![]() |
#121 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b
Posts: 1,369
|
![]()
Thanks for the encouragement Marv.
I have a Delicious plant that is about a foot tall now. It grew one flower at the top that is fused. It is weird. I have not taken suckers off and wonder if I should let them grow out to get more leaf area and then top those laterals. Looks to small to boost that one bloom, but I have seen pics of the record holder plant and you are right! |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#122 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: San Diego-Tijuana
Posts: 2,598
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#123 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Wasilla Alaska
Posts: 2,010
|
![]()
Both of my daughters are stellar artists, I was thinking of having her design another one of these for the large tomato award. My idea is to pass it around to the next person as records are broken. All who have had it get to sign the back, and post your tomato weight.
I disqualify myself, I just want one of Ricky's Cubans to set on a shelf. Anyway, is this a dumb idea, or not? The wood comes from a giant cottonwood tree that I had to cut, it was putting branches through one of greenhouses like arrows when our 90 mile an hour winds hit every winter. Mark |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#124 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: PA
Posts: 169
|
![]()
Pureharvest, don't over prune until you are certain a tomato has set. When you see a tomato growing that is acceptable to you, then comes the severe pruning. Big blossoms have a lower percentage of being actually fertilized. A blossom alone is not enough to set about severely pruning the plant. You could end up with nothing.
__________________
Bigger is Better! |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#125 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro
Posts: 1,910
|
![]()
That is beautiful work, and an excellent idea as a trophy. I know exactly what tomatoes those are. On the left a Delicious, the right a Brandywine.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#126 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b
Posts: 1,369
|
![]()
Thanks Marv.
In my limited experience (2yrs) paying attention to megablooms, they have always set for me. Maybe that will change over time. But I hear what you are saying. I will post a close up of the plant tomorrow and you can tell me what you think. Mark, I love that idea! Not dumb at all! Thankful you excluded yourself! Lol |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#127 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Wasilla Alaska
Posts: 2,010
|
![]()
When you guys see a huge Mega bloom, grab someones electric toothbrush and gently vibrate the truss. Works like a charm.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#128 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b
Posts: 1,369
|
![]()
Here is one of my early Delicious plants with the single megabloom up top.
It was two flowers fused, because when I crook my neck an look under I can see two pee sized tomatoes fused together. Anyway, here are some shots. Plant is about 18" tall and 12" wide. The top two suckers are beefy. The top one has small green blossoms pushing up with new leaves, but I don't think the pics will show that. IMG_1209.JPG IMG_1210.JPG IMG_1213.JPG IMG_1211.JPG |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#129 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: PA
Posts: 169
|
![]()
Looks good. Has already set. A double blossom may not be really great but it should be really good. Are you growing it all the way in a pot? There were some 5 pound tomatoes grown in pots last season.
__________________
Bigger is Better! |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#130 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b
Posts: 1,369
|
![]()
Yes, staying in bag.
Gets fed every single day with a three part soluble feed. Should I let the sucker grow out a bit and then top them to get some more leaf area? I realize a double bloom won't break records, but just want to get some big mater under my belt. I have a big zac and 3 more delicious for competition growing. Hoping for some triple or quad blooms. Still, I really don't expect to beat McCoy this year but wanted to learn the art and set a personal baseline this year. Do you have to register with Guinness before the attempt, or can you document along the way and have your local department of Ag weight them with witnesses and photos with measurements and register later? |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#131 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro
Posts: 1,910
|
![]()
The TV trucks will need secure parking and watch overhead power lines, those satellite booms go up sixty feet.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#132 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b
Posts: 1,369
|
![]()
Oh you, Ricky
I was just curious how it all works. Ya know, just in case! For next year. Or something. I just think competition growing is cool. I really don't see going too overboard with it. Mostly because I hate the way the multibloom fruit look. They are ugly in a bad way. I would only want to win if I could do it from one blossomed fruit. There should be two categories. Largest tomato and largest mutant tomato. Last edited by PureHarvest; April 28, 2016 at 12:56 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#133 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro
Posts: 1,910
|
![]()
I admire your enthusiasm and nerdness, you are truly a tomato man. Right on!
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#134 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Wasilla Alaska
Posts: 2,010
|
![]()
PH, I agree, non fused tomato should be included. I had a 3.5lb off of Delicious, I think PA Julia had one over 4lbs.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#135 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NJ, zone 7
Posts: 3,162
|
![]()
Y'all can add one more challenge, It has to be eaten by the grower.
![]() ![]() ![]() Can you make it that big without overfeeding it with nitrates... Julia admits not consuming the giants she grow. She has different tomatoes for consumption in her garden.
__________________
Ella God comes along and says, "I think I'm going to create THE tomato!” ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|