Over Thinking It - The Common Gardener

mobiledynamics · May 1, 2018

Was at moms, helping her with spring cleanup in the yard.

Kinda interesting how us *enthusiast* gardens vs. just a gardener. How many people who plant tomatoes are on a tomato forum

Anyhow, it's sorta interesting to compare. I run soil less mix to germinate, lights, liquid starter ferts, grow fert, the list goes on.

Mom, she just takes some seeds - she might start them on a wet paper towel ontop of the boiler. Or just by the window. Then she plants them outside. She's getting older so she's cut back on how many, but she would just do a milk jug greenhouse and start them outside, Water it and that's it. Nowadays, she's skipping the milk jugs altogether - bones, arthritis, too much work. She let mothers nature decide who survives and who doesn't

Just saying....maybe we're overthinking it.

nbardo · May 1, 2018

We could probably all get away with simpler methods but then there would be less to talk about. If all i cared about was eating tomatoes i might just buy them at the farmers market. Most of the fun is in the journey, and the extra work makes the reward more satisfying. And i do believe that all the extra work can turn a bad year into a mediocre one, or a good one into a great one.

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bower · May 1, 2018

I'm into learning some simpler methods.

None of us is getting any younger. You need to get your mother to join the forum and tell us all about what she does, post a few pics etc.

And of course that may take a little more time than the actual tomatoes...

MissS · May 1, 2018

I agree that you can still have great tomatoes without all of the fuss. Before I had the internet I bought my Brandywines from the local greenhouse. I also started a few seeds in my basement. I planted them out, I also had some volunteers that I would spread around. There was really not much difference in the 3 types of started plants. Those from the store produced about 3-5 days before the volunteers. The volunteers never died from frost and were much sturdier than what I produced indoors. Since all that I grew were Brandywines, I did not have to worry if the plants were all true. All of them produced well and come production time, you really could not tell the difference between which plants were started which way.
Today I can not compare my current way of growing with the gardens of the past. I grow different varieties on different soil and use other techniques and fertilizers. Maybe next year I should grow a bed of Brandywines and use my old vs. my new techniques to see if what I am doing now really makes much of a difference.

Jetstar · May 1, 2018

As a person who's growing from seed for the 1st time I like a site like this. The only hard part is deciding what will work for me and my needs. I started maybe 20 or so tomatoes & pepper plants this year, of those I'll give half of them to friends. I'm really getting a kick out of starting my plants from seed. So for me I try to absorb every growing from seed tip I find here. Yes it may be overkill for some who have grown from seed for years but for me you folks always have my back... And that's not a bad thing!

Worth1 · May 1, 2018

Keep it simple, I do.

Worth

brownrexx · May 1, 2018

My mother saved her own tomato seed and planted them in soil in yogurt cups. No lights, just a sunny window. It worked for her but I like the way I do it with soiless mix and lights. It's a hobby and fun for me.

SueCT · May 1, 2018

I have been growing my own tomatoes for well overr 20 years but only starting my own seeds for 5 or 6. I used to scour the garden centers for heirlooms and buy whatever I could find and add them to the hybrids I would plant. But I really enjoy the endless variety I have to choose from by starting my own seeds. Some day, I might decide it is too much trouble and go back to buying plants. But although I love this forum, I don't get quite as high tech as some. I started to come here as much for information on varieties as I did on techniques.

May 1, 2018	#1
mobiledynamics Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: 7B Posts: 281	Over Thinking It - The Common Gardener Was at moms, helping her with spring cleanup in the yard. Kinda interesting how us enthusiast gardens vs. just a gardener. How many people who plant tomatoes are on a tomato forum Anyhow, it's sorta interesting to compare. I run soil less mix to germinate, lights, liquid starter ferts, grow fert, the list goes on. Mom, she just takes some seeds - she might start them on a wet paper towel ontop of the boiler. Or just by the window. Then she plants them outside. She's getting older so she's cut back on how many, but she would just do a milk jug greenhouse and start them outside, Water it and that's it. Nowadays, she's skipping the milk jugs altogether - bones, arthritis, too much work. She let mothers nature decide who survives and who doesn't Just saying....maybe we're overthinking it. Last edited by mobiledynamics; May 1, 2018 at 04:13 PM.

May 1, 2018	#4
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,149	I agree that you can still have great tomatoes without all of the fuss. Before I had the internet I bought my Brandywines from the local greenhouse. I also started a few seeds in my basement. I planted them out, I also had some volunteers that I would spread around. There was really not much difference in the 3 types of started plants. Those from the store produced about 3-5 days before the volunteers. The volunteers never died from frost and were much sturdier than what I produced indoors. Since all that I grew were Brandywines, I did not have to worry if the plants were all true. All of them produced well and come production time, you really could not tell the difference between which plants were started which way. Today I can not compare my current way of growing with the gardens of the past. I grow different varieties on different soil and use other techniques and fertilizers. Maybe next year I should grow a bed of Brandywines and use my old vs. my new techniques to see if what I am doing now really makes much of a difference. __________________ ~ Patti ~

May 1, 2018	#2
nbardo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 78	We could probably all get away with simpler methods but then there would be less to talk about. If all i cared about was eating tomatoes i might just buy them at the farmers market. Most of the fun is in the journey, and the extra work makes the reward more satisfying. And i do believe that all the extra work can turn a bad year into a mediocre one, or a good one into a great one. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

May 1, 2018	#3
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	I'm into learning some simpler methods. None of us is getting any younger. You need to get your mother to join the forum and tell us all about what she does, post a few pics etc. And of course that may take a little more time than the actual tomatoes...

May 1, 2018	#5
Jetstar Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: N.E. Wisconsin Posts: 308	As a person who's growing from seed for the 1st time I like a site like this. The only hard part is deciding what will work for me and my needs. I started maybe 20 or so tomatoes & pepper plants this year, of those I'll give half of them to friends. I'm really getting a kick out of starting my plants from seed. So for me I try to absorb every growing from seed tip I find here. Yes it may be overkill for some who have grown from seed for years but for me you folks always have my back... And that's not a bad thing!

May 1, 2018	#6
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Keep it simple, I do. Worth

May 1, 2018	#7
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	My mother saved her own tomato seed and planted them in soil in yogurt cups. No lights, just a sunny window. It worked for her but I like the way I do it with soiless mix and lights. It's a hobby and fun for me.

May 1, 2018	#8
SueCT Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,460	I have been growing my own tomatoes for well overr 20 years but only starting my own seeds for 5 or 6. I used to scour the garden centers for heirlooms and buy whatever I could find and add them to the hybrids I would plant. But I really enjoy the endless variety I have to choose from by starting my own seeds. Some day, I might decide it is too much trouble and go back to buying plants. But although I love this forum, I don't get quite as high tech as some. I started to come here as much for information on varieties as I did on techniques.