Greenhouse in Japan

[Scope]

Thank you. Doug, Taru is kind of a hydroponic system. This is good for growing tomatoes. I grow musk melons and cucumbers with this system. But they seems that they need much more root cavity. So their yield is not so good.

Deborah, Have you grow Lovely Sakura!? I grow this variety every year. The breeder Mikadokyouwa Seed in Japan says Lovely Sakura is one of premium cherry tomato. I'm using this only in greenhouse .So I have no idea about stability at the open field. But we can have fairly sweet and beautiful cherry tomatoes. Is this released in your country?

[dice]

Sakura is sold in the US. You can use this custom Google search
to search the WWW for available plants and seeds:
http://www.google.com/custom?num=50&...%3Aad-kgp1hr6o

I usually provide "tomato name" for search terms. Here are
the results for "tomato Sakura", using that search form,
for example:
http://www.google.com/custom?num=50&...ra&btnG=Search

How do you pollenate the plants in your green house?

[Deborah]

No, I have never heard of it until you mentioned it here.

[Scope]

Thank you dice,
But I have no idea that Sakura and Lovely Sakura are the same variety. There are some varieties name of Sakura is applied. I've run out the seeds of Lovely Sakura. A few days ago, I got them. I've checked back of the package. Seeds were produced in France. This is just my prediction, originally they are French F1 variety, and then renamed as Lovely Sakura?

Thank you Deborah,
Oh.... I'm sorry,it was my reading error. I haven't tested Lovely Sakura at field. They are recommended in the greenhouse. I'll try a few plants at field this year.

[Deborah]

Love to see pictures when they're ready !

[Levent]

Hi Scope, there is a mini dwarf variety called Chibikko.I read somewhere that it's originated from Japan.Do you have any info on this variety?Thanks in advance.
Levent

[Scope]

Oh, sorry dice,
About pollination, we use fruits set spray,called 'tomato-tone'. There is fertilizer called 'tomato- tone' in US,I looked up. A bit complex. You know, using this spray,tomatoes set without seeds. In my experience,those tomatoes are increase Brix%.(around 0.5%) and lower acid. Its not real tomato taste. But our customers willing t o buy them.
In spring and fall, I derive Bumble Bee. They work very well ,often too much.(they bite stigma,then flowers drop.)

Thank you Deborah,
I'll sow them in March. I hope to making a good result. Also take nice photos! In my greenhouse,they'll show ripe fruits within a week. I'll post the photo of them too.

Thank you Levent,
I've never heard of Chibikko till now.I looked up about it. Japanese breeding company 'Marutane' listed it. According to their description, Chibikko is dwarf/determinate/ cherry tomato. Their red fruits are size of 2cm. OP variety. How do you know this variety?

[Deborah]

Great !

[dice]

Artificial bee (electric toothbrush):
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...NDB8R-HV3xGMtc
(One does not touch the flowers themselves, only the stems of
the flower clusters. Usually only blossoms that would drop anyway
drop using this method. Blossoms that are ready to pollenate set
fruit.)

[Scope]

Thanks dice,
I've forgot to tell you about pollination wand. I use this for seeds collection of OP varieties.
But I lost the yellow stick of this wand. Here is a link. Japanese site,sorry.
http://www.engei.net/Browse.asp?ID=43314

[dice]

Yes, a pollenation wand has longer reach than an electric
toothbrush. They tend to be more expensive than electric
toothbrushes here (only sold by plant nursery and greenhouse
suppliers, while electric toothbrushes can be found in many
kinds of store at lower prices).

Another way: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RmdGcqYB_a...0/DSCN1230.JPG

[Levent]

I had Chibikko seeds from Tatiana, just sowed them in diatomite.I don't recall now I have read on an internet site that Chibikko is a variety from Japan (heirloom? man made hybrid? mutation?)

[Scope]

Thanks dice,
I bought an electric toothbrush!! I've never use this. First, I tried this to my tooth..Oh! WHAT A NICE FEELING! I'll buy one more.. Really THANK YOU!

Thanks Levent,
I looked up about Chibikko tomato again. I could only find is it's an open pollinated variety. Other details are unknown. In my opinion, Chibikko was bred not only edible, but also ornamental. So Marutane(bred company) says,Chibikko looks very good when you grow in the small pot on the table. You can pick and eat at dinner. I haven't tried yet...

[Deborah]

Scope, that made me laugh about the toothbrush feeling good. That's how I feel every time I brush.