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Post by amanitovirosa on Mar 19, 2015 10:43:22 GMT -5
...I had to start one of these. I'm sure there are others out there that love a good tomato, from the garden I mean, not from the store. I don't even buy tomatoes in the off season. They don't smell like tomatoes, they don't look like tomatoes and they don't taste like tomatoes. When I bought this shack, which has a decent, south facing back yard a few years ago I went gung ho! I had about 140 tomato plants, probably 40 varieties or so. I had big ones, pea sized ones, yellow, orange, white, blue, purple, hollow. It was a tomato forest back there! I built a 2X4 support system for the whole thing and it even had a ceiling support. Anyways, I had tomato plants growing to 14-16 feet, needed a ladder to get to the top. Over the few years I have scaled the operation down a bit because of the time required to maintain it. I've also narrowed it down to my favourite varieties. I felt compelled to write something like this as I seeded my 2015 tomato batch today. Thanks for reading. Oh yeah, if anyone wants any tomato seeds just let me know, I have tons! Cheers!
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Post by lloyd on Mar 19, 2015 11:03:59 GMT -5
I agree 100% on the tomatoes. Your set-up sounds amazing. I only have space for some deck growing but that still gives me a good amount of tomatoes. I keep forgetting when to start my seeds. Is this the right time? In Toronto, it's not safe to put them outside until early June.
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Post by amanitovirosa on Mar 19, 2015 11:16:02 GMT -5
...I just found some pics so I thought I'd put them up.  DSCN4273 (1280x960) by mrvirosa, on Flickr  DSCN4421 (1280x960) by mrvirosa, on Flickr ...never mind the old man in the second pic, check out what he's holding! Lloyd, I always start my seeds around this time of year (Feb is too early, tried it) and put them outside after the May 24 weekend. If you want seeds, I can send you some. Heirlooms of course, my own. Cheers! |
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Post by lloyd on Mar 19, 2015 13:00:34 GMT -5
Thanks very much for the offer. I bought 4 varieties for this year so I'll go with them. I try to pick ones that will be good and do well in containers. You have a great set-up there.
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Post by Dennis A(cook1973) on Mar 19, 2015 13:35:11 GMT -5
I got tomato seeds and pepper seeds ready for this spring
worked last year so it better this year lol!!
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Post by amanitovirosa on Mar 19, 2015 18:22:18 GMT -5
Thanks very much for the offer. I bought 4 varieties for this year so I'll go with them. I try to pick ones that will be good and do well in containers. You have a great set-up there. ...thanks, that's the scaled down version from 2013, the year before it was bigger. Tomatoes are actually good in pots, they have to be fairly large and preferably white so the roots don't cook. If you're stuck for space, determinate is probably the way to go. Good luck with your seeds! |
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Post by roraima on Mar 20, 2015 0:45:47 GMT -5
Great setup there Gabriel! Looks like a really nice spot and terrific heirlooms. I can't say I can grow them like that here on the temperate west coast, but I'd love some seed if you have extra  |
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Post by shoggoths on Mar 20, 2015 7:31:21 GMT -5
Nice spot Gab! I would really like to have so much sun and space. Like Lloyd, I must grow my tomatoes in pots. I only have space for two plants  I prefer tomatoes that don't have much seeds in them. Do you have any species recommandations ? |
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Post by lloyd on Mar 20, 2015 8:34:12 GMT -5
Try getting the kinetin containing sprays for fruit set. They are available at the usual places. Spray the flowers as soon as they open. Depending on the number of pollinators you will get fewer seeds and likely more fruit. Looking for varieties with less seed will likely get you poorer taste.
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Post by shoggoths on Mar 20, 2015 9:10:06 GMT -5
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Post by amanitovirosa on Mar 20, 2015 11:17:56 GMT -5
...Shoggoths, Roraima, PM me your addresses and I'll get some seeds out to you. Anyone else that wants some can do the same.
Cheers!
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Post by lloyd on Mar 20, 2015 13:22:31 GMT -5
To see if a tomato is good for your area check the number of days to mature fruit. The longer it is the warmer/longer a season you need. The one you noted is: Maturity: 75-85. That should be doable most places in Southern Canada. It's indeterminate so it needs a lot of room to grow and it would be better in ground and not in a container.
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Post by gerry on Mar 20, 2015 13:29:04 GMT -5
Are there any types of tomatoes that can be container grown on a small south facing balcony? or any other veggie garden type plant? Want to try growing some food, but not sure what kind of seeds/seedlings to buy.
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Post by lloyd on Mar 20, 2015 14:21:05 GMT -5
To my mind, you have to ask yourself which homegrown produce is significantly better than fresh, local store bought produce. IMHO, tomatoes are #1. That's why I go to the trouble of growing tomatoes. Determinate tomatoes are best for containers.
Other than that, fun and easy determine what you should grow in containers-herbs are a good choice.
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Post by shoggoths on Mar 20, 2015 17:39:45 GMT -5
Ground cherry are easy and fun too !
Let me a bit of time Gab and I'll send you a quick PM about what I'm looking for. Thank you.
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