Tomato Growing Project

[norma427]

cranky,

Thanks for going over the data sheet and telling me you think the stuff I am using is okay.  I would like to start a compost pile sometime, but I really don’t know how to go about it.  Maybe by next year I will learn.  Our soil in our area is decent and we have lots of worms, in our soil.  We even get big night crawlers when it really rains.  I used to go out hunting them at night time with my dad for fishing.  Those buggers were hard to get.  If it really rains here they are out on the road.  I have added sterilized manure to my soil before I planted my plants, so I guess that is also helping.  I have put mulch on top of the soil, also to keep the weeds down and to help keep the moisture in.  This is a link, where I posted today on how my tomato plants are doing if you are interested in seeing it.

http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,10535.msg104040.html#msg104040

I appreciate all your help, because although I have gardened some for years, really don’t know that much about gardening.

Thanks for all your help,

Norma

[cranky]

I have added sterilized manure to my soil before I planted my plants, so I guess that is also helping.  I have put mulch on top of the soil, also to keep the weeds down and to help keep the moisture in.  http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,10535.msg104040.html#msg104040

I appreciate all your help, because although I have gardened some for years, really don’t know that much about gardening.

Norma

Your tomato plants look lots nicer than mine.  You have an advantage of more favorable climate though.  I am really concerned about the lack of bees.  I hope I get a good crop of tomatoes.  The plants are doing fine, got some tomatoes, a zillion flowers and I hope they bear fruit.  I have also gardened for years and am no expert.  You pick up a trick here and there.   The manure and mulch is probably all you need, depending on how much you put on.   If the plants are growing you must be doing something right.

[norma427]

 

I am really concerned about the lack of bees.  I hope I get a good crop of tomatoes.  The plants are doing fine, got some tomatoes, a zillion flowers and I hope they bear fruit.

cranky,

I wonder what happened to your bees. Are there usually a lot of bees in your area? 

Norma

[cranky]

cranky,

I wonder what happened to your bees. Are there usually a lot of bees in your area? 

Norma

Never had a problem with garden pollination.  THere were lots of feral colonies and also hives kept by hobbyists. 

[Mick.Chicago]

My Tomatoes last year suffered from a sever lack of bee's and other pollen spreaders!

This year we're OK, a few colorful flowers to get them in and we have 100's of fruit on the chili and tomato plants.

[Pete-zza]

Several years ago, I tried to grow tomatoes where I live in Texas just outside of Dallas. Even though tomatoes are not indigenous to Texas, they are grown in East Texas and trucked into the Dallas market. When I attempted to grow tomatoes in my small back yard, I had problems with the lack of bees to pollinate the flowers. I ended up doing it by hand, using a small brush. When I asked a friend who, at the time, was a landscape expert, he told me that bees do not like very hot weather, which means several months in Texas. Even now when I look for bees, I do not see them. Only a few wasps on occasion. What ultimately cured me of growing my own tomatoes was the cost of growing them--about $2.98 per tomato .

Peter

[Jackie Tran]

Peter, I haven't done the math, but it sounds a lot like my other hobbies like fishin'.

[BrickStoneOven]

I went outside to water the tomatoes this morning when I saw that half a branch was eaten. The first thing I thought was caterpillar, so I looked around for a couple minutes and couldn't find the little F'er. So I went to grab a stem to look at how much he ate and I grabbed him. He was so camouflaged that I didn't see him at first.

[cranky]

Guess you don't have to worry about pruning.  I hope he does not have a lot of cousins nearby.

[cranky]

What ultimately cured me of growing my own tomatoes was the cost of growing them--about $2.98 per tomato .

Peter

How did they taste? 

I used the electric toothbrush method.  Went through 26 plants in 15 minutes. 

I used to be able to buy locally grown tomatoes at $.20/lb during canning season.  Now they want $1.  It was $.50 for the rest of the season, by the case.   That was not that many years ago.  I still put in a few plants for fun then. 

What does this have to do with pizza?  This is a pizza forum afterall.  There is a lot of discussion on what tomato brand is best.  People pay a lot for imported Italian tomatoes, a lot to ship a case of tomatoes from a certain packer, or KASL.    I have also.  Cost is not the issue.  The tomatoes I grow are lots better than any imported, or CA canned tomato.  When used fresh there is a vast difference.  No pizzeria pizza comes close, but compared to opening a can the time to prepare fresh is crazy.  When used frozen off season the difference is still significant.  It does not cost me a lot in terms of time to grow a garden, but I probably could buy stuff cheaper.  Not sure!  I enjoy being outside and getting dirty, and making and eating good pizza.  Not about to put in a wfo and pay thousands for it, but I thought about it.  In the end though growing the tomatoes, oregano and basil is part of the process.  Same reason people go fishing.  Filling the freezer with salmon, halibut, crab and tomatoes feels good.  My grown daughter wants to make fresh mozz with me and her kids.  Very good to do.  If I lived in Dallas where it is even too hot for bees I might have an indoor hobby which is not all bad.  We all get to benefit and are grateful for yours Pete.  You could be the Johnny Appleseed of homemade pizza.  Thank you!


 

[sear]

I went outside to water the tomatoes this morning when I saw that half a branch was eaten. The first thing I thought was caterpillar, so I looked around for a couple minutes and couldn't find the little Fer. So I went to grab a stem to look at how much he ate and I grabbed him. He was so camouflaged that I didn't see him at first.

Horn worm Aka Goliath warm Aka Tomato worm !

if you can believe it i actually buy those sometimes. they are a treat for my bearded dragon
i have never seen them in NY untill a week ago. found one on a plant that was half eaten.
and yesterday i went out and a small tomato plant was completley eaten ... even ate half of a green tomato.
worm wasnt around tho.

my tomatoes are doing ok , im starting to see the yellow brown specs same as last year (some disease)
ive been spraying with serande everyother week and it seems to help. next year i am only going to grow plum tomatoes. they seem to be doing the best, might have a couple ripe ones next week.

i was not impressed with the $1 pound plum tomatoes i got at the supermarket. in fact they sucked, hardly any flavor.

im gonna have to try buying from farm stands next

[Pete-zza]

cranky,

The tomatoes did taste good. However, I was burdened with many obstacles, including a small, narrow piece of land on which to grow things (I have an urban zero lot line home) and too little exposure to the sun because of the orientation of my garden spot relative to the sun. Also, because of the intense summer heat, I would have had to install a watering system or position plants (usually in pots) in the path of my sprinkler system if I wanted to go on vacation or spend a few days away from home. To save time and effort, I would purchase fairly large tomato plants from the East Texas farmers I mentioned earlier but the varieties were determinate and most of the tomatoes would ripen at the same time and stop producing thereafter. I tried patio farming and bought all kinds of containers and soils, fertilizers, amendments, etc., but the combination of intense Texas heat and insufficient sun conspired to make it difficult to raise things. I don't think I was alone. To this day, I never see anyone in my area growing tomatoes. A couple of years ago, one of my neighbors tried growing tomatoes. I saw a single pathetic looking plant in a container with one tomato on it. I was almost tempted to take a photo and post it on the forum to provoke a few laughs.

I tried growing things inside my home, such as basil in the winter, but I do not have a good sun window. Most of my pizzas don't use basil anyway so using artificial lighting does not tempt me. I guess I am not the type of person who says "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again". I am more like what Dirty Harry says: "A man's got to know his limitations"  .

Peter

[Jackie Tran]

That's funny Peter.  I'm a bit more of a bonehead (hard headed) .  did you look into hydroponics or aeroponics? 

[Pete-zza]

did you look into hydroponics or aeroponics? 

Chau,

I did briefly after I read what you and others were doing in this respect. However, after thinking about it, I decided to lie down and not to get up again until the feeling completely went away. Too much passion on matters like this can be overly distracting and energy draining.

Peter

[Randy]

Bugs, these were eating last years crop.

[BrickStoneOven]

I found another F'er on another one of my plants. The only reason I saw it is because I saw a bunch of little black things on leaves, I followed them up and saw the other one. I am assuming those little black things were his waste... free fertilizer.

I also saw that the one before that I found had eaten half a tomato.

[cranky]

The tomatoes did taste good. However, I was burdened with many obstacles, including a small, narrow piece of land on which to grow things (I have an urban zero lot line home) and too little exposure to the sun because of the orientation of my garden spot relative to the sun. Also, because of the intense summer heat, I would have had to install a watering system or position plants (usually in pots) in the path of my sprinkler system if I wanted to go on vacation or spend a few days away from home. To save time and effort, I would purchase fairly large tomato plants from the East Texas farmers I mentioned earlier but the varieties were determinate and most of the tomatoes would ripen at the same time and stop producing thereafter. I tried patio farming and bought all kinds of containers and soils, fertilizers, amendments, etc., but the combination of intense Texas heat and insufficient sun conspired to make it difficult to raise things.

Wow!  No can can say you didn't try. Ever considered relocating?

". I am more like what Dirty Harry says: "A man's got to know his limitations"  .

Peter

A few years ago the family all went back to east coast, NYC area,  for a 50th anniversay celebration.  It was January and near zero and windy.  We were there that past August and it was 95 or so with 90 deg humidity.  We were out for a walk in the cold and a married daughter said she wondered why anyone would live there.  I wonder the same, but at least they can grow tomatoes.

[cranky]

Chau,

I did briefly after I read what you and others were doing in this respect. However, after thinking about it, I decided to lie down and not to get up again until the feeling completely went away. Too much passion on matters like this can be overly distracting and energy draining.

Peter

That is even funnier.  Are you kidding?  Whatever too much passion is I can't tell, but there is no doubt you are an over the top pizza zealot.

[cranky]

I am assuming those little black things were his waste... free fertilizer.

You made to assumptions and both could be wrong.  The first is the gender of the marauder.  The second is the nature of the black things.  Could probably be eggs.

[norma427]

A few years ago the family all went back to east coast, NYC area,  for a 50th anniversay celebration.  It was January and near zero and windy.  We were there that past August and it was 95 or so with 90 deg humidity.  We were out for a walk in the cold and a married daughter said she wondered why anyone would live there.  I wonder the same, but at least they can grow tomatoes.

cranky,

Yes, where I live it can get very cold in the winter, with much snow and in the summer it can get very hot, hazy, and humid.  I really don't like the temperature changes. At least our area is good for growing.   We do have plenty of all kinds of bees and butterflies for pollination. When I go outside in the summer, there are always bees and butterflies.

Norma