The EarthTainer "Farm" on July 15 - Production!! (pic heavy)

[rnewste]

While we have been experiencing quite cool weather over the past month (today's high is forecast to be 78 degrees), the plants have managed to commence volume production:



One variety that I am impressed with is Soren's Marianna's Peace cross with Neves Azorean Red (MarNar).



This is my F3 growout from the F2 plants last Season:



Nice uniform fruits averaging about 12 ounces:



Goose Creek is getting into high gear with some tasty fruits:



And the Wild Boar Farms Red Boar variety is now ripening:



WBF Solar Flare is a colorful variety new to me this Season:



I had envisioned like most other of their Varieties, that the flesh would be multi-color, but alas this variety seems to be mono-color, at least on my initial fruit of the Season:



I am growing two versions of Momotaro this Season. The plant on the right is from Kitazawa Seed and is the "standard" F1 Hybrid; The plant on the left is identified as Momotaro "FIGHT" from Takii Seed in Japan, sent to me by a very kind TV Member in SoCal:



The Momotaro "FIGHT" is bred to have better disease tolerance versus the Momotaro F1 Hybrid:



The (so called) "Dwarf" plants have now surpassed 5 feet in height:



While I have been picking Caitydid for 10 days now, the Tastywine will take another few days for full vine ripening:



The second wave of corn has now matured and is ready for picking:



And the third sequence is now beginning to tassel:



Regarding trials, I am seeing promising results with a Nitrogen fixing supplement called Azos sold by Xtreme Gardening.



These plants were put in as 8 inch tall seedlings on June 1:



Very robust growth over the past 6 weeks. Dona OP on the left, Vilmorin Dona F1 Hybrid on the right. I am really interested in how this product works, and will be doing a separate Thread on progress later this Season. Stay tuned....

Peppers, cukes, and celery all doing fine as well.



Raybo

[sprtsguy76]

Looking good Ray. I was at SJ Hydro the other day and saw the Azos product on their shelf. Looking forward to your results on that product. Had my first Tastywine 4 days ago!

Damon

[rnewste]

Damon,

Azos can also be purchased on Amazon at $28.00 for the 12 ounce version:

http://www.amazon.com/Xtreme-Gardeni...&keywords=azos

Raybo

[lakelady]

As always, great looking "farm" Raybo! Wish our temps were on the cool side, I'm sick of the 90+ days and extreme humidity! (with no rain even)

[meadowyck]

Raybo, I'm lovin the plate of maters. yummy only thing wrong is it isn't at my house.....

[Mark0820]

Ray, your plants are looking impressive.

[Henri]

Damon and Raybo,
Please tell us how tasty is Tastywine ! Thanks.

Henri.

[z_willus_d]

As always, great stuff Ray. One of my realizations this year is how I'm getting equal to surpassing production from my six dwarf plants (Perth's Pride, Yukon Quest, Iditarod) than from my full indeterminates. All vines are pretty much equally dead and dying, but the dwarfs have pumped out an amazing number of small to medium sized tomatoes. Fruit lbs per volume, they are definitely off the charts for my garden. I think I might try squeezing in a number of dwarfs in my main beds next year just for the increased production they might offer. They're certainly easier to maintain as well, even at over 5' tall.
-naysen

[Riceloft]

I'm seeing similar results from my dwarf plants, Naysen.

If I get my planned raised beds in next year, I'll definitely have at least half of one dedicated to dwarfs! I'm thinking I can fit 6 in an 8 ft row.

[rnewste]

Riceloft,

Be careful on planning spacing for the Dwarf Project plants. In my experience, while they do not grow as tall as other tomato Varieties, from a "girth" perspective, mine are as wide as many Determinant plants.

So maybe where you would normally have put 2 Goose Creek plants, you can likely get 3 Dwarf Project plants in that same space. I tried 4 in a single EarthTainer this Season with bad results. Three would have been optimal.

Raybo

[FILMNET]

How was the Solar Flame? Sweet? I have 2 plants with fruits coming soon

[Sun City Linda]

Yes Ray, would also like to know your thoughts on the taste of Solar Flare and also Rosella Purple. Thanks.

[Riceloft]

Originally Posted by rnewste

Riceloft,

Be careful on planning spacing for the Dwarf Project plants. In my experience, while they do not grow as tall as other tomato Varieties, from a "girth" perspective, mine are as wide as many Determinant plants.

So maybe where you would normally have put 2 Goose Creek plants, you can likely get 3 Dwarf Project plants in that same space. I tried 4 in a single EarthTainer this Season with bad results. Three would have been optimal.

Raybo

That works out pretty well. I space things a little closer than most recommend and can easily fit 4 Indeterminate's in the 8 ft row. 6 Dwarfs shouldn't be a problem!

Heck, last year I had 3 indeterminate's in a 5 ft space. Crammed, but it worked well!

[rnewste]

Originally Posted by Sun City Linda

Yes Ray, would also like to know your thoughts on the taste of Solar Flare and also Rosella Purple. Thanks.

Linda,

Like many WBF varieties, Solar Flare was quite "tart" in my opinion. Not complaining - but when you bite into one, you KNOW you've bitten into a tomato! Quite unlike the mellow taste of Goose Creek, Momotaro, etc. Variety is great!

Regarding Rosella Purple, I found it had a nice, balanced flavor, similar to JD Special C-Tex in many respects. Definitely will grow it out next Season as well. In fact, I would like to dedicate at least 25% of my EarthTainers to Dwarf Project varieties next Season.

Raybo