The Mothership

[JamesL]

Julia,
+1 to all of the above! Wonderful!
I am now going to dream tonight of giant tomatoes demanding - Feed Me!

[BucksCountyGirl]

Wow Julia...just awesome! Love the title as well, cheers!

[livinonfaith]

Julia, some of these guys may not know that your goal is the largest tomato possible and that you grow these plants for the sole reason of producing these massive babies to enter in competitions! I think that's why some are asking about the risk of having only one fruit per plant.

You must just be thrilled! I know you are very competitive and it looks like you may have a winner (or two,) in your grasp this year!

There are a few questions I've been wanting to ask you. How do you keep these in good condition so that you can get it to the competitions you want to enter? Do you wait until it starts to really ripen and only then start looking for whatever competition is available so that it will be at it's peak for one or two shows?

Or do you pick it at first blush, stick it in the fridge, and just show it in whatever stage of ripeness it happens to be in for as long as it holds out?

Are there any tips or tricks of the trade, to keep it fresh for longer, or hold it's color, or to put on that last extra ounce?

Inquiring minds want to know!

[livinonfaith]

Oh, and to clarify, I'm not asking for real secrets! Don't want you to give away any kind of advantage!

Just asking for some tips and tricks competition growers use that your average grower might not know.

[PA_Julia]

Originally Posted by BucksCountyGirl

Wow Julia...just awesome! Love the title as well, cheers!

Thank you lady!!

[PA_Julia]

My answers are in red.

Originally Posted by livinonfaith

Julia, some of these guys may not know that your goal is the largest tomato possible and that you grow these plants for the sole reason of producing these massive babies to enter in competitions! I think that's why some are asking about the risk of having only one fruit per plant.

Yes and thank you for asking. Growing giants for competition is my sole objective. It is a niche within the tomato growing community.

Growing only one tomato per plant focuses the energy and nutrients of the plant to growing that one tomato as large as possible.

Eating the giants due to heavy amounts of chemical insecticide, fungicide and other amendments is not advised.

You must just be thrilled! I know you are very competitive and it looks like you may have a winner (or two,) in your grasp this year!

I'm extremely excited and very pleased that the knowledge I have obtained concerning growing giants is coming to fruition.

I'm also very nervous about taking care of the three including the Mothership so nothing happens to them prior to removal from the plant.

There are a few questions I've been wanting to ask you. How do you keep these in good condition so that you can get it to the competitions you want to enter? Do you wait until it starts to really ripen and only then start looking for whatever competition is available so that it will be at it's peak for one or two shows?

I currently have seventeen plants with fourteen tomatoes in various stages of growth.

I spend a large amount of time daily inspecting, pruning, watering, fertilizing and weeding each plant.

Once a tomato begins to blush, it's done growing. I immediately pick the tomato and place it in the refrigerator after it's initial weighing and measuring.

I then take it to a grocery store that has an officially calibrated scale by the state and have it weighed. I then take a photo of the tomato on the scale showing both the tomato and the weight readout.

While I'm still at the grocery store I take a blank sheet of paper and write my name, the date and the weight of the tomato while holding both the paper and the tomato in my hand someone takes a photo of me for official record keeping.

Right now I am in two online competitions with another contest I'm in south of me in a Philadelphia suburb.

Or do you pick it at first blush, stick it in the fridge, and just show it in whatever stage of ripeness it happens to be in for as long as it holds out?

Again I immediately place it in the refrigerator in order to retard the ripening process.
Doing this allows me approx three weeks time in order to display and to weigh in competitions prior to the tomato ripening and losing weight.

Are there any tips or tricks of the trade, to keep it fresh for longer, or hold it's color, or to put on that last extra ounce?

While the tomato is growing and gaining weight I protect it from direct sunlight by covering it with a light colored wash cloth.

This serves two purposes, one, it protects the tomato from sun scalding and two, it retards maturation thus allowing the tomato to grow to it's fullest potential.

The top three tomatoes which include the Mothership sit in hammocks made from hosiery. This cradles the tomato and takes the stress off the truss which is holding it.

Lastly There is the definitive guide to growing giant tomatoes written by the giant tomato guru Dr. Marvin Meisner M.D.

The title of the book is "" Growing Giant Tomatoes "" and is available here;

http://www.amazon.com/Giant-Tomatoes...dp/0975515314I

This is the bible of giant tomato growing. I have read it countless times and follow the advice and instructions he has laid out to the letter.

The results in following Dr. Meisner's advice is proven in size of three of my currently growing tomatoes.

The Mothership is close to 4.0 LBS while the other two are right behind it.

I'm biting my nails and crossing my toes and my fingers that I reach over 4.0 pounds on one of these three.

You can follow my progress on my online diary at Big Pumkins. com

The link is here;

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/Dia...61639&action=L

I have many photo's and progress notes of my season so far.

Thanks for the interview!!

Inquiring minds want to know!

[NarnianGarden]

I understand and appreciate the competitive streak
But if you only grow tomatoes for competition, don't you ever want to eat any of those yummies? My mouth waters just from watching...
Or do you have a separate garden for growing edible ones?

[PA_Julia]

Originally Posted by NarnianGarden

I understand and appreciate the competitive streak
But if you only grow tomatoes for competition, don't you ever want to eat any of those yummies? My mouth waters just from watching...
Or do you have a separate garden for growing edible ones?

I give my neighbor plant starts of different heirloom seeds.
He has eight plants growing including some cherry tomatoes.
He is giving me tomatoes already starting with Uncle Mark Bagby and Paul Robeson.

He's my supplier.

[livinonfaith]

And that, dear viewers, was an insightful and delightful interview with our resident Giant tomato grower, Julia!

Thank you, Julia, for your time and for sharing your love and knowledge of giant tomatoes with us.

Join me next week, ummm.....I mean next thread, where I will attempt to ask a bunch of questions and just hope someone will answer them. (or I'll just say something silly. It's kind of a toss up)

[remy]

Looks good Julia! Can't wait to see it ripe.
Remy

[bejustice]

wow, impressive. It does look like a space ship!

[Patihum]

VERY, VERY impressive. Who has guard duty at night?

[PA_Julia]

Originally Posted by Patihum

VERY, VERY impressive. Who has guard duty at night?

I have some killer tomatoes ready to strike anyone and anything that moves!

Seriously though, my next door neighbor has a very nice pellet gun he uses to kill rabbits and ground hogs in his garden and that, of course does nothing but help me out across the fence.

[Delerium]

Julia just wanted to give you an update on your babies growing here in CA. All are doing great i must have 7 plants maybe more that are not accounted for (that i just didn't have the heart to discard). Some of them have HUGE bloosoms and am excited to see one of them set. I was wondering if you have a thread on your tips to growing giants and what steps you take to grow the big ones throughout the season.