Hey Fellow Floridians - Year 2

[kayrobbins]

I have grown all of my tomatoes in the 5 gallon SWCs. I was growing heirlooms like Cherokee Purple, Arkansas Traveler, etc before I even heard of dwarfs. I have only been on Tomatoville a little over a year and had only grown Wild Fred before I found the Dwarf Project. I don't grow hybrids or determinate tomatoes. Even though I got the UG seeds they were to donate to the extension, they don't get to grow in my garden.

This is my first time growing in root pouches, learned about them here. I have a few dwarfs and a pepper plant in them. They are sitting on the ground and I did not even think about the evil nematodes being able to get in there. The peppers I have growing in a GB and an RP were about the same size and planted at the same time and the one in the RP is much bigger. I took two of the RPs to the extension garden. I like to share anything I am trying with the other Master GArdenrs so we can learn together.

[Zone9b]

kay
I grow tomatoes to eat fresh and cook and also to freeze large amounts. I want to eat tomatoes almost every day but my goal is not to have to buy them. This makes determinate tomatoes in addition to indeterminates very valuable. Very productive determinates, such as, Early Wonder, Clear Pink Early and especially the hybrids such as Bush Early Girl put on large amount of fruit and then in a crescendo they all come ripe in 2 or 3 days. This is great because then I can freeze tomatoes like crazy for a couple of days. Then the determinates start setting fruit again and we can do it all over again in a couple of weeks. For people freezing or canning tomatoes the determinates are of great value and of course for commercial growers determinates would seem to be of imminence value.
Larry

[Barb_FL]

This is so exciting - our fall season is starting to come together.

Kay - Thanks for letting me know about all the varieties. I ended up putting a Bradley tomato in the bucket (Semi-Determinant) - new for me; got the seeds from GardenBoy (Doug). Something about getting seeds grown from a Florida crop; seem to withstand the bugs a lot better.

I remember you posting a link to your "HOW TO BUILD the SWC" in last years humongous thread. Might be helpful to Larry, etc. but I have a ? too.

When you put the drain holes in the outer bucket, I always felt that not enough air went in. Last season, I put 3 air holes above the 3 drain holes; today, I added about 5 more. (My buckets for some reason stay really wet); even EB - that is why I am so anal about air.

And probably why the Root Pouches work for me. Confession: The $.50 Walmart bag works for me too.

RE: I now elevate ALL RB and buckets even though mine sit on the pool deck.
In addition to grills on bricks (my favorite), wooden pallets - especially the crappy ones with missing boards or wide spaces between boards. I have a 3' square wooden piece. I purposely took out every other board. When plant is mature, I water until I see the water come out the bottom.

I have even placed them on the pot carrying trays.

===
Spring 2015 season first time for Dwarf project tomatoes - grew some in EB, 5 gallon HD SWC, and root pouches. They produced the same in Root Pouches as the others, so I'm doing that again. (Even though I have tons of Boxer Brown RP, I bought new 5 gallon 3/4 year RP - much cheaper $, but not as study at all.

[kayrobbins]

Larry, I do a lot of horse trading with garden friends. I have one that grows lots of Rutgers that are heirloom determinates and she gives me lots of those for my freezer. I repay her with my herb and pepper flavored finishing salts. She has so much more gardening space than I do so we are both happy with the trade.

Barb, I only do the two drain holes in the bottom bucket because that is not where the air part comes in. I always make sure there is 3/4 inch space between the planting bucket and the water reservoir bucket. The planting bucket has 40 holes drilled in the bottom and I never have a problem with it staying too wet. I think that air space between the two is so important.

[kayrobbins]

I could have put my root pouches on the pool deck or even the concrete driveway. When you try something new sometimes you just don't think things through. I think our discussions here are so helpful. They are too heavy for me to lift now but next time I will know to do it different.

[Barb_FL]

Originally Posted by kayrobbins

I could have put my root pouches on the pool deck or even the concrete driveway. When you try something new sometimes you just don't think things through. I think our discussions here are so helpful. They are too heavy for me to lift now but next time I will know to do it different.

I'm sure yours will be fine.

[efisakov]

Originally Posted by Fiishergurl

Barb, your seedlings look really happy and healthy! Nice job!

love reading everyone's posts.

Ginny

second that

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by kayrobbins

I could have put my root pouches on the pool deck or even the concrete driveway. When you try something new sometimes you just don't think things through. I think our discussions here are so helpful. They are too heavy for me to lift now but next time I will know to do it different.

Kay, try putting landscape fabric under the pouches. It can also line a raised bed. Helps stop the nematodes, Fusarium, Bacterial wilt.

[kurt]

Originally Posted by ginger2778

Kay, try putting landscape fabric under the pouches. It can also line a raised bed. Helps stop the nematodes, Fusarium, Bacterial wilt.

Another alternative for pest control.

http://www.arbico-organics.com/produ...cial-nematodes

[Imthechuck]

I finally got some things planted, and earth boxes organized; still need to put back together trellis's








all my wifes co workers want to buy our tomatoes lol........

[Zone9b]

Imthechuck
Thanks for a look at you EBs. Do you later place stakes close to the boxes in order to tie taller varieties to them? I see in the back you have several plants per EB. Would that be peppers or dwarf tomatoes?
Larry

[Imthechuck]

Each box gets its on trellis. I buy 10 ft 1/2 inch rebar cut it half and pound in ground. Then just slip over .5 electrical conduit and elbows and then tie my own trellising

I would like to use the pea fencing but its too costly....

I'll post a pic when they are all done, got to friggen overheated today..... Cooler weather is hopefully coming soon...

Originally Posted by Zone9b

Imthechuck
Thanks for a look at you EBs. Do you later place stakes close to the boxes in order to tie taller varieties to them? I see in the back you have several plants per EB. Would that be peppers or dwarf tomatoes?
Larry

[kayrobbins]

Originally Posted by kurt

Another alternative for pest control.

http://www.arbico-organics.com/produ...cial-nematodes

Have you tried their beneficial nematodes? I thought about it but did not do it since I was not sure how they would really work. I have several insectary gardens set up to get beneficial insects. The only time I have bought them from Arbico was to get Assassin Bugs. I have not been able to get them to come from what I have done. I am so fascinated with them and consider them true garden ninjas. It was fun watching the eggs hatch and they went to work right away. I will work on trying to get them here without buying them but if not I would buy again.

[kayrobbins]

Originally Posted by Imthechuck

I finally got some things planted, and earth boxes organized; still need to put back together trellis's








all my wifes co workers want to buy our tomatoes lol........

It always feels so good getting things planted out. In a few weeks they will really take off. It is amazing how fast they grow once they are in their permanent homes
.

[ginger2778]

Im the chuck- your garden is so lovely.