growing tomatoes in the PNW - Page 3

mresseguie · February 26, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by tache

I figure I still have a little bit of time to play with my list. So I am still very open to suggestion.
Stupice
Black Prince
Green zebra
Earl's Faux
Kimberly
Cherokee
Celebrity
Sun Gold
Sweet 100
Black Cherry
Paul Robeson
The ones I am tending toward still
Marianna's Peace
Mong
Bloody Butcher

I am thinking about some of the hibreds from Oregon State. I haven't been very taken with them so far. They haven't ever been bad but they haven't been to my taste but territorial has some they are calling Beaverlodge Slicer. Corvallis is 35 miles north of us and territorial is 15 miles south so I figure I am in the right zone. Don't let the logic put you off.
I really agree with Tania on the DTM. What is suggested has almost no connection with my experience.

Tache,

Hi. There's a neat place located behind St. Thomas Episcopal Church at 1465 Coburg Road in Eugene that you might be interested in. They've been growing tomatoes there for years, so they probably have a good idea of what works. It's called Grass Roots Garden, and it is supervised by an amazing woman named Merry Bradley. Here's a link:

http://www.foodforlanecounty.org/Pro...rassroots.html

Last year, their 2 1/2 acres produced 62,000 pounds of vegetables and fruits (mostly veggies) for Food for Lane County.

If you meet Merry, tell her Michael from Corvallis sent you.

Michael

velikipop · February 26, 2009

I grew MP last year. Yes it was late and did not produce a lot but enough that I will grow it again. Next time I will grow it under cover. The taste of MP makes it worth growing.

Alex

tache · February 28, 2009

Oh yes,Michael,I know that place. It is amazing. She has really harnessed the volunteer power. The amount of food she gets out of that little acreage is

unbelievable. I saw her getting some high school kids learning and working and producing and feeling great about it, I'm going to be out that way this week. I'll try to stop by.

Yes Alex, I agree. There are some tomatoes that are so good it is worth a lot of effort even if you get only a few.

This is going to be great, We have it covered from northern California thru British Columbia and east to Montana. We should be able to learn something about the varieties that we are growing. No matter what....it has to be better than last year.

maryinoregon · March 5, 2009

I live about 10 minutes walk from the Grass Roots garden. They have had a few great plant sales there. Never bought tomatoes though. I have only been to the back once to look at the garden. Very impressive. And the soil is so springy and nice. They work hard on it. Would love to have that soil. I generally ignore the advice about what tomatoes we can and can't grow here. I usually succeed in growing everything our less tomato challenged Tomatovillians can grow. Microclimate seems to make a huge difference. Still firming up my list, but will grow more earlies. This is based on the last few difficult summers. Will continue to grow some mid to late season tomatoes.

tache · March 23, 2009

I just came in from a nice little walk and wished I had warn my ski mittens. Do you think we will ever be able to grow anything this year?

Tania · March 23, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by tache

I just came in from a nice little walk and wished I had warn my ski mittens. Do you think we will ever be able to grow anything this year?

We had a nice sunny day yesterday, and I took my tomato seedlings out for a sunbath in a cold frame. They did not want to come back under lights after that, refusing to fit, as they grew up at least an inch

Well, today is rainy and cold, back to 44F (high), with 33F (low). More frosts later this week. This is crazy.

I am too hoping the spring will come, but the question is when?

Tania

jwr6404 · March 24, 2009

Tania
The typical wisdom for March weather is "in like a Lion out like a Lamb." Here in the PNW it is in like a Lion and out like an angry Lion.

DoubleJ · March 24, 2009

I put my seedlings out in the sun on Sunday. Problem was, it was blowing about 30mph. a couple got a snapped limb or two but, they all ended up ok.

dice · March 25, 2009

That is one thing our chronic spring cloudy weather is good for,
hardening off seedlings. (One has to be careful in full sun if they
have been indoors all of the time before that, they can get
sunburned in 3 or 4 hours.) Leave them out for a few 50F
cloudy days (when it is not raining, of course), and they can
usually take full sun after that without problems.

maryinoregon · September 1, 2009

Having an excellent summer here. Yeah! Growing Vorlon-have not had any of these yet. U2-Excellent tomato. I really like it. A cross from Dice-My brother picked one of these and I'm not sure which one it is, but if it's like the rest of the tomatoes I've had this summer, it's good! Yellow Ping Pong. I like it. Darn, I'm using a computer at the library because mine died earlier this summer and I have not been able to replace it yet. Will continue another time. How about the rest of you?

dice · September 1, 2009

Great year, good weather.

Some surprises: first blush on JD's Special C-Tex was 3 weeks
later than Spudakee and Cherokee Chocolate, on a healthy
plant with all-day sun. Lots of fruit on it, though, big
beefsteaks. Good production for the size of the fruit.

Eva Purple Ball had a few that were on the early side of
mid-season, but it has overall been late to set and ripen.
I have only had a few ripe fruits from it, but it is right now
just covered with 1/2-sized green ones that set in August.
A big producer if your season is long enough.

Pale Perfect Purple was not early, either, and in a summer
like 2007 or 2008 I would have been picking the first ripe
ones in September, but it really is an excellent tomato.
Sweet, delicious, good texture, perfect shape, no blemishes,
no large blossom end scars, or anything like that. The only
odd-shaped one was one double fruit. I think Earl's Faux
is the only better tasting tomato this year.

PNW_D · September 2, 2009

Best summer ever

akgardengirl · September 2, 2009

That is a beautiful platter of tomatoes Denise.
Sue

maryinoregon · September 2, 2009

Gregori's Altai also doing well. I have really enjoyed it.

Hoping to sit down soon and do more of a review of what I have grown, but I'm really happy with what I've got, thank goodness.

Glad others are having a slam dunk of a season. Anyone planting some fall/winter crops?

tache · September 5, 2009

This has been a great year for me as well.

The super early ones..Silver Fir Tree and Beavercreeklodge Slicer were early and productive but had not either great taste of texture. We were grateful at first but when Stupice and others started churning them out we became ungrateful and decided they probably won't be back next year.

February 26, 2009	#32
velikipop Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Langley, BC Posts: 768	I grew MP last year. Yes it was late and did not produce a lot but enough that I will grow it again. Next time I will grow it under cover. The taste of MP makes it worth growing. Alex __________________ I'll plant and I'll harvest what the earth brings forth The hammer's on the table, the pitchfork's on the shelf Bob Dylan

February 28, 2009	#33
tache Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 52	Oh yes,Michael,I know that place. It is amazing. She has really harnessed the volunteer power. The amount of food she gets out of that little acreage is unbelievable. I saw her getting some high school kids learning and working and producing and feeling great about it, I'm going to be out that way this week. I'll try to stop by. Yes Alex, I agree. There are some tomatoes that are so good it is worth a lot of effort even if you get only a few. This is going to be great, We have it covered from northern California thru British Columbia and east to Montana. We should be able to learn something about the varieties that we are growing. No matter what....it has to be better than last year. Last edited by tache; February 28, 2009 at 09:09 PM.

March 24, 2009	#37
jwr6404 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: University Place, WA Posts: 481	Tania The typical wisdom for March weather is "in like a Lion out like a Lamb." Here in the PNW it is in like a Lion and out like an angry Lion. __________________ Jim

March 25, 2009	#39
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	That is one thing our chronic spring cloudy weather is good for, hardening off seedlings. (One has to be careful in full sun if they have been indoors all of the time before that, they can get sunburned in 3 or 4 hours.) Leave them out for a few 50F cloudy days (when it is not raining, of course), and they can usually take full sun after that without problems. __________________ -- alias

September 1, 2009	#41
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	Great year, good weather. Some surprises: first blush on JD's Special C-Tex was 3 weeks later than Spudakee and Cherokee Chocolate, on a healthy plant with all-day sun. Lots of fruit on it, though, big beefsteaks. Good production for the size of the fruit. Eva Purple Ball had a few that were on the early side of mid-season, but it has overall been late to set and ripen. I have only had a few ripe fruits from it, but it is right now just covered with 1/2-sized green ones that set in August. A big producer if your season is long enough. Pale Perfect Purple was not early, either, and in a summer like 2007 or 2008 I would have been picking the first ripe ones in September, but it really is an excellent tomato. Sweet, delicious, good texture, perfect shape, no blemishes, no large blossom end scars, or anything like that. The only odd-shaped one was one double fruit. I think Earl's Faux is the only better tasting tomato this year. __________________ -- alias

March 5, 2009	#34
maryinoregon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 361	I live about 10 minutes walk from the Grass Roots garden. They have had a few great plant sales there. Never bought tomatoes though. I have only been to the back once to look at the garden. Very impressive. And the soil is so springy and nice. They work hard on it. Would love to have that soil. I generally ignore the advice about what tomatoes we can and can't grow here. I usually succeed in growing everything our less tomato challenged Tomatovillians can grow. Microclimate seems to make a huge difference. Still firming up my list, but will grow more earlies. This is based on the last few difficult summers. Will continue to grow some mid to late season tomatoes.

March 23, 2009	#35
tache Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 52	I just came in from a nice little walk and wished I had warn my ski mittens. Do you think we will ever be able to grow anything this year?

March 24, 2009	#38
DoubleJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 127	I put my seedlings out in the sun on Sunday. Problem was, it was blowing about 30mph. a couple got a snapped limb or two but, they all ended up ok.

September 2, 2009	#43
akgardengirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anchorage, AK zone 3/4 Posts: 1,410	That is a beautiful platter of tomatoes Denise. Sue

September 5, 2009	#45
tache Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 52	This has been a great year for me as well. The super early ones..Silver Fir Tree and Beavercreeklodge Slicer were early and productive but had not either great taste of texture. We were grateful at first but when Stupice and others started churning them out we became ungrateful and decided they probably won't be back next year.