Tomatoes for a greenhouse

bigbubbacain · October 13, 2007

I'm building a greenhouse. My significant other has informed me that I'll be restricted to 3 tomato plants. I'd love at least some kind of cherry type and a paste or plum type. I'd be open to most anything for the 3rd one. What I really need are recomendations for types suitable to a greenhouse environment. Any suggestions?

Bubba

Andrey_BY · October 14, 2007

A new greenhouse only for 3 tomato plants? Is it a joke?

Consider to put at least 4 plants located in 4 corners

In my experience you can grow almost any tomato variety indoor but ultra-early types which like moderate temperatures and give you only several clusters even in greenhouse conditions. They are just not worth to be grown in greenhouse and with so limited total amount of plants. Choose any indeterminate productive varieties with a good taste... I can recommend hundreds of such tomato varieties from my part of the world, but let American gardeners from the South suggest you some...

And I know that Michael will be very happy if you choose any dwarfs like he does

dcarch · October 14, 2007

Is it that neccessary to have a greenhouse in zone 9?

dcarch

cottonpicker · October 14, 2007

bigbubba.... I don't grow in a greenhouse but down in OK where I came from I once saw a greenhouse filled with tomato plants--- all were ONE variety-- BUFFALO. They were trained up strings to the ceiling and limited to one or two growing stems by pruning. They also removed all bottom leaves, progressing up the stems as tomatoes ripened along the way. Was a beautiful sight. I did not try any of the friuit so I can't attest to the flavor, skin thickness,juiciness, etc... so you might want to check out Buffalo as a greenhouse variety for which it was bred.

GOOD luck.... maybe you can strike a bargain with your significant other for a few more tomato plants in that GH.
LarryD

amideutch · October 14, 2007

BBcain, one seed vendor I know of that has varieties especially for greenhouse growing is Johnny's. Here's a link.
http://www.johnnyseeds.com/catalog/s...ubcategory=497

**mdvpc** · October 14, 2007

BB-What are the dimensions going to be of your greenhouse? That makes a big difference on what you might want to grow. My greenhouse is about 8 feet tall, about 8 feet wide and 17 feet long-its a hobby greenhouse from Texas Greenhouse Company. Here is a recent photo. A big sprawling indeterminate plant may not be the choice you want to make. And yes, dwarves are my choice in my greenhouse during the fall and winter.

bigbubbacain · October 14, 2007

Thanks Tomatodor! We actually agreed on 3 or 4 plants because we need the room for our orchids.

DCArch: A greenhouse in our zone IS necessary for alot of the orchids and sub-tropicals that we grow. It may be zone 9 here, but we do get the occasional cold snap.

Cottonpicker: thanks for the tip on Buffalo. I'll need to look for that one.

Amiedutch: Thanks for reminding me about Johnny's seeds.

Michael: the dimensions will be 8 wide, 8 high and 12 long. So I think I'll want to consider det. or dwarf types. Any dwarf types you like that stand out for flavor or taste? Tell me about those bags your plants are growing in. That looks like an ideal set-up, and I'm already a big fan of drip irrigation.

dcarch · October 14, 2007

Hanging baskets can be interesting possibilities.

dcarch

feldon30 · October 14, 2007

You should jump into the dwarf project.

It is an effort by Tomatoville members to increase the number of good-tasting dwarf tomato varieties (currently just a few -- New Big Dwarf, etc.) to dozens. Specifically, adding different colors, flavors, etc. There's a huge subforum here at Tomatoville about it.

stratcat1 · October 15, 2007

I bought my seeds for Kimberly, Golden Dwarf Champion,
Orange Tree and New Big Dwarf at

http://www.victoryseeds.com/catalog/main_vegies.html

kimera · October 15, 2007

I'm in Zone 9, too. Try Sungold cherry tomatoes. You will not be disappointed.

**mdvpc** · October 16, 2007

Sungold is a great tomato, but I would never grow it in the greenhouse-especially one 8 feet tall like mine is-it would take it over.

kimera · October 17, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdvpc

Sungold is a great tomato, but I would never grow it in the greenhouse-especially one 8 feet tall like mine is-it would take it over.

take over = lots of tomatoes

isn't that the goal?

**mdvpc** · October 17, 2007

Kimera-depends on what your goal is-mine is to have more than one or two varieties in the size of greenhouse that I have and BB will have.

bigbubbacain · November 30, 2007

If I'm starting seeds in a greenhouse, can I just scatter them in a flat of dirt and leave them on the potting bench? OR...Do they need to be in some type of seed starting contraption with a clear dome to let light in and keep moisture in? I've always used the "dome" devices, but that was in my closet under a grow light. Does the greenhouse environment eliminate the need for this dome?

The greenhouse is only an 8 x 12, but it's an all glass, Victorian repro. "conservatory" type. If I had a greenhouse that was any larger, I'd probably move in. LOL. Too much space and I'd be out of control. I chose a smaller one because I was thinking more about resale on my house, and having something that wouldn't look garish in the middle of the suburbs. Orchids are a high priority for us and our weather gets more unpredictable every year, so I'm glad to have this.

October 13, 2007	#1
bigbubbacain Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Zone 9 Texas, Fort Bend County Posts: 436	Tomatoes for a greenhouse I'm building a greenhouse. My significant other has informed me that I'll be restricted to 3 tomato plants. I'd love at least some kind of cherry type and a paste or plum type. I'd be open to most anything for the 3rd one. What I really need are recomendations for types suitable to a greenhouse environment. Any suggestions? Bubba

October 14, 2007	#2
Andrey_BY Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Minsk, Belarus, Eastern Europe (Zone 4a) Posts: 2,278	A new greenhouse only for 3 tomato plants? Is it a joke? Consider to put at least 4 plants located in 4 corners In my experience you can grow almost any tomato variety indoor but ultra-early types which like moderate temperatures and give you only several clusters even in greenhouse conditions. They are just not worth to be grown in greenhouse and with so limited total amount of plants. Choose any indeterminate productive varieties with a good taste... I can recommend hundreds of such tomato varieties from my part of the world, but let American gardeners from the South suggest you some... And I know that Michael will be very happy if you choose any dwarfs like he does __________________ 1 kg=2.2 lb , 1 m=39,37 in , 1 oz=28.35 g , 1 ft=30.48 cm , 1 lb= 0,4536 kg , 1 in=2.54 cm , 1 l = 0.26 gallon , 0 C=32 F Andrey a.k.a. TOMATODOR

October 14, 2007	#3
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	Is it that neccessary to have a greenhouse in zone 9? dcarch __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato

October 14, 2007	#4
cottonpicker Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SE PA..near Valley Forge Posts: 839	bigbubba.... I don't grow in a greenhouse but down in OK where I came from I once saw a greenhouse filled with tomato plants--- all were ONE variety-- BUFFALO. They were trained up strings to the ceiling and limited to one or two growing stems by pruning. They also removed all bottom leaves, progressing up the stems as tomatoes ripened along the way. Was a beautiful sight. I did not try any of the friuit so I can't attest to the flavor, skin thickness,juiciness, etc... so you might want to check out Buffalo as a greenhouse variety for which it was bred. GOOD luck.... maybe you can strike a bargain with your significant other for a few more tomato plants in that GH. LarryD __________________ "Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause". Victor Hugo

October 14, 2007	#5
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	BBcain, one seed vendor I know of that has varieties especially for greenhouse growing is Johnny's. Here's a link. http://www.johnnyseeds.com/catalog/s...ubcategory=497 __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

October 14, 2007	#7
bigbubbacain Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Zone 9 Texas, Fort Bend County Posts: 436	Thanks for the input guys! Thanks Tomatodor! We actually agreed on 3 or 4 plants because we need the room for our orchids. DCArch: A greenhouse in our zone IS necessary for alot of the orchids and sub-tropicals that we grow. It may be zone 9 here, but we do get the occasional cold snap. Cottonpicker: thanks for the tip on Buffalo. I'll need to look for that one. Amiedutch: Thanks for reminding me about Johnny's seeds. Michael: the dimensions will be 8 wide, 8 high and 12 long. So I think I'll want to consider det. or dwarf types. Any dwarf types you like that stand out for flavor or taste? Tell me about those bags your plants are growing in. That looks like an ideal set-up, and I'm already a big fan of drip irrigation.

October 14, 2007	#9
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	You should jump into the dwarf project. It is an effort by Tomatoville members to increase the number of good-tasting dwarf tomato varieties (currently just a few -- New Big Dwarf, etc.) to dozens. Specifically, adding different colors, flavors, etc. There's a huge subforum here at Tomatoville about it. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

October 15, 2007	#10
stratcat1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Michigan's Sunrise Side Posts: 83	I bought my seeds for Kimberly, Golden Dwarf Champion, Orange Tree and New Big Dwarf at http://www.victoryseeds.com/catalog/main_vegies.html

October 15, 2007	#11
kimera Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Florida Posts: 29	I'm in Zone 9, too. Try Sungold cherry tomatoes. You will not be disappointed.

October 16, 2007	#12
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Sungold is a great tomato, but I would never grow it in the greenhouse-especially one 8 feet tall like mine is-it would take it over. __________________ Michael

October 17, 2007	#14
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Kimera-depends on what your goal is-mine is to have more than one or two varieties in the size of greenhouse that I have and BB will have. __________________ Michael

November 30, 2007	#15
bigbubbacain Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Zone 9 Texas, Fort Bend County Posts: 436	Ok, here's a curious question about starting seeds in a greenhouse.... If I'm starting seeds in a greenhouse, can I just scatter them in a flat of dirt and leave them on the potting bench? OR...Do they need to be in some type of seed starting contraption with a clear dome to let light in and keep moisture in? I've always used the "dome" devices, but that was in my closet under a grow light. Does the greenhouse environment eliminate the need for this dome? The greenhouse is only an 8 x 12, but it's an all glass, Victorian repro. "conservatory" type. If I had a greenhouse that was any larger, I'd probably move in. LOL. Too much space and I'd be out of control. I chose a smaller one because I was thinking more about resale on my house, and having something that wouldn't look garish in the middle of the suburbs. Orchids are a high priority for us and our weather gets more unpredictable every year, so I'm glad to have this.