Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 7,068
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I just set out eleven grafted tomato plants and three non-grafted tomato plants. I am sure glad I waited for them to get a bit larger. My son put out 10 or so two weeks ago and his plants were really hit hard by the little freeze we had last week and several or all of them are severely damaged and may not recover at all. I had some ginger I set out two weeks ago and even with a frost cloth over them they look totally burned but I hope they will recover as they have a nice tuber under them to send up some more shoots.
I have had fairly good luck with my grafting so far this year and have nearly 100 plants out of the healing chambers and slowly recovering. I am going to attempt more grafts this next week though I doubt I will need them unless I have the massive die off from TSWV that I had last year. Despite the early destruction I grafted more plants last year and set them out mid summer with little hope of making anything. Despite near drought conditions and extreme heat those late tomatoes set an amazing amount of fruit though most of them ripened after the cool nights started in the fall resulting in tomatoes that were not the best tasting but far superior to store bought and they were the largest fall tomatoes I have ever grown. We didn't put up many tomatoes last year but did manage to can a good bit of salsa since we had a massive amount of Jalapenos and bell peppers in the fall so we had to do something with those tomatoes. We have had a great winter and spring harvest of broccoli, cabbage, mustard greens and rutabagas with the help of lots of frost cloth to get through the worst of the freezes. We didn't do so well with Brussels sprouts and had some kind of damping off hit our onions two weeks after they were set out resulting in almost a total loss. We are trying to plant a flower bed that will attract more hummingbirds and any good tips will be appreciated. The bed is not very large but it has full sun and has been worked up and mulched so it is ready to plant. I called a few local nurseries and was shocked at the prices of small pots of flowers. Kinda like going to the grocery store hungry for beef. ![]() I hope everyone has a good season this year, Bill |
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: California Central Valley
Posts: 2,542
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Bill, Are there any native plant sales in your area? That might be a good source for the best and most economical hummingbird plants.
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southeast Texas
Posts: 287
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Bill
I know from reading your posts you plant a group of tomatoes every month, do you start all from seed at the same time and then put some out each month? Or do you start seed every month and graft every month. I have typically planted two groups, I start the first group of seeds on January 1st and put that group out as early as early March and the second group of seeds are planted on February 1st and they are put out in mid to late March. Gonna try another group or two for April and May. |
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Metro Denver
Posts: 767
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Bill-for the hummingbirds any Salvia is terrific!
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 7,068
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I ended up planting a bunch of Lantana, Salvia, Snapdragon, and a few Cigar plants. I am trying to stay away from any very invasive plants. Some of the best native plants are also super invasive, but I have a small area at the bottom of the garden where I may plant a few and if need be use Roundup if necessary to stop them from spreading. I fought morning glories and honeysuckle for a couple of decades and don't want to mess with anything like that again.
Bill |
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#6 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 7,068
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My first eleven plants I set out are taking a beating right now as we are enduring our fourth day of very bad weather with lots of rain and wind. Hopefully they will recover and not catch any diseases due to the over saturated and damaged foliage. I should have some more ready to plant in a couple of weeks. I will be doing single stem lean and lower with all my plants this season. Bill |
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#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brownville, Ne
Posts: 3,291
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Staggered planting will most likely take place for me as well this year. Not on purpose, but because of some poor germination, re-planting and late planting because some new varieties sounded good. First batch out in the first week of May as usual. Then the end of May and maybe the first of June. This has been the craziest year ever so far.
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there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes. |
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Metro Denver
Posts: 767
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I love when you have unplanned staggered planting! I had extras I had saved from my sale last year and threw them in super late. Loved having them when they peaked, really late. It was just a good thing we had a longer summer that year.
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#9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Zone 6 Northern Kentucky
Posts: 1,094
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Good luck with the garden this year Bill. Just got a few things planted myself this week & it's raining now. Another season begins.
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Mark |
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#10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3
Posts: 3,231
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Bill, which root stock(s) are you now using for your grafted tomatoes?
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Dee ************** |
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