New to growing your own tomatoes? This is the forum to learn the successful techniques used by seasoned tomato growers. Questions are welcome, too.
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January 11, 2013 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Campbell, CA
Posts: 4,064
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Started Seeds For 2013 Season Today
Mostly repeat Varieties but a few new ones this year:
Berkeley Tie-Dye Berkeley Beauty King Pink Berkeley Tie-Dye Better Boy Hybrid (VFNASt) 75 Big Beef Hybrid (VFFNTASt) 73 Big Daddy Bloody Butcher Brandywine from Croatia Cowlick’s Brandywine Desters Dona F1 Early Large Red Goose Creek Jetsetter Hybrid (VFFNASt) 64 MarNar (1 F2; 1 F4) Momotaro Hybrid (VFNSt) 70 Parks Whopper Hybrid (VFFNT) 65 Supersonic Hybrid (VFFN) 79 Tastywine F6 (Dwarf Project) Rather than the Rapid Rooters, I am trialing the new self-watering seed starting system from Burpee. The grow compartment sits on a wicking mat which pulls up water from the lower tray to keep the grow media moist: It uses compressed pellets which expand to fill each slot when warm water is applied. You can see one of the compressed pellets in the bottom of the above photo. I have the enclosure sitting on a heat mat: So far, I've been pleased with the system: http://www.burpee.com/seed-starting/...Id=2211&trail= Worked well starting seedlings for my (aborted) Winter InnTainer project. Raybo |
January 11, 2013 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 6a - NE Tennessee
Posts: 4,538
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Can't keep a good man down. Raybo, how are you doing??? Looks like a good list for your return.
You've been in our thoughts and prayers.
__________________
Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch |
January 11, 2013 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 1,992
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Plants: Take your marks. Ready, set, Grow!
Raybo, May your 2013 season be as successful as years past! |
January 11, 2013 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Santa Clara CA
Posts: 1,125
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Hmmmm. I like it the tray. Anything that helps with cutting down on watering time is interesting to me. I might have to try one! Raybo is there some sort of reservior at the bottom that you fill like a swc??
Damon |
January 12, 2013 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 6
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This looks interesting. The description was unclear to me. Is the dome also included in the kit you ordered?
Jan |
January 12, 2013 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Central OK, USDA-7a / AHS-8
Posts: 157
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Raybo,
I used those for 2012 and had decidedly mixed results. Good luck sir! |
January 12, 2013 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Campbell, CA
Posts: 4,064
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Damon,
Yes, there is a lower tray that you fill with water, then the mat wicks it up to the underside of the seedling base. I fill about once per week. Jan, A 4 inch dome is included in the kit. I had the larger dome from last year. I'll remove it when the seedlings get 3 inches tall when they go under the lights. Raybo |
January 12, 2013 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10
Posts: 9,283
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Raybo ,
I hope you have more success with it than I did the year I tried it. My seedlings ended up puny, and the roots grow much longer, right through the individual cells, compared to the expandable peat pellet seed starters. Those roots were extremely hard not to tear when transplanting. I went back to the jiffy ones and got my same good results again. |
January 12, 2013 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10
Posts: 9,283
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Raybo ,
I hope you have more success with it than I did the year I tried it. My seedlings ended up puny, and the roots grow much longer, right through the individual cells, compared to the expandable peat pellet seed starters. Those roots were extremely hard not to tear when transplanting. I went back to the jiffy ones and got my same good results again. Glad to see you back and healthy again. |
January 12, 2013 | #10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Campbell, CA
Posts: 4,064
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Ginger,
My seedlings I started in September grew to about 10 inches tall in the system before I dumped them in late November after the aborted InnTainer plans. I fertilized them in early November which likely helped their development. In any event, I post my results - good, bad, or otherwise. Raybo Last edited by rnewste; January 12, 2013 at 07:19 PM. |
January 12, 2013 | #11 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10
Posts: 9,283
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Quote:
-Marsha |
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January 12, 2013 | #12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Central OK, USDA-7a / AHS-8
Posts: 157
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I agree, far better than my results.
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January 13, 2013 | #13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,488
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__________________
Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture |
January 13, 2013 | #14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: LA (Lower Alabama)
Posts: 354
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Raybo:
I am estatic to see that you're back in the mater patch after your recent stroke. You have been in my prayers since I learned of your stroke. I had open-heart surgery (5 bypasses) last January (2012), so I misssed this past mater season. I am getting ready to get my plants started on February 13th, which is my start date here in LA. Happy matering, Paul |
January 13, 2013 | #15 |
Riding The Crazy Train Again
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: San Marcos, California
Posts: 2,562
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Ray, I have only one question: WHEN DO WE EAT???
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