2013....Let the Games BEGIN !!!!!!!!!

[Noreaster]

A little late. Planted 2 weeks behind schedule. 132 plants, 58 varieties.

Now following recent advice from other T'Villlians, for first time ever, picking at first blush to protect against the rotten Jersey Squirrel Rats, who took at least the first 6 that were big.

First 2 days picked:

[Alfredo]

That's a good harvest.
~Alfredo

[AKmark]

What are the green and blk ones in the top right corner of your pic, wow, really cool looking.

[Noreaster]

Thank you !

The dark blue/green small ones are OSU blue tomato. First time tried, and have zero idea as to what they are supposed to look like when ripe !!!

(Most in pic are less than ready to eat).

[efisakov]

How about some pictures of the garden?

[Noreaster]

Okie-Dokie !

June 7th, and August 12th. Happy with results to date.

[efisakov]

Noreaster, nice settings. I was thinking about covering ground with black plastic as well to prevent diseases. My tomatoes looks like a jungle, even though I pruned them couple of times (bottom portion mostly). Some beds are really diseased now, half of the tomatoes have to be pulled in two of the 5 beds.

[riceke]

Originally Posted by Noreaster

Okie-Dokie !

June 7th, and August 12th. Happy with results to date.

Is that black plastic (impermeable) or black landscape fabric (with minute holes). If it is black plastic does your garden get enuff rain? Just curious as I have used the landscape fabric and don't like it because weeds grow on top of it and I don't think the same would happen with the plastic but am unsure about the water issue.

[Noreaster]

[QUOTE=riceke;371165]Is that black plastic (impermeable) or black landscape fabric (with minute holes). If it is black plastic does your garden get enuff rain? Just curious as I have used the landscape fabric and don't like it because weeds grow on top of it and I don't think the same would happen with the plastic but am unsure about the water issue.
[/QUOT

It's 6mm plastic. Thick, strong, and weeds can't survive. Only open dirt (around plant stem) 6-9 " wide, round....cover that with black mulch 3-4 " deep. Water heavily by hand (long metal hose extension set on "soak") only about once per month.
Moisture doesn't get easily burned away by sun through thick plastic, as it does to a certain extent by weedcloth. And forget thinner plastic. 6mm is the one, readily available at Home Depot/Lowe's.

[Ed of Somis]

N...I was wondering how you support your plants and tomato trusses. I see you have single stakes on each plant. Do you prune to one stem?

[Noreaster]

Originally Posted by Ed of Somis

N...I was wondering how you support your plants and tomato trusses. I see you have single stakes on each plant. Do you prune to one stem?

It's just one 10-foot metal tomato stake per plant. I push them down into soil as much as possible, then over time string as needed pulling plant inward and upward using JUTE as growth progresses. I never prune. First 6 weeks from bottom cut off any yellowing/browning leaves while spraying plants with daconil. After that, let 'em rip ! They get too dense .

[Ed of Somis]

thanks N...I learned this year about supporting the trusses that grow the tomatoes. That is where the real weight is. I have been lacking in that area of my growing. My shaky stakes/rope are now a hodge-podge system that is holding on....haha.

[riceke]

N: looks like you're doing the right things. You really have a nice plot of plants. It's giving me some ideas for next year. That's what I like about this site. We learn from each other no matter how long we've been doing it.