OK - So I'm in this contest..Any Ideas?

franknmiss · May 23, 2017

Our county has a tomato contest every year.
This is my third year to participate.
How it works:
The County Extension Agent selects a tomato to be grown.
The local orphanage starts them in their greenhouse.
At the kickoff meeting we pay an entry fee and get two plants to grow.
We are given a two week window to bring in our best tomato to be weighed in
The heaviest tomato wins.
The Rules are: Don't Cheat!

This year we are growing Rocky Top, a determinate hybrid market type tomato.
75 DTM.
This is usually not a large tomato and being a determinate has thrown me on how to handle it.
So far:
I planted my two plants on April 20th.
The weigh in is between July 1st and July 15th.
As of today, one plant in a sunnier spot is 3 feet tall and the other 2 ft tall.
Both are covered with blooms.
Being a different kind of contest tomato, any ideas on what to do to grow a big one?
I'm open to any ideas -I usually don't grow hybrid determinate plants.
I've placed first and second in the past - I'll give the prize money to the orphanage.
I want my picture in the paper

Frank

May 23, 2017	#1
franknmiss Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Columbus, MS Living on the Edge ( Of Zone 7b/8a that is..) Posts: 50	OK - So I'm in this contest..Any Ideas? Our county has a tomato contest every year. This is my third year to participate. How it works: The County Extension Agent selects a tomato to be grown. The local orphanage starts them in their greenhouse. At the kickoff meeting we pay an entry fee and get two plants to grow. We are given a two week window to bring in our best tomato to be weighed in The heaviest tomato wins. The Rules are: Don't Cheat! This year we are growing Rocky Top, a determinate hybrid market type tomato. 75 DTM. This is usually not a large tomato and being a determinate has thrown me on how to handle it. So far: I planted my two plants on April 20th. The weigh in is between July 1st and July 15th. As of today, one plant in a sunnier spot is 3 feet tall and the other 2 ft tall. Both are covered with blooms. Being a different kind of contest tomato, any ideas on what to do to grow a big one? I'm open to any ideas -I usually don't grow hybrid determinate plants. I've placed first and second in the past - I'll give the prize money to the orphanage. I want my picture in the paper Frank