Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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May 11, 2017 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: SE Louisiana
Posts: 27
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Question about Bonnie Plants
After I planted my heirloom seedlings, I had some extra space. I decided to plant a few determinates in the extra space. The feed store had some Bonnie Celebrities. I planted them and they almost immediately set fruit. Now the plants are about 2 feet tall I have two huge clusters about 2 inches off the ground and I only see one other cluster started.
Is Bonnie treating their plants with something to hasten fruiting. All the seedlings I started have evenly set fruit. Last edited by Togo77; May 11, 2017 at 02:59 PM. |
May 11, 2017 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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If they are treated with anything, it would be a growth-regulating hormone, which slows their growth, so that the potted plant has a longer shelf life as a saleable product. You may have gotten a plant that was older than it looked, because of being treated with a hormone like that. Bonnie contracts out a lot of their growing, so I don't think there is any way to tell for sure. I have seen it be obvious on the larger plants sold in larger containers, but not always on the smaller ones.
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May 11, 2017 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Gloster, Lousiana 71030 Zone 8a
Posts: 253
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I think Cole_Robbie is spot on with being treated with growth inhibitors. I have never had that experience with Bonnie plants, but have not used them in the last 3 years.
I have a similar thing happen to some pepper plants that were grown by RBGI in St. Elmo, IL. They started flowing about a week after plant out and now have peppers but plants are only about 6-8 inches tall. I'm pretty sure mine were treated with growth inhibitors. Bob |
May 11, 2017 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: SE Louisiana
Posts: 27
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I think y'all are right. I had a pepper last year that was almost as big as the plant.
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May 11, 2017 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: NewYork 5a
Posts: 2,303
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A few years ago i bought a 'patio' Bonnie. BigBoxStore magnet that suckered me in....
I wanted to test some sun i have in my driveway for a few containers. Containers i can slide and move a bit as the sun moves through the season. Fortunately i also potted some of my insurance extras i had from seed. The Bonnie grew gorgeous but no fruit. My starts thrived and gave a full season of SunGold and other cherries... It was a full thick stemmed plant. Mine were lanky but pumped out fruit through Sept-October. Had i just tested the Bonnie i may have decided this 'bacon strip' of sun was a no go for toms. I now have 10 containers for snackers in that spot. Nice to pull up after commuter traffic and have a boat load of toms every day all Summer. |
May 11, 2017 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Branson MO
Posts: 441
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I just planted a Bonnie Patio today. Good looking plant, we'll see how it goes.
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May 11, 2017 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Joplin MO
Posts: 1,398
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I have had good luck with the Bonnie plants I have planted in the past. I haven't begun starting my plants from seed. I buy the little 4 packs for $1.29 and nurture them until planting time. But I only grow around 20 tomato plants.
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May 11, 2017 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Arkansas, Zone 7b
Posts: 101
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I have had mostly good luck with Bonnie plants. They helped me grow stuff while I got my container garden system together. I've had really good luck with their standard hybrids, like all the "Big" and "Betters". But also Husky Cherry Red and Sungold. Never had a problem with one of their pepper plants.
I'm going to start plants from seed for the first time next year, but I still might buy a couple Bonnie's. |
May 11, 2017 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7
Posts: 4,916
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The only tomato plant (out of about 60) is a Juliet. It is no different from my other plants.
They might feed them something while in the greenhouse to keep them stocky. But once you plant them out they will be normal. That is my experience. Every year I just buy one or two Bonnie plants. On the other hand I don't like their business practice. They have cornered the seedling/plants market and they seem to have no competition. They sell a tomato seedling for $4 ( tax added ).
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May 11, 2017 | #10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 1,836
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I've bought some Bonnie plants that didn't grow at all... too much growth inhibitors...
Peppers more than tomatoes. |
May 11, 2017 | #11 |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
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I won't grow Bonnie Plants because of the growth regulating hormones and they cost too much. I like planting from seed.
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May 11, 2017 | #12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Kennewick, WA (7a)
Posts: 182
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I don't understand the growth inhibitors in Bonnie plants that many tville members write about as that has not been my experience. It must be a regional thing. I've always had good luck with them in the past. Here is a picture of my 2015 Bonnie tomatoes before I started to grow from seed.
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May 11, 2017 | #13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 3,825
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Not my experience either. But then. I've only grown their herbs here in TX. Break up that $3.49 pot and you've got 3-5 plants. Not expensive.
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Stupidity got us into this mess. Why can't it get us out? - Will Rogers |
May 12, 2017 | #14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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I have only noticed the hormone treatment on the largest plants. Has anyone bought a $15 plant in a gallon pot and had it get huge?
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May 12, 2017 | #15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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I cant afford the high prices on any of the plants.
I get mine from HEB and local nurseries. The ones I have bought didn't seem to have a problem just too high. Worth |
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