by cleo88

huntsman,
I knew nothing in early January. I didn't know the difference between a Hybrid and an Heirloom, had never grown anything from seed. Despite our weather here this summer that has everyone heading to their therapists, I have 20+ plants about 6 feet tall, most with tomatoes on them - I can't believe it. All my learning came from the internet. Just keep reading!

Hey, Cleo - very encouraging and I'm sure that daunting as it is, I'll one day sample a homegrown heirloom!

Originally Posted by dice

The direct sunlight is an important thing. You can see a big
difference in the rate of growth and days to maturity between
6 hours and 8 hours per day here in the coastal northwest US,
for example, and "sunrise to sunset" gets the best performance
from a tomato plant.

In the southern US, where the climate is quite a bit hotter,
plants often benefit from some dappled afternoon shade,
and 8 hours per day of direct sunlight can be more productive
overall than 12 hours per day, simply because the plants are
easier to keep hydrated and survive longer into the summer
to ripen fruit.

Anything less than 6 hours per day makes it difficult to bring
in a crop in both locales. They fail to ripen before first frost
in cool climates and in fall crops in hot climates, and they
fail to set fruit before the temperatures get out of hand
for spring crops in hot climates. They also tend to have long
and spindly stems growing in not enough direct sunlight.
Even if the season is long enough yet cool enough
to set and ripen fruit with short days, fruit set is usually
much reduced over what it would have been with 6 or more
hours of direct sunlight.

Gotcha, dice - thank you!

Originally Posted by veggie babe

Like cleo88 stated, this is also my first year to go from seed and it has been very rewarding. Kat connected me to this community of tomato addicts in Dec. 08 and I am hooked.
Paul, like you I enjoy growing additional veggies and knowing what chemicals are not contaminating my food.

welcome, living in Africia must be very interesting, I would love to visit your country.

neva

Thanks VB!

Originally Posted by Penny

Hi there and Welcome,

Hiya Penny!

[huntsman]

Hey Barbee -

http://hubpages.com/hub/Planting_You...getable_Garden
Superb link you posted for me! I'd recommend it to all n00bs!

Thanks again.