The EarthTainer "Farm" Update August 1 - "High Gear" (pics)

rnewste · August 1, 2011

We are now entering prime production in Northern California.

Kosovo:

Soren's "MarNar" F-1:

I am extremely pleased with his new variety. Very tasty and nicely formed fruit. I've started seedlings from the F-2 fruit now, and hope to get some F-3 seeds by the end of the Year.

Of course, my Number One favorite continues to be Goose Creek:

Mildly sweet flavor initially, followed by a very smooth finish. I will ALWAYS grow these every year.

My 4 Brandywine From Croatia are doing well in an isolated area of the yard:

No ripe fruit as of yet, but huge and prolific green fruits are in development. I'll be saving seed from these isolated plants for a general seed offer later in the Fall.

The cukes (County Fair, Sweet Success, and Diva) are now exceeding their cages and actually beginning to expand on the deck roof:

They have been doing so well on the partially sunny deck that I've started another set of them:

I am actually measuring growth of the vines at 70 inches over the past 35 days for the Sweet Success on the right.

Peppers have been a bit of a disappointment this Season.

I used a Foliage-Pro like fert (19-6-12) and as you can see, lots of foliage - but sparse peppers. Next Season, I am switching back to the 4-7-10 Tomato-tone.

The first crop of sweetcorn is just about finished, and I've now started seedlings of Xtra-Tender 277A bi-color.

I've given up on topping the plants - - and am just letting them fold down along the outside of the cages.

So, other than dealing with a new Fungal issue on a few plants, no major pest problems so far this year.

Raybo

clara · August 1, 2011

You must have done a very good job to get such a huge crop, Ray! Congratulations! clara

kpatrick925 · August 3, 2011

Very nice Ray!! I am behind you by probably a month but am already planning next years start.

Just wanted to say Thanks for your earthtainer plans. My plants (tomatoes, cucs and peppers for this year) are doing better than I have ever had before. I have one plant (gigantesque) that is struggling but other than that one my plants are bigger, greener and lusher than ever before with my black cherry at least 1.5 feet above the cage!! I don't have anything ripe yet but tons of tomatoes on every plant and my peppers have already given ripe peppers with tons of flowers and peppers at various stages. I am now trying to figure out where I can squeeze in more tainers. LOL Thanks Again!!

kpatrick925 · August 3, 2011

OH!!!! I forgot about corntainers of which I have 2.

sprtsguy76 · August 3, 2011

Ray your Kosovo's look great!! How do you like the taste? Goose Greek once again is in my top 5 for taste this year. My peppers growing in swc's have been a huge disapointment for me as well this year. Its not for lack of fruit production though, it seems when they start to ripen they also start to rot, really weird I'm scratching my head on this one. I would really like to get over to your place soon, I've been so darn busy with the construction season in full swing now and when I have a day off I'm using it to recoup physically. I've sprouted some more Diva cukes and just finished planting some F2 JBTxBW for the fall growout. What did you think of the F1 by the way?

Damon

Bladefan · August 27, 2011

Nice plants! How would you compare the earthtainers with growing straight in the ground?

rnewste · August 27, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bladefan

Nice plants! How would you compare the earthtainers with growing straight in the ground?

If I had the acreage, I would always grow in the ground. The EarthTainer is mainly intended for "Urban Gardeners" who do not have expansive land to till. Also, in those places where water conservation is essential, the lower water usage of plants embedded in EarthTainers has an advantage.

There is some evidence that EarthTainers are less affected by soil-borne disease transmission. Seems logical, but critters than can climb the 18 inch high container wall can still get in the Potting Mix, if they are motivated. Some folks have observed that taste of tomatoes in the ground are more pronounced than those grown in containers. I think there is some truth to that, especially if one over-waters their containers. It is therefore important to "modulate" water uptake in the EarthTainer by not using straight Potting Mix, but a combination with Perlite and Microbark.

Raybo

Katmary · August 27, 2011

Raybo,

All of your plants are just beautiful! I'll have to try Goose Creek after reading how much you like it.
I did okay in the ground, but the ETs make it possible to fit more plants in the small space I have with less disease problems. My Dad was giving up on gardening as his ground is just awful and plants weren't making it at all. I talked him into trying the ETs before giving up and he had an amazing summer! He did better than I did that year, but the look on his face when he'd bring over bags of tomatoes made it worthwhile even though I was a bit jealous! I showed him your cucumbers in the ETs and after struggling with SWCs made of a bucket and pipe to get water to the bottom for his Armenian Cukes (which aren't doing too well), I think he'll have ETs with gutahs next year as well!

Thank you for sharing all your advice and experiences with Earth Tainers, you've made many of us very happy! I can't believe you grow two rounds of tomatoes a year and they're looking that good, I'm envious!

rnewste · August 27, 2011

Kat,

PM me with your address and I will get some Goose Creek seeds in the mail to you to try.

Raybo

Heritage · August 28, 2011

Looks great Ray!

roper2008 · August 29, 2011

That goose creek looks fantastic. I think I may have seeds to that one.
I think growing tomatoes in more humid area's like virginia, your more
prone to disease, like early and late blight. When we lived in chino hills,
CA, I don't remember my dad having problems with blight.

BW_AustinTX · September 1, 2011

Wow.. so very impressive and luxuriant growth on everything.
Sadly Austin TX is an overly heated death zone this summer. It has been very discouraging.
Not just in the garden, but everywhere. I came here tonight to enjoy others successes, and glad to see yours. :-)

rnewste · September 1, 2011

BW,

Yeah, I know Austin - - I get to Braker Lane & MoPac quite often. Great food (County Line) - - but lousy weather for gardening....

Raybo

Dewayne mater · September 1, 2011

BW - I feel your pain. Fortunately, not every year is as bad as this year. Ordinarily with early start dates we can do a lot better than this year. Goose Creek is one I recommend you try if you haven't. It is one of the best about setting when it is very hot (93, 94 days overnights of 78-80). Once you get much above that, nothing is really going to set much. I have had a really weird occurrence this year with Cowlick brandywine though. It set fruit during the 100 degree daily heat streak in August (after I added liquid fertilizer to earthtainers). Unfortunately, none would develop beyond about the size of a marble. Still looked normal and tasted great, but even the dozen or so that set weren't worth much with the thick skins and small size. Just too hot this year.

lakelady · September 4, 2011

That is one very impressive garden...wow look how big those tomatoes got!

I am amazed that you can grow corn that close together too, wow!

August 1, 2011	#1
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	The EarthTainer "Farm" Update August 1 - "High Gear" (pics) We are now entering prime production in Northern California. Kosovo: Soren's "MarNar" F-1: I am extremely pleased with his new variety. Very tasty and nicely formed fruit. I've started seedlings from the F-2 fruit now, and hope to get some F-3 seeds by the end of the Year. Of course, my Number One favorite continues to be Goose Creek: Mildly sweet flavor initially, followed by a very smooth finish. I will ALWAYS grow these every year. My 4 Brandywine From Croatia are doing well in an isolated area of the yard: No ripe fruit as of yet, but huge and prolific green fruits are in development. I'll be saving seed from these isolated plants for a general seed offer later in the Fall. The cukes (County Fair, Sweet Success, and Diva) are now exceeding their cages and actually beginning to expand on the deck roof: They have been doing so well on the partially sunny deck that I've started another set of them: I am actually measuring growth of the vines at 70 inches over the past 35 days for the Sweet Success on the right. Peppers have been a bit of a disappointment this Season. I used a Foliage-Pro like fert (19-6-12) and as you can see, lots of foliage - but sparse peppers. Next Season, I am switching back to the 4-7-10 Tomato-tone. The first crop of sweetcorn is just about finished, and I've now started seedlings of Xtra-Tender 277A bi-color. I've given up on topping the plants - - and am just letting them fold down along the outside of the cages. So, other than dealing with a new Fungal issue on a few plants, no major pest problems so far this year. Raybo

August 1, 2011	#2
clara Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 1,351	You must have done a very good job to get such a huge crop, Ray! Congratulations! clara

August 3, 2011	#3
kpatrick925 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Lorenzo, CA Posts: 112	Very nice Ray!! I am behind you by probably a month but am already planning next years start. Just wanted to say Thanks for your earthtainer plans. My plants (tomatoes, cucs and peppers for this year) are doing better than I have ever had before. I have one plant (gigantesque) that is struggling but other than that one my plants are bigger, greener and lusher than ever before with my black cherry at least 1.5 feet above the cage!! I don't have anything ripe yet but tons of tomatoes on every plant and my peppers have already given ripe peppers with tons of flowers and peppers at various stages. I am now trying to figure out where I can squeeze in more tainers. LOL Thanks Again!!

August 3, 2011	#5
sprtsguy76 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Santa Clara CA Posts: 1,125	Ray your Kosovo's look great!! How do you like the taste? Goose Greek once again is in my top 5 for taste this year. My peppers growing in swc's have been a huge disapointment for me as well this year. Its not for lack of fruit production though, it seems when they start to ripen they also start to rot, really weird I'm scratching my head on this one. I would really like to get over to your place soon, I've been so darn busy with the construction season in full swing now and when I have a day off I'm using it to recoup physically. I've sprouted some more Diva cukes and just finished planting some F2 JBTxBW for the fall growout. What did you think of the F1 by the way? Damon

August 27, 2011	#6
Bladefan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Clarkrange, TN Posts: 68	Nice plants! How would you compare the earthtainers with growing straight in the ground?

August 27, 2011	#8
Katmary Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orangevale/CA Posts: 31	Raybo, All of your plants are just beautiful! I'll have to try Goose Creek after reading how much you like it. I did okay in the ground, but the ETs make it possible to fit more plants in the small space I have with less disease problems. My Dad was giving up on gardening as his ground is just awful and plants weren't making it at all. I talked him into trying the ETs before giving up and he had an amazing summer! He did better than I did that year, but the look on his face when he'd bring over bags of tomatoes made it worthwhile even though I was a bit jealous! I showed him your cucumbers in the ETs and after struggling with SWCs made of a bucket and pipe to get water to the bottom for his Armenian Cukes (which aren't doing too well), I think he'll have ETs with gutahs next year as well! Thank you for sharing all your advice and experiences with Earth Tainers, you've made many of us very happy! I can't believe you grow two rounds of tomatoes a year and they're looking that good, I'm envious!

August 28, 2011	#10
Heritage Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,255	Looks great Ray!

August 29, 2011	#11
roper2008 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Virginia Bch, VA (7b) Posts: 1,337	That goose creek looks fantastic. I think I may have seeds to that one. I think growing tomatoes in more humid area's like virginia, your more prone to disease, like early and late blight. When we lived in chino hills, CA, I don't remember my dad having problems with blight.

September 1, 2011	#12
BW_AustinTX Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Austin TX Posts: 28	Wow.. so very impressive and luxuriant growth on everything. Sadly Austin TX is an overly heated death zone this summer. It has been very discouraging. Not just in the garden, but everywhere. I came here tonight to enjoy others successes, and glad to see yours. :-)

September 1, 2011	#14
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	BW - I feel your pain. Fortunately, not every year is as bad as this year. Ordinarily with early start dates we can do a lot better than this year. Goose Creek is one I recommend you try if you haven't. It is one of the best about setting when it is very hot (93, 94 days overnights of 78-80). Once you get much above that, nothing is really going to set much. I have had a really weird occurrence this year with Cowlick brandywine though. It set fruit during the 100 degree daily heat streak in August (after I added liquid fertilizer to earthtainers). Unfortunately, none would develop beyond about the size of a marble. Still looked normal and tasted great, but even the dozen or so that set weren't worth much with the thick skins and small size. Just too hot this year.

September 4, 2011	#15
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	That is one very impressive garden...wow look how big those tomatoes got! I am amazed that you can grow corn that close together too, wow!