ContainerTed - 2016 Ready To Plant Out

ContainerTed · May 1, 2016

Well, I'm solidly into the hardening off processes. I always use the back of "Big Red" my pickup and the northeast end of the house as shade. this allows me to get some "full sun" time on each tray and I can rotate them in and out of the shady area to make sure they don't get an overdose.

Picture #3 is of the tray which will be planted first. There are 50 more plants that could be in that tray right now. But everything in its own time. Longest journey begins with first step (Old family saying - not sure which family).

As you can see in the last two pictures, buying the mature plants will have me eating homegrowns by the first of June.

Anyhow. here's where we are today.

KarenO · May 1, 2016

looking great! have a terrific season!
KarenO

twillis2252 · May 1, 2016

Great photos. What date did you start your seed?

wildcat62 · May 1, 2016

Looking good....

ContainerTed · May 1, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by twillis2252

Great photos. What date did you start your seed?

I think it was the third week of February.

AlittleSalt · May 1, 2016

That's a bunch of tomato plants, and they look very good too

ContainerTed · May 1, 2016

Thanks, folks. I think they look healthy, strong, and ready for the production phase. But not everyone has had kind words for my techniques. Back when I posted my germination pictures, some folks didn't like the idea that I was using a weak fertilizer in my seed starter mix and also in the water I use.

I've been criticized for using a 1/30th solution of MG crystals to do my watering of the trays where germination starts. All I have to answer to the "nay sayers" is "Well, here's the poor, mange infested, horrible, moldy, burned up, wilted plants that I'll have to deal with this year."

MissS · May 1, 2016

I sure like your poor, mange infested, horrible, moldy, burned up, wilted plants. I wish that my plants looked like that. I am still waiting to see my first true leaves. I too start feeding mine while they are young.

It looks as if you are off to a great start to the season.

Enjoy!

jhp · May 1, 2016

Looks great! I wish I was that far along. Just potted up a couple days ago and then the weather turned cold and rainy. Seems to happen every year.

So how many plants total will you grow this year?

In the third picture on the bottom right, there are two that look like their leaves are sorta fuzzy, what are they?

Thanks for sharing.

Jen

ContainerTed · May 1, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissS

I sure like your poor, mange infested, horrible, moldy, burned up, wilted plants. I wish that my plants looked like that. I am still waiting to see my first true leaves. I too start feeding mine while they are young.

It looks as if you are off to a great start to the season.

Enjoy!

Hey, Patti. I use Biotone in the starting mix which is MG starting mix. Then I use 2 liter soda bottles to make up the water that will keep the germination trays moist/damp. I use that green spoon thingie that comes with MG crystals and scoop up (on the small end) just enough to cover my pinkie fingernail. That makes the 2 liter bottle full.

Thanks for the good words. I'm sure you'll be showing us your plants in no time. Hope things warm up for you folks in those higher latitudes. They're talking lower 40's for lows down here at the end of this coming week. Weather sure is crazy lately.

Take care and good gardening this year.

Starlight · May 1, 2016

I agree too. That's a bunch of sweet green looking babies! Looks like your going to be busy transplanting too. In the third pic from the top, the right hand side, is it just the light or is that a plant with real light leaves and fuzzy looking? It's a neat looking seedling whoever it is. : )

I'm with ya on using the MG early too.

ContainerTed · May 1, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starlight

I agree too. That's a bunch of sweet green looking babies! Looks like your going to be busy transplanting too. In the third pic from the top, the right hand side, is it just the light or is that a plant with real light leaves and fuzzy looking? It's a neat looking seedling whoever it is. : )

I'm with ya on using the MG early too.

Those two plants are both "Roughwood Golden Tiger". The fuzzy, angora looking foliage is one of its traits.

ChiliPeppa · May 1, 2016

They look great. I hope you have a lovely harvest.

Gerardo · May 1, 2016

Very pretty plants. Great hedge w the purchased plants. Don't know why but I want to go into the shed.

sjamesNorway · May 2, 2016

Great looking plants, Ted. Your use of MG crystals early is evidently beneficial. Do you know why?

Steve

May 1, 2016	#7
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Thanks, folks. I think they look healthy, strong, and ready for the production phase. But not everyone has had kind words for my techniques. Back when I posted my germination pictures, some folks didn't like the idea that I was using a weak fertilizer in my seed starter mix and also in the water I use. I've been criticized for using a 1/30th solution of MG crystals to do my watering of the trays where germination starts. All I have to answer to the "nay sayers" is "Well, here's the poor, mange infested, horrible, moldy, burned up, wilted plants that I'll have to deal with this year." __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

May 1, 2016	#8
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,149	I sure like your poor, mange infested, horrible, moldy, burned up, wilted plants. I wish that my plants looked like that. I am still waiting to see my first true leaves. I too start feeding mine while they are young. It looks as if you are off to a great start to the season. Enjoy! __________________ ~ Patti ~

May 1, 2016	#2
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	looking great! have a terrific season! KarenO

May 1, 2016	#3
twillis2252 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: SC & NC Posts: 258	Great photos. What date did you start your seed?

May 1, 2016	#4
wildcat62 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: Zone 6 Northern Kentucky Posts: 1,094	Looking good....

May 1, 2016	#6
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	That's a bunch of tomato plants, and they look very good too

May 1, 2016	#9
jhp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Danbury, CT Posts: 492	Looks great! I wish I was that far along. Just potted up a couple days ago and then the weather turned cold and rainy. Seems to happen every year. So how many plants total will you grow this year? In the third picture on the bottom right, there are two that look like their leaves are sorta fuzzy, what are they? Thanks for sharing. Jen

May 1, 2016	#11
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	I agree too. That's a bunch of sweet green looking babies! Looks like your going to be busy transplanting too. In the third pic from the top, the right hand side, is it just the light or is that a plant with real light leaves and fuzzy looking? It's a neat looking seedling whoever it is. : ) I'm with ya on using the MG early too.

May 1, 2016	#13
ChiliPeppa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Mojave Desert - California Posts: 368	They look great. I hope you have a lovely harvest.

May 1, 2016	#14
Gerardo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego-Tijuana Posts: 2,598	Very pretty plants. Great hedge w the purchased plants. Don't know why but I want to go into the shed.

May 2, 2016	#15
sjamesNorway Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Norway Posts: 1,049	Great looking plants, Ted. Your use of MG crystals early is evidently beneficial. Do you know why? Steve