Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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May 29, 2020 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 2,593
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My urban setup for tomatoes
Folks, This has been a great year for gardens in Atlanta - lots of rain, and temps between 75 and 85. My set up is to plant around 80 tomatoes in containers around several bamboo pyramids. As they grow, I clip them to the next circle of string.
The tomatoes are packed with flowers and green fruit. On the south side, I plant peppers and eggplants in pots. I have a secondary garden in a side yard for the dwarfs in pots - they are in the pictures below. Again, great performance so far. |
May 29, 2020 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Seattle
Posts: 58
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That’s looking fantastic!
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May 30, 2020 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 7,068
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Scott how do you water them all when the rain stops? Down here we haven't had much rain and just watering my raised beds has been a real pain. Thank goodness we got a half inch of rain yesterday.
Have you been bothered by TSWV this year? I just pulled my sixth one afflicted with it yesterday. I am also growing way too many tomatoes this year if there is such a thing. Good luck as the season progresses because it looks like you have got a great start. Bill |
May 30, 2020 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 2,593
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Bill, I run an irrigation system with an emitter in each pot. The whole thing works off the Internet - I use BHyve as my wireless system, and I can water remotely, from overseas if I need to. I can water 300 pots with a few clicks from Bangkok.
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May 30, 2020 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b
Posts: 1,685
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Nice, Scott! Looks like you'll have a ton to can up. I'm just now getting a few tiny babies among the flowers.
It sure has been a good May rain-wise and come late June and July we'll wish we had some. Fortunately there's no funk out and about yet. Still, I'd like to get a few dry days to put out some Serenade as a preventative. Did you get a big storm last night? We had a pretty good blow here last evening about 9:45. |
May 30, 2020 | #6 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 2,593
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Quote:
We didn't get that storm, but lots of local violent storms moving around almost every day now. Welcome to thunderstorm season! Saw your pics on the other thread - how disappointing. |
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May 30, 2020 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Scotland
Posts: 36
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Beautiful plants and fantastic system.
Watering controlled via internet and 80 different pots so you could tailor the conditions perfectly for each individual plant...dream set-up!
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Happy growing, Emilia |
June 2, 2020 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Southern WI
Posts: 2,742
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Great looking plants! I don't even see a spot of Septoria, I am already seeing a few spots I've promptly removed here in WI--I would guess ATL would be worse, but maybe it's not a huge problem for you?
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June 2, 2020 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 2,593
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I do a daily run with scissors and remove every frond with disease.
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June 2, 2020 | #10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Indialantic, Florida
Posts: 2,000
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I like your setup. How do you keep your TeePee's upright or don't you have wind problems?
On the bamboo, you already made rungs from cord/string and as your plants grow, you are attaching the plant to the rung. Do I have this correct? |
June 3, 2020 | #11 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 2,593
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Quote:
I attach one of the legs of each pyramid to a stake in the ground. Yes. I run a series of string supports around the pyramid at one foot intervals, and simply clip the plant to the string as it grows up. |
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June 3, 2020 | #12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Indialantic, Florida
Posts: 2,000
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Thanks for getting back with me. Looks great and easy to try on a small scale, even one set of bamboo and a plant on 2 sides of the bamboo.
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July 19, 2020 | #13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Germany
Posts: 13
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Very nice, thank you for the pictures. I made teepees every year, but from smaller bamboo.. Half good only. I never thought of adding a string system like you did. will do it now.
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July 19, 2020 | #14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Eastern/Coastal NC 8b
Posts: 192
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Tomato Tripods are Great
If you have difficulty getting appropriate size/length bamboo visit your local big box store and purchase some 1"x2"x8' furring strips. Drill a hole about 6" down down the top in each strip, loosely insert a bolt or even a length of clothes hangar to make a "top point". Spread the legs in a tripod and proceed as with bamboo.
I have used this method in the past and always sprayed the bottom (in the ground end of the strips) with a rubberized spray used for sealing gutters to prevent rot or just staple some sandwich baggies on them. Be sure to secure at least one strip with a solid stake in the ground to prevent them from toppling in high winds. |
August 9, 2020 | #15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Germany
Posts: 13
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Did not think about protecting the ends, that is a good advice (I like less work), thank you!
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