The very large tomato thread

[lubadub]

How tall are they? Do you have any fused blossoms?

[Stefanie]

Originally Posted by lubadub

How tall are they? Do you have any fused blossoms?

Hi lubadub,

thanks for replying I have never tried to grow for size, this is a first. Still I want to do well the first price is a greenhouse
I got 3 plants, above ground they are between 30 and 40cm tall (11-15 inches). No fused blooms. I can try to take a picture later but it won't be pretty.

Stefanie

[lubadub]

Do not prune off any megablossoms until you see if they set.

[Jeannine Anne]

Makes me look a bit lame here in BC I have just 2 mega blooms, one on a Rachel Sebastians Ball Bag and one on a Mega Marv..I am afraid my personal best is 1 ounce short of 3 pounds so that is what I shall try to beat, however I have never done anything different with the plants, they just grow like all the others so maybe I should dive in and try. So for now I guess I just leave well alone..right?

[AKmark]

This is Belmonte from Container Ted/ The Belmonster. The fruit is 21 days old, approaching 3lbs, and ready for a sling. The plant is very healthy, so I will just have to wait and see.
As of now, I have The Terhune versus The Belmonster for my entertainment, and two BZ's are starting to look promising too.

The brain looking Terhune is looking promising too, but I had to transplant it when I noticed the severely fused blossom, so it may have been slowed down from its potential.

[PureHarvest]

Nice Mark!
As some of us mentioned weeks ago, getting megablooms on lots of varieties. Must be the cold.
I have a Pierce's pride and a Paul Robeson with a couple monster flower stems on a fused bloom.
I guess the genetic potential for fruit size will limit them but wow.
I don't have pics yet.
Taking cuttings off my lone BZ tomorrow to up my candidates.
My delicious are not throwing any multi blooms.
Nor my BZ for that matter.

[AKmark]

Pure Harvest, my BZ did not throw a megabloom last year until the plant was 6 foot, so maybe you have one coming.

[Bryanbryn]

Mark, I usually sling my tomatoes when they are about a pound in size. My experience is that the part of stem that connects to the actual tomato may sometimes seperate even a bit even when the tomato only weighs a pound. This will limit the tomato's full potential and will make the tomato uneven or more uneven than it already is.
Also, my megamarv, belmonte and Michael's Portuguese monster plants are showing megabloom buds.

[lubadub]

And my tomatoes are not yet even in the ground. Marv

[AKmark]

The story of the hare and the turtle came to mind, and we know how that ended. LOL

[AKmark]

I tied the plants up with some stockings today. I had to rip on a couple of boys who were helping me, and told them these tomatoes are the only things they will see in these types of stockings for a few years. LOL Oh, you should have heard them trying for a viable comeback. HAHA

[AKmark]

The Belmonster looks to be over 4lbs now, Terhune about 3.5+, I have them covered to keep them from ripening, they are really growing now.

[ContainerTed]

Holy Moly!! I knew the Belmonster had some potential, but, Mark, let me say that you sure know how to make sweet music with good stock. Are you thinking about some final number for the weight just yet, or is it too early to predict.

I'll be watching this closely. I think some record (s) is (are) going to fall this time.

[AKmark]

Ted, I'm just not sure, no blushing yet, but I do have it well covered, so that should slow down the ripening process. I took a cutting for another attempt too. I'll try to get a tape in there, can't get a pic until I clear out leaves.

[lubadub]

Try to keep it cool. Shade if possible. Excessive heat ripens tomatoes but does not promote growth. An example is that after a hot growing season tomatoes ripen earlier but are smaller.