My Tomato Patch November 1 and Combo-Mix Update (pics)

rnewste · November 1, 2009

Well, here we are on November 1, and it hit 80 degrees here in N. California today. My second planting of the season is doing petty well. The Brandywine and N.A.R.X. are now 7 ft. tall and loaded with tomatoes:

As expected in my combo-mix trials, the plants in plain Miracle-Gro are "leggy" with the lower branches dying off earlier than I would like:

So far, the Cherokee Purple is loving a ratio of 3:2:1 Miracle-Gro, Bark Fines, and Perlite. Not a dead branch from bottom to top! Too soon to declare this the winning mix-combo, but so far, it is looking quite promising.

Carmello planted on August 8 in a 2:2:1:1 ratio of Sta-Green, Cactus Mix, Turface, and Perlite is also looking fine:

The tomatoes are starting to blush, so just about 90 days from plant-out should be about right:

Indian Stripe in a 5:1:1 ratio of Miracle-Gro, Turface, and Perlite is also doing well:

The Goose Creek I planted in Pro-Mix BX on Sept 11 are developing well:

I have another 6 Champion plants in various ratios of Sta-Green, Bark Fines, and Perlite put in on August 22, so we'll see which ratio turns out best in a few months:

The Yolo Wonder Peppers are now about 45 inches high and are quite productive:

I am trialing various combo-mixes on the Peppers as well. Here a 3:2:2 ratio of Miracle-Gro, Bark Fines and Perlite on the left 2 plants, and the same ratio of Miracle-Gro, Redwood Compost, and Perlite on the right. Notice any difference?

Here are 2 Corn-Tainers with the one on the left a 4:1:1 ratio of Miracle-Gro, Cactus Mix, and Perlite. The one on the right a same ratio but with Miracle-Gro, Bark Fines, and Perlite. Conclusion: trash the Cactus Mix:

I'll post an update in about 30 days and hopefully, we will have lots of tomatoes for the neighborhood with their Thanksgiving dinner.

Ray

b54red · November 2, 2009

Some very nice looking plants. I'm going to try growing a couple of toms in containers in my greenhouse this year and am interested in your mix. What is bark fines ? Do you add anything like compost or manure to the mix?
My fall tomatoes don't look nearly that good because they are planted in ground and have had to withstand the diseases of late summer down here. The ones that made it through are putting on some nice toms especially Marianna's Peace and Ball's Beefsteak. I even have small maters on a late planted Brandy Boy. My Champion has put on a lot of toms but they are very small, like 3or 4 ozs. I've been picking off blushing tomatoes for about two weeks from the plants put out in early Aug.

rnewste · November 2, 2009

b54red,

The Bark Fines that I use are available at Home Depot (or most Garden Centers) and are labeled Decorative Bark, or something like that:

The Fines are about the size of a dime. See right side of photo to get a relative size:

Try to find ones that are a bit on the "aged" side (buy them now, and leave them out in the rain and sun for 6 months or so, to compost them).

We lived in Huntsville several years ago, so I know firsthand the bug and disease problems you have to deal with.

Ray

JCBigBlue · November 2, 2009

Ray, do you know what type of bark it is that you used? I have heard many good things about pine bark fines, but conversely that hardwood fines can be poor in containers.

rnewste · November 2, 2009

JC,

These are definitely not hardwood Fines. They appear to be a natural dark red color, so out here in N. California, they could possibly be Redwood bark. Anyway, any Coniferous pine tree bark will work well. Again, just try to "compost" it a bit before mixing in with the potting mix and Perlite. As noted above, a 3:2:1 ratio is giving me good results on the Cherokee Purple plants.

Ray

amideutch · November 2, 2009

Ray, I see the skunkworks is at it again. Looking good as always Dr. Tainer. Ami

rnewste · November 2, 2009

Ami,

All I still need is a Pallet of your Tomaten Dunger fertilizer, and I would be happy as a Skunk!!

My son is opening a Hydroponics store in Santa Fe, NM. so I am going to see if he could directly import it into the U.S. somehow from the Neudorff folks.

Ray

amideutch · November 3, 2009

Ray, got any relatives in Michigan or there abouts. Got a bud flying back for Thanksgiving. Ami

rnewste · November 3, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by amideutch

Ray, got any relatives in Michigan or there abouts. Got a bud flying back for Thanksgiving. Ami

Ami, Unfortunately no. One son and D-I-L live in Hawaii, and the other in New Mexico.

Ray

November 1, 2009	#1
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	My Tomato Patch November 1 and Combo-Mix Update (pics) Well, here we are on November 1, and it hit 80 degrees here in N. California today. My second planting of the season is doing petty well. The Brandywine and N.A.R.X. are now 7 ft. tall and loaded with tomatoes: As expected in my combo-mix trials, the plants in plain Miracle-Gro are "leggy" with the lower branches dying off earlier than I would like: So far, the Cherokee Purple is loving a ratio of 3:2:1 Miracle-Gro, Bark Fines, and Perlite. Not a dead branch from bottom to top! Too soon to declare this the winning mix-combo, but so far, it is looking quite promising. Carmello planted on August 8 in a 2:2:1:1 ratio of Sta-Green, Cactus Mix, Turface, and Perlite is also looking fine: The tomatoes are starting to blush, so just about 90 days from plant-out should be about right: Indian Stripe in a 5:1:1 ratio of Miracle-Gro, Turface, and Perlite is also doing well: The Goose Creek I planted in Pro-Mix BX on Sept 11 are developing well: I have another 6 Champion plants in various ratios of Sta-Green, Bark Fines, and Perlite put in on August 22, so we'll see which ratio turns out best in a few months: The Yolo Wonder Peppers are now about 45 inches high and are quite productive: I am trialing various combo-mixes on the Peppers as well. Here a 3:2:2 ratio of Miracle-Gro, Bark Fines and Perlite on the left 2 plants, and the same ratio of Miracle-Gro, Redwood Compost, and Perlite on the right. Notice any difference? Here are 2 Corn-Tainers with the one on the left a 4:1:1 ratio of Miracle-Gro, Cactus Mix, and Perlite. The one on the right a same ratio but with Miracle-Gro, Bark Fines, and Perlite. Conclusion: trash the Cactus Mix: I'll post an update in about 30 days and hopefully, we will have lots of tomatoes for the neighborhood with their Thanksgiving dinner. Ray

November 2, 2009	#6
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Ray, I see the skunkworks is at it again. Looking good as always Dr. Tainer. Ami __________________ 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!'

November 3, 2009	#8
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Ray, got any relatives in Michigan or there abouts. Got a bud flying back for Thanksgiving. Ami __________________ 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!'

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November 2, 2009	#2
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Some very nice looking plants. I'm going to try growing a couple of toms in containers in my greenhouse this year and am interested in your mix. What is bark fines ? Do you add anything like compost or manure to the mix? My fall tomatoes don't look nearly that good because they are planted in ground and have had to withstand the diseases of late summer down here. The ones that made it through are putting on some nice toms especially Marianna's Peace and Ball's Beefsteak. I even have small maters on a late planted Brandy Boy. My Champion has put on a lot of toms but they are very small, like 3or 4 ozs. I've been picking off blushing tomatoes for about two weeks from the plants put out in early Aug.

November 2, 2009	#4
JCBigBlue Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Westland, Michigan Posts: 28	Ray, do you know what type of bark it is that you used? I have heard many good things about pine bark fines, but conversely that hardwood fines can be poor in containers.