Care of heirloom tomatoes - Page 3

imp · July 14, 2017

Rick9748,it seems you are pushing too hard. This is also many folks busy time, so you might not get replies as quick as you want.

For myself, I find no real difference in between growing hybrids and heirlooms and treat them the same in my gardens. I usually do not have foliage issues, my weather is drier than many. I also tend to space my plants out more and we usually have more wind around here, so the air flow keeps the plants drier.

My garden has been amended for many years by compost and if my plants look like they need additional fertilizers, I add depending on that need, and mostly use General Hydroponic liquid fertilizers though I grow in ground.

I am mulching heavily with wood chips this year and liking the results in our right at 100 degree days here. I remove any leaves/branches that touch the wood chips, keep the plants tied up and caged.

rick9748 · July 14, 2017

You don't have one or two things that you have found that work very well for you.I can sort out the climate and conditions.Wow this is becoming way to complicated.
I am a big believer in the KISS principle.
Don't look to make something complicated.

imp · July 14, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick9748

You don't have one or two things that you have found that work very well for you.I can sort out the climate and conditions.Wow this is becoming way to complicated.
I am a big believer in the KISS principle.
Don't look to make something complicated.

You are not reading well. I gave you what I do which is what you asked for. I use General Hydroponics as needed, pay attention to my plants and keep them tidy and w/o branches touching the ground. Good air flow, heavy mulching.

Is that distilled enough for you?

Worth1 · July 14, 2017

You are going to have to weed out what you need to do to keep your own plants happy in your soil in your climate.
Take Cherokee purple for example you mentioned.
It is a no brainer where I live and I dont have to give it any other treatment than I would anything else.

There is no magic bullet for tomato plants of any kind and you have been given the answers you are looking for.

Some varieties heirloom or not are just garbage as far as I am concerned where I live.
Many here will agree Black Prince is but one of them.
If you find a variety that you have to give that much attention to, move on to something else that does better.
They aren't worth it.
That is what I do.

I have found just as many hybrids that are crap here as I have heirlooms.
Many times the heirlooms do better.
Worth

ddsack · July 14, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick9748

You don't have one or two things that you have found that work very well for you.I can sort out the climate and conditions.Wow this is becoming way to complicated.
I am a big believer in the KISS principle.
Don't look to make something complicated.

It can be very simple, since that is what you are looking for. Just search the internet for University Extension sites and they give you simple factual info on growing tomatoes, including fertilization schedules and disease ID and control. Heirlooms don't take any special care that separates them from hybrids.

You probably won't find what you want here in the distilled form that you are demanding it. Info on message boards fluctuates according to demand and interest in a topic, and much is from personal experience and opinions. Never a guarantee that what works for one will necessarily work for others.

Lots of great ideas and info in the community here, but you have to do a little research yourself, or stick around long enough to find posters who have the same conditions and goals that you do.

rick9748 · January 15, 2018

Here in Lexington I have 10; [3' x 30'] ft. raised beds that have excessive nutrients in each bed.The beds are almost constant compost beds.Totally mulched with 4/5 in. of straw in Summer all plants removed in October and straw tilled under with some added nitrogen.Then all beds are planted in a variety of cover crops; spinach, carrots, tender greens, lettuce or red clover for the Fall/Winter season.March everything not eaten is tilled under for April planting.
Super rich soil but have constant problems keeping foliar disease on plants.If it is not to much to do could you tell me what schedule and what products you use on your tomatoes.I rotate copper and daconil every 10 days.Do you do any foliar feeding and what do you use?Do you have a most liked fertilizer?Many questions , I am sorry.
I did post a 100% stop for curly top leaf virus if you have a problem with that.

rick9748 · February 28, 2018

Care to share best methods that have worked for you?
Thanks
Rick

rick9748 · February 28, 2018

Care to share your narrow dozen?

Goodloe · February 28, 2018

Sounds like quite the setup you have there! I'm envious. Do you grow for market?

I grow mainly hybrids, but I do throw in 2 or 3 heirlooms every year. They do pretty well most years, but generally don't produce as well as the hybrids, IMO.

July 14, 2017	#31
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	Rick9748,it seems you are pushing too hard. This is also many folks busy time, so you might not get replies as quick as you want. For myself, I find no real difference in between growing hybrids and heirlooms and treat them the same in my gardens. I usually do not have foliage issues, my weather is drier than many. I also tend to space my plants out more and we usually have more wind around here, so the air flow keeps the plants drier. My garden has been amended for many years by compost and if my plants look like they need additional fertilizers, I add depending on that need, and mostly use General Hydroponic liquid fertilizers though I grow in ground. I am mulching heavily with wood chips this year and liking the results in our right at 100 degree days here. I remove any leaves/branches that touch the wood chips, keep the plants tied up and caged.

July 14, 2017	#32
rick9748 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: south carolina Posts: 175	You don't have one or two things that you have found that work very well for you.I can sort out the climate and conditions.Wow this is becoming way to complicated. I am a big believer in the KISS principle. Don't look to make something complicated.

July 14, 2017	#34
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	You are going to have to weed out what you need to do to keep your own plants happy in your soil in your climate. Take Cherokee purple for example you mentioned. It is a no brainer where I live and I dont have to give it any other treatment than I would anything else. There is no magic bullet for tomato plants of any kind and you have been given the answers you are looking for. Some varieties heirloom or not are just garbage as far as I am concerned where I live. Many here will agree Black Prince is but one of them. If you find a variety that you have to give that much attention to, move on to something else that does better. They aren't worth it. That is what I do. I have found just as many hybrids that are crap here as I have heirlooms. Many times the heirlooms do better. Worth

January 15, 2018	#36
rick9748 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: south carolina Posts: 175	Here in Lexington I have 10; [3' x 30'] ft. raised beds that have excessive nutrients in each bed.The beds are almost constant compost beds.Totally mulched with 4/5 in. of straw in Summer all plants removed in October and straw tilled under with some added nitrogen.Then all beds are planted in a variety of cover crops; spinach, carrots, tender greens, lettuce or red clover for the Fall/Winter season.March everything not eaten is tilled under for April planting. Super rich soil but have constant problems keeping foliar disease on plants.If it is not to much to do could you tell me what schedule and what products you use on your tomatoes.I rotate copper and daconil every 10 days.Do you do any foliar feeding and what do you use?Do you have a most liked fertilizer?Many questions , I am sorry. I did post a 100% stop for curly top leaf virus if you have a problem with that.

February 28, 2018	#37
rick9748 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: south carolina Posts: 175	Care to share best methods that have worked for you? Thanks Rick

February 28, 2018	#39
Goodloe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Steens, MS 8a Posts: 410	Sounds like quite the setup you have there! I'm envious. Do you grow for market? I grow mainly hybrids, but I do throw in 2 or 3 heirlooms every year. They do pretty well most years, but generally don't produce as well as the hybrids, IMO.