Fruit is setting left and right

[smileytom]

Here are a few varieties and their first clusters of fruit. I have had decent luck so far this year with all but a handful of 50+ varieties not yet having set fruit.

Amazon Chocolate



Azoychka



Big Rainbow



Brandywine Cherry



Delicious



Earl's Faux



Goose Creek



Haley's Purple Comet



Juan Flamme



Kellog's Breakfast



Lucky Cross



Malachite Box



Missouri Pink Love Apple PL



Missouri Pink Love Apple RL, from the same pack of seeds as the above picture, it will be interesting to see how these taste.



Paul Robeson



Prue



And on of the biggest surprises in productivity, vigor and beauty so far this year, Rumi Banjan. Beautiful fluted mini-beefsteaks so far.

[Worth1]

Left and right and up and down one of the best I have ever seen.

Worth

[Crandrew]

no kidding, wow you will have some fruit soon.

[smileytom]

I sure hope to have some ripe fruit soon, as much fun as it is to walk the garden and look at all the greenies, it sure isn't the same as a BLT, or tomato sauce, or tomato salad, or, well, you get my drift.

I very nearly made fried green tomatoes last week but I couldn't bring myself to harvest any of the green ones until I have gotten some ripe ones. I'd hate to accidentally harvest the only ones that may make it because I know I will have disease and pest issues very soon. Especially if it keeps raining at night.

[luke]

You planted out plenty early.

Are you using anything to fight hornworms?

[smileytom]

I had a variety of plant out dates, all earlier than our usual last frost date, but I couldn't help myself with the weather. The earliest I planted out were about ten plants on the day after valentines, and they never saw frost. LUCKY! Surprisingly though those didn't set much fruit until the last couple of weeks. Plants planted much later than the day after valentines (~1 month later) have set much more fruit so far.

I have not seen a hornworm in the garden yet, though today I did find a black caterpillar with yellow stripes munching a container plant. I also saw, last week while in the garden at night, what I believe is a hornworm moth; a giant beast with glowing eyes. I keep a pretty close eye on things so hopefully I don't have too much hornworm damage over the next few weeks.

[luke]

I had the same encounter. I thought I had a hummingbird flying around my plants at night (chasing a flying moth, at night, amongst re-mesh cages and cattle panels is not a good idea). I've been fighting them for a few years, and losing way too many blooms to them. I might have to get out the strong stuff for them.

I've seen from several others in LA who planted out around Valentines. I waited until mid-march, and wished I had planted a few earlier.

[smileytom]

Luke I also thought it was a hummingbird at night, until its eyes began reflecting my headlamp. I then spent a few minutes trying to take him out of the sky but I only got one good whack on him before he flew away.

Needless to say it was the largest moth, quite possible insect, I have ever seen.

Like I said earlier my February planting was very disappointing in terms of fruit set, but my March planted toms are doing really well. Good luck to you on a stellar year of tomato eating!

[babice]

Originally Posted by smileytom

...reflecting my headlamp...

I just love this (fellow gardeners that use headlamps)! smileytom, AH-mazing! MUCH luck keeping those buggies at bay and getting some fabulous tomatoes. Oh - and War Eagle!

[livinonfaith]

Wow! Just wow. I'm almost as impressed with the leaves on those beasts as the fruit.

Gorgeous!

[stonysoilseeds]

those pics are beautiful smiley thanks for sharing

[Sun City Linda]

Wow - those are beauties!

[checkerkitty]

Just beautiful!

[lapk78]

Wow! Looking good!
From most of the pics, it looks as you are keeping your plants to only one growing vine. Its this true, our am I incorrect? Again, awesome fruit set!

-Lyle

[z_willus_d]

A joy to view. Thanks for sharing!
-naysen