Organic Tomatoes

[Gerardo]

The word organic has been stretched and its meaning diluted. When I see it on my food it means about as much as "low-sodium" "light" "heart-friendly" "dermatologist recommended" "BPA-free"...+

[pmcgrady]

Sounds like some $20/lb tomatoes, too bad I don't have a market for them!

[pmcgrady]

Originally Posted by Gerardo

The word organic has been stretched and its meaning diluted. When I see it on my food it means about as much as "low-sodium" "light" "heart-friendly" "dermatologist recommended" "BPA-free"...+

Agreed!

[heirloomtomaguy]

Originally Posted by pmcgrady

Ok you need "certified organic seed" to start....
Then you need "certified organic" potting soil...
And your straw mulch, needs certified...
Are you F'N kidding me?

REALLY?

You asked i answered if you did not want the right answer well then here's a new one.


By all means Organic Old German seeds mixed in Miracle Gro and Osmocote will definitely be Organic. Never mind what anyone tells you about chemical fertilizers they are completely safe and heck who wouldn't want all those great things in their food. While your at it give them a heapin helpin of malathion just in case any bugs come your way. Then when you harvest the tomatoes dont forget to gas them with ethylene just to make them that much riper. After that you will definitely want to wash them in 12.5% bleach solution, no need to rinse them after that as bleach is completely safe. Sit back and enjoy those Organically grown tomatoes. Em em em.

Sense my sarcasm. All i was trying to do was help but you had to be a "nice" guy about it. Organic is not for everyone but for some who take it seriously its the only way. Good luck growing you maters.

[Blueaussi]

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

I consider "Organic Seed" a gimmick.
Seeds taken from either an organically gown fruit or not (of the same variety), are identical genetically. "Organic" refers and applies to growing method , not the seeds. JMO

Gardeneer

Organic seed refers to how the seeds were produced, and that may not be important to you; but it is very important to me. Being organic isn't just about me, it's about the people who grew those seeds I bought, too. I want them to have a healthy work environment. It's about the impact on the land, the birds, the insects where those seeds were produced. And it's about the impact any pesticide residues on the seeds will have on the soil microorganisms or any other part of the food chain when planted. It's very, very important to me

Originally Posted by pmcgrady

Ok you need "certified organic seed" to start....
Then you need "certified organic" potting soil...
And your straw mulch, needs certified...
Are you F'N kidding me?

REALLY?

Well, no I'm not. Why do you feel it's ridiculous for me to want organic products for my garden? It's not really any different than the obsessing we all do over everything from variety selection to measuring lumens of light for optimal pre-season plant growth.

[pmcgrady]

Originally Posted by heirloomtomaguy

You asked i answered if you did not want the right answer well then here's a new one.


By all means Organic Old German seeds mixed in Miracle Gro and Osmocote will definitely be Organic. Never mind what anyone tells you about chemical fertilizers they are completely safe and heck who wouldn't want all those great things in their food. While your at it give them a heapin helpin of malathion just in case any bugs come your way. Then when you harvest the tomatoes dont forget to gas them with ethylene just to make them that much riper. After that you will definitely want to wash them in 12.5% bleach solution, no need to rinse them after that as bleach is completely safe. Sit back and enjoy those Organically grown tomatoes. Em em em.

Sense my sarcasm. All i was trying to do was help but you had to be a "nice" guy about it. Organic is not for everyone but for some who take it seriously its the only way. Good luck growing you maters.

Didn't mean to start a "range war" on organics...its a very passionate subject, your input is deeply appreciated.... thanks!

[bower]

Originally Posted by pmcgrady

Sounds like some $20/lb tomatoes, too bad I don't have a market for them!

I just don't get this? I use bone meal and kelp meal as 'slow release' fertilizer for my plants... is osmocote so much cheaper? Greensand is another source of potassium which is approved for certified organic production, if kelp meal is pricey in your area. I buy the bone meal in a big sack as it is way cheaper than the small boxes. Same applies to most ferts afaict.

I've been growing organic for 30+ years - never done it any other way - and back when we did not have the convenience of a prepared fertilizer of a certain NPK to use like chemicals. Nowadays the shelves are full of stuff.. it's too easy. I didn't think it was any more expensive than the other ferts.. or am I mistaken?

[heirloomtomaguy]

Originally Posted by pmcgrady

Didn't mean to start a "range war" on organics...its a very passionate subject, your input is deeply appreciated.... thanks!

No prob and no war intended just trying to be helpful.

[pmcgrady]

Truce .... Happy tomatoes, that's what I like!

[Cole_Robbie]

I wanted to grow organic hydroponic lettuce in my greenhouse. I got to the part of the regs that said every piece of plastic in the system must be "food safe" plastic. My problem is that I use a water pump to aerate the nutrient solution. I scoured the Internet for a water pump that is "food safe," and from what I can tell, such a thing does not exist, which makes it kind of hard to buy.

I've also noticed when looking at fertilizers, that some products are from a company that has applied, but not yet received certification. Other products come from small companies that cannot afford the certification process. The only thing keeping them from being organic is not having enough money.

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by Gerardo

The word organic has been stretched and its meaning diluted. When I see it on my food it means about as much as "low-sodium" "light" "heart-friendly" "dermatologist recommended" "BPA-free"...+

It has become a fad and fashion in certain ways.

Let me ask this : WHERE DID THE ORGANIC MATTER COME FROM ?

[Worth1]

Have any of you guys taken the time to watch a spider spin its web from start to finish?

That is what I am doing right now, it is so relaxing to see my many spider friends send out the little nets for the night.
I only came in to let the cat out and get another beer.

I have enjoyed this event for many years.

Worth.

[henry]

Lots of pumps out there try searching [ food grade water pump ]

[feldon30]

Originally Posted by pmcgrady

Lets say I started organically grown Old German seeds in Miracle Gro potting mix, when planted out, I throw a little Osmocoat in the hole with a can full of MG potting mix. From then on I only use tomato tone,would these be considered organically grown tomatoes

No.

Originally Posted by pmcgrady

or did I defeat the whole purpose when I used the MG potting mix and Osmocoat?

The most important part of organic gardening is going to be the soil and fertilizers, which both must be completely free of chemicals. In my opinion, the least important part of the process is whether the seeds are organic or not, as there is an infinitesimal chance that chemical fertilizers, pesticides, etc. will be transmitted via the seeds. For one thing, they are thoroughly washed, fermented or processed, and then dried.

I personally have no major malfunction with conventional vs. organic produce. I don't buy into most of the fearmongering. I buy whatever produce looks best in the store. I will say just personally after 5 years of gardening and comparing tomatoes grown in different gardens, I've found an unmistakable difference in the flavor and quality of produce grown in soil amended with shredded leaves, compost, manure, etc. vs produce grown on chemical fertilizers.

I feel no need to meet any kind of industry regulation or incur ridiculous expenses just to grow food for myself and my friends. My goal is to produce soil that is receptive to growing excellent produce. I've found that if I improve the tilth of the soil, enrich the soil, and feed the soil, things tend to take care of themselves without using chemical fertilizers, which actually ignore the soil.

[b54red]

Most people around these parts would think of me as an organic gardener but I am definitely not. I tried for a couple of years but the pests and foliage diseases just overwhelmed me and most of the "organic" solutions to my problems down here didn't really reduce the problems but they did reduce my disposable income quite a bit. I was greatly rewarded in my soil conditioning and fertilizing by using mainly organic products and now have a huge earthworm and toad population. I did find one very effective pesticide that was organic and that was BT which really puts a whipping on most harmful caterpillars and worms. Soapy water is used regularly to control small outbreaks of aphids, whiteflies and spider mites but sometimes I have to use something a bit stronger or take unreasonable loses. I garden for me and my family and not to feed every pest in the county. I don't expect my pellet rifle is organic either but it will effectively cut back the squirrel population when they become too greedy with my fruits and veggies.

Bill