Alaska- greenhouse tomatoes 2014

AKmark · March 19, 2014

My first batch was started in January under HPS lights, and I now have about 80 varieties started up to date. The first batch has been in the greenhouse for almost 3 weeks. Alaska, Fred Limbaugh, Prudens Purple, Blk Cherry, Juanne Flammee, and NAR have little baby tomatoes, Alaska has several about dime to nickel size.
Early Wonder is not behaving like a early wonder at all, healthy but behind the ones mentioned above, Prudens Purple is very vigorous, Steakhouse has a mega bloom, Brandywines are looking great, and my Caspian x B Butcher is sure looking like a pure Caspian right now. (lol) I will post some pics when I buy a new computer, this one does not like me anymore.
Anyway, happy spring tomatoheads.

Pappi · March 19, 2014

Look forward to seeing your season again. Last years had so many good looking tomatoes. Just remembered how those Chocolate Stripes looked, yummy. Did you end up gettig some shade cloth in case that heat wave comes back around this year? Good luck and good growing.

Pappi

AKmark · April 4, 2014

I have started a couple thousand plants so far and have some interesting choices to tinker with amongst the batches. PL Black Krim, RL Fred Limbaugh, RL Sudduth's, which was collected from a mostly PL batch, from seeds I saved out of the fruit from the original vendor's seeds that I bought, I have a RL Stump of The World, and I have a couple of PL Early Girls. Anyway, kinda adds to the mix.
Looks Like Black Cherry is going to ripen first.

KarenO · April 4, 2014

Sounds like fun I'm way behind you but have some babies under lights. Going to the island next week and will fire up my greenhouse when I get back looking forward to growing a houple of yours this year Mark, thanks for the seed

. Hope 2014 is good to you!
Karen

AKmark · April 18, 2014

Almost finished with the second batch. Here is a pick of my Pruden's Purples already filling up the containers nicely, setting beefsteaks too.

AKmark · April 18, 2014

Here is a pic of the first greenhouse full of tomatoes and peppers

AKmark · April 18, 2014

A single Alaska in a 10 gallon container

AKmark · April 18, 2014

A nice tray of seedlings ready for their first transplant

KarenO · April 18, 2014

Man oh man, everything looks fantastic Mark I'm jealous!

Karen

JamesL · April 18, 2014

Beautiful!

Worth1 · April 18, 2014

Wonderful.

I'm going to show this to some friends I have in Wasilla that grow tomatoes.

Worth

bower · April 20, 2014

Looking awesome, Mark! What a great setup.

I grew Alaska last year, but it didn't like being in my greenhouse - didn't produce really until I put it outdoors, and then it loaded up. They did really well in the outdoor trial at the farm too. Definitely rated one of the tastiest of the early reds.

Trying Prudens Purple this year for the first time... high hopes, for sure.

AKmark · April 21, 2014

Thanks everyone, I have gathered some great varieties together for this season and I am so excited to taste everyone of them. Suprise wise, Cowlick's is really loading up, even ahead of Steakhouse so far. (lol) The best of the first batch, for setting tomatoes, is an NAR that is out producing all of its sisters.
I have an Alaska that is starting to turn colors, I agree they are good. I think I may set one outside Bower to see how they do up here.

Goldie321 · April 24, 2014

AKmark - got to know how long a growing season do you have up there? I saw Wasilla on one of the Railroad Alaska tv shows. Too much winter for me! I thought New York's was long enough - one of the reasons I've been in Florida the last 29 years.

AKmark · April 24, 2014

Goldie, outside it is about 120 frost free days. In my greenhouse, I grow from March to the end of October, but start plants inside beginning in January.
I counted 19 baby Cowlick's Brandywines set on one plant, and have an NAR doing about as good.
It has started out to be a great year, everything is looking good from all of the spring sun we are getting.
I also have a ripe tomato too off of an Alaska, kinda fitting to start the tomato munching season

March 19, 2014	#1
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	Alaska- greenhouse tomatoes 2014 My first batch was started in January under HPS lights, and I now have about 80 varieties started up to date. The first batch has been in the greenhouse for almost 3 weeks. Alaska, Fred Limbaugh, Prudens Purple, Blk Cherry, Juanne Flammee, and NAR have little baby tomatoes, Alaska has several about dime to nickel size. Early Wonder is not behaving like a early wonder at all, healthy but behind the ones mentioned above, Prudens Purple is very vigorous, Steakhouse has a mega bloom, Brandywines are looking great, and my Caspian x B Butcher is sure looking like a pure Caspian right now. (lol) I will post some pics when I buy a new computer, this one does not like me anymore. Anyway, happy spring tomatoheads. Last edited by AKmark; March 19, 2014 at 12:25 PM.

April 4, 2014	#3
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	I have started a couple thousand plants so far and have some interesting choices to tinker with amongst the batches. PL Black Krim, RL Fred Limbaugh, RL Sudduth's, which was collected from a mostly PL batch, from seeds I saved out of the fruit from the original vendor's seeds that I bought, I have a RL Stump of The World, and I have a couple of PL Early Girls. Anyway, kinda adds to the mix. Looks Like Black Cherry is going to ripen first. Last edited by AKmark; April 4, 2014 at 01:49 AM.

April 18, 2014	#11
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Wonderful. I'm going to show this to some friends I have in Wasilla that grow tomatoes. Worth Last edited by Worth1; April 18, 2014 at 11:51 PM.

March 19, 2014	#2
Pappi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Pineland Posts: 126	Look forward to seeing your season again. Last years had so many good looking tomatoes. Just remembered how those Chocolate Stripes looked, yummy. Did you end up gettig some shade cloth in case that heat wave comes back around this year? Good luck and good growing. Pappi

April 4, 2014	#4
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	Sounds like fun I'm way behind you but have some babies under lights. Going to the island next week and will fire up my greenhouse when I get back looking forward to growing a houple of yours this year Mark, thanks for the seed . Hope 2014 is good to you! Karen

April 18, 2014	#10
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Beautiful!

April 20, 2014	#12
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	Looking awesome, Mark! What a great setup. I grew Alaska last year, but it didn't like being in my greenhouse - didn't produce really until I put it outdoors, and then it loaded up. They did really well in the outdoor trial at the farm too. Definitely rated one of the tastiest of the early reds. Trying Prudens Purple this year for the first time... high hopes, for sure.

April 21, 2014	#13
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	Thanks everyone, I have gathered some great varieties together for this season and I am so excited to taste everyone of them. Suprise wise, Cowlick's is really loading up, even ahead of Steakhouse so far. (lol) The best of the first batch, for setting tomatoes, is an NAR that is out producing all of its sisters. I have an Alaska that is starting to turn colors, I agree they are good. I think I may set one outside Bower to see how they do up here.

April 24, 2014	#14
Goldie321 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Florida USA Posts: 116	AKmark - got to know how long a growing season do you have up there? I saw Wasilla on one of the Railroad Alaska tv shows. Too much winter for me! I thought New York's was long enough - one of the reasons I've been in Florida the last 29 years.