I don't have much of a green thumb, but I'm hoping if I keep working at it, I'll get better at it. Last year, I grew some herbs on my porch. This year, I'm going to try some tomatoes.
Just bought three plants. I've done a little research on how to pot them and so on, but I thought I would see if anyone had any tips to share based on their experience. Do you have trouble keeping insects away? Do I really need to be that concerned about mold? Keep in mind, I really don't know a lot about gardening.
I don't have much of a green thumb, but I'm hoping if I keep working at it, I'll get better at it. Last year, I grew some herbs on my porch. This year, I'm going to try some tomatoes.
Just bought three plants. I've done a little research on how to pot them and so on, but I thought I would see if anyone had any tips to share based on their experience. Do you have trouble keeping insects away? Do I really need to be that concerned about mold? Keep in mind, I really don't know a lot about gardening.
Tomatoes are pretty easy to tend. The biggest problem for them are those huge caterpillar / grub things whose name I forget, but they can just be pinched off. They should not get mouldy if you do not over water them. They need lots of sun.
Make sure you have lots of people to share them with because they will start to ripen and you will have tomatoes coming out your years. If you have a decent sized garden it is a good idea to plant several different varieties of tomatoes. Check the tags to see when they fruit. Get some some early, midseason and late varieties and you will be eating nice fresh tomatoes for months.
Tomatoes are pretty easy to tend. The biggest problem for them are those huge caterpillar / grub things whose name I forget, but they can just be pinched off. They should not get mouldy if you do not over water them. They need lots of sun.
My porch probably gets about 8 hours during the summer, so I think I'm ok there.
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Make sure you have lots of people to share them with because they will start to ripen and you will have tomatoes coming out your years. If you have a decent sized garden it is a good idea to plant several different varieties of tomatoes. Check the tags to see when they fruit. Get some some early, midseason and late varieties and you will be eating nice fresh tomatoes for months.
I wish I had thought of this. I did get a few varieties, but I didn't think too much about when they would ripen by.
"Dave Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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anthonyd said:
Just bought three plants. I've done a little research on how to pot them and so on, but I thought I would see if anyone had any tips to share based on their experience. Do you have trouble keeping insects away? Do I really need to be that concerned about mold? Keep in mind, I really don't know a lot about gardening.
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Tomatoes are pretty easy to tend. The biggest problem for them are those huge caterpillar / grub things whose name I forget, but they can just be pinched off.
Hornworms. I'm terrified of them.
Quoted message said:
Make sure you have lots of people to share them with because they will start to ripen and you will have tomatoes coming out your years. If you have a decent sized garden it is a good idea to plant several different varieties of tomatoes. Check the tags to see when they fruit. Get some some early, midseason and late varieties and you will be eating nice fresh tomatoes for months.
Look for the words Indeterminate or Determinate on the label. If you want them to all ripen at the same time to maybe store up some sauce, choose the second. You want to make sandwiches with them, choose the first.
Second, plant the roots sideways. They will grow more roots that way. Have fun!
I don't have much of a green thumb, but I'm hoping if I keep working at it, I'll get better at it. Last year, I grew some herbs on my porch. This year, I'm going to try some tomatoes.
Just bought three plants. I've done a little research on how to pot them and so on, but I thought I would see if anyone had any tips to share based on their experience. Do you have trouble keeping insects away? Do I really need to be that concerned about mold? Keep in mind, I really don't know a lot about gardening.
Tomatoes are pretty easy to tend. The biggest problem for them are those huge caterpillar / grub things whose name I forget, but they can just be pinched off. They should not get mouldy if you do not over water them. They need lots of sun.
Make sure you have lots of people to share them with because they will start to ripen and you will have tomatoes coming out your years. If you have a decent sized garden it is a good idea to plant several different varieties of tomatoes. Check the tags to see when they fruit. Get some some early, midseason and late varieties and you will be eating nice fresh tomatoes for months.
Or get a recipe for green tomatoes 🙂 (e.g. chutney)
BTW, you probably won't knwo me, I usually lurk.
Mu tomatoes do get mold. Every year. They live on my balcony, where it's windier than on the ground floor. \Supposedly, that's a risk facotr. I grin and bear because I don't know what else to do. Still, I'm happy with the harvest.
Or get a recipe for green tomatoes 🙂 (e.g. chutney)
Fried green tomatoes.
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BTW, you probably won't knwo me, I usually lurk.
I don't know anyone here. I just recognize their user names.
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Mu tomatoes do get mold. Every year. They live on my balcony, where it's windier than on the ground floor. \Supposedly, that's a risk facotr. I grin and bear because I don't know what else to do. Still, I'm happy with the harvest.
I live in a very moist region and I have never had problems with mould. I have a well that runs low in the summer and switch to cistern when the well gets too low. At the price of trucked in water, I do not water my garden.
Mu tomatoes do get mold. Every year. They live on my balcony, where it's windier than on the ground floor. \Supposedly, that's a risk facotr. I grin and bear because I don't know what else to do. Still, I'm happy with the harvest.
My first and last batch of patio tomatoes (huge pots, on the deck) got stem rot.
Where does this come from? I'm ready to try it again with all new pots & dirt.
Mu tomatoes do get mold. Every year. They live on my balcony, where it's windier than on the ground floor. \Supposedly, that's a risk facotr. I grin and bear because I don't know what else to do. Still, I'm happy with the harvest.
My first and last batch of patio tomatoes (huge pots, on the deck) got stem rot.
Where does this come from? I'm ready to try it again with all new pots & dirt.
Poor drainage in the pots or too much water? Put some old pottery shards in the bottom of the pot to help the soil drain better, and lay off the watering. Field tomatoes do fine in soil that gets pretty dry and they are native to arid areas. They need some watering, but not as much as some people think.
Just bought three plants. I've done a little research on how to pot them and so on, but I thought I would see if anyone had any tips to share based on their experience. Thank you!!
Try rec.gardens.edible. That would be the place for this discussion. Best luck with your tomatoes -- mine will go into the dirt tonight. -- -Barb, <http://www.jamlady.eboard.com> 5/8/05. "Are we going to measure, or are we going to cook?" -Food Critic Mimi Sheraton
Just bought three plants. I've done a little research on how to pot them and so on, but I thought I would see if anyone had any tips to share based on their experience. Thank you!!
Try rec.gardens.edible. That would be the place for this discussion. Best luck with your tomatoes -- mine will go into the dirt tonight. -Barb, <http://www.jamlady.eboard.com> 5/8/05.
Phhhhht. I picked first 5 cherry tomatoes today in high west Texas. Edrena.
"anthonyd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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snip my original jabbering
Quoted message said:
Tomatoes are pretty easy to tend. The biggest problem for them are those huge caterpillar / grub things whose name I forget, but they can just be pinched off. They should not get mouldy if you do not over water them. They need lots of sun.
My porch probably gets about 8 hours during the summer, so I think I'm ok there.
Quoted message said:
Make sure you have lots of people to share them with because they will start to ripen and you will have tomatoes coming out your years. If you have a decent sized garden it is a good idea to plant several different varieties of tomatoes. Check the tags to see when they fruit. Get some
some
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
early, midseason and late varieties and you will be eating nice fresh tomatoes for months.
I wish I had thought of this. I did get a few varieties, but I didn't think too much about when they would ripen by.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Also be prepared to support them with canes, even before they fruit - they start to fall over when they get a certain size.
nother thing - my wife always pinches back some of the shoots at various times - as she has always tended the tomatoes (and I've got a head full of other plant stuff buzzing around my skull ATM), I'm not sure which ones, but it certainly helps the plant grow strong and yield well - anyone got the details in mind?
Can't beat fresh home grown tomatoes right off the vine eh? ',;~}~
"The Joneses" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Melba's Jammin said:
In article <[email hidden]>,
anthonyd said:
This year, I'm going to try some tomatoes.
Quoted message said:
Just bought three plants. I've done a little research on how to pot them and so on, but I thought I would see if anyone had any tips to share based on their experience. Thank you!!
Try rec.gardens.edible. That would be the place for this discussion. Best luck with your tomatoes -- mine will go into the dirt tonight. -Barb, <http://www.jamlady.eboard.com> 5/8/05.
Phhhhht. I picked first 5 cherry tomatoes today in high west Texas. Edrena.
Well - ours have all flowered now too - can't wait until they're fruiting ',;~}~
Mu tomatoes do get mold. Every year. They live on my balcony, where it's windier than on the ground floor. \Supposedly, that's a risk facotr. I grin and bear because I don't know what else to do. Still, I'm happy with the harvest.
My first and last batch of patio tomatoes (huge pots, on the deck) got stem rot.
Where does this come from? I'm ready to try it again with all new pots & dirt.
Poor drainage in the pots or too much water? Put some old pottery shards in the bottom of the pot to help the soil drain better, and lay off the watering. Field tomatoes do fine in soil that gets pretty dry and they are native to arid areas. They need some watering, but not as much as some people think.
Thanks for the info - I probably overwatered. I had lots of shards, so drainage wasn't the problem. Sometimes I just get too excited with the watering can. LOL.
Like any snow-belt tomato lover, I've always dreamed of a longer growing season.
Now, we live in Southern Arizona. The tomato beds have been prepped, the plants ar "in" God knows they get enough sunshine....
And they're just sitting there ... No signs of growth at all !
This is like a nightmare !!
Give them time and a little water to get them established. They don't do much for a week or two after transplanting them to the garden, but then they will start to grow a bit. After a bit of slow growth they will develop rapidly, blossom and bear fruit.
Like any snow-belt tomato lover, I've always dreamed of a longer growing season.
Now, we live in Southern Arizona. The tomato beds have been prepped, the plants ar "in" God knows they get enough sunshine....
And they're just sitting there ... No signs of growth at all !
This is like a nightmare !!
Give them time and a little water to get them established. They don't do much for a week or two after transplanting them to the garden, but then they will start to grow a bit. After a bit of slow growth they will develop rapidly, blossom and bear fruit.
I like to keep the wind off of them for about a few days after transplanting -- usually with a brown paper grocery bag with the bottom torn out stripped over them, and a few temporary stakes to keep the bag from collapsing.
Here's some general advice about getting a good crop of tomatoes. The soil must be rich and moisture holding amd before planting you should rake in some good general fertiliser. In the winter dig in some good compost or manure aswell. Have a look at "Food from your Garden" by the Reader's Digest.
I don't have much of a green thumb, but I'm hoping if I keep working at it, I'll get better at it. Last year, I grew some herbs on my porch. This year, I'm going to try some tomatoes.
Just bought three plants. I've done a little research on how to pot them and so on, but I thought I would see if anyone had any tips to share based on their experience. Do you have trouble keeping insects away? Do I really need to be that concerned about mold? Keep in mind, I really don't know a lot about gardening.
Thank you!!
Last year I grew 4 varieties of tomatoes, all in raised beds not pots. I had no problems with bugs. A spray made from chamomile tea will help with transplant shock. There are two types of tomatoes: determinant and indeterminant. Some indeterminants can get quite large as in over 6' so requires a lot of staking. To find out whether yours is determinant or indeterminant, google for the variety. I haven't tried tomatoes in pots other than in the greenhouse. They grow well in there with no insect problems. The problem with growing them in pots is the pot size limits the tomatoes. If you get any flying insect problems, try Safer's Sticky Stiks traps. They are ideal and won't interfer with your vegetables. Here's a good website for common tomato problems: http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Pests/Diseases/tomaprob.htm
BTW, a lot of vegetables do well in pots. I know there are a few websites devoted to container gardening. If you google for "container gardening" you will get quite a few. It's surprising what you can grow in containers. Here's a website to get your started: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/container/container.html
Grow some of the heirloom or open polinated varieties if you can find them. Seeds are passed from father to son because they taste really good. In general, heirloom varieties should have been available since WWII. My absolute favourite is the Amish type Brandywine. Once you try one, you will never touch another supermarket tomato again. This year, I am growing Brandywine, Polish Oxheart and Sicilian Sauce. CAN'T Wait!!!!
Farmer John
"~patches~" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
anthonyd said:
I don't have much of a green thumb, but I'm hoping if I keep working at it, I'll get better at it. Last year, I grew some herbs on my porch. This year, I'm going to try some tomatoes.
Just bought three plants. I've done a little research on how to pot them and so on, but I thought I would see if anyone had any tips to share based on their experience. Do you have trouble keeping insects away? Do I really need to be that concerned about mold? Keep in mind, I really don't know a lot about gardening.
Thank you!!
Last year I grew 4 varieties of tomatoes, all in raised beds not pots. I had no problems with bugs. A spray made from chamomile tea will help with transplant shock. There are two types of tomatoes: determinant and indeterminant. Some indeterminants can get quite large as in over 6' so requires a lot of staking. To find out whether yours is determinant or indeterminant, google for the variety. I haven't tried tomatoes in pots other than in the greenhouse. They grow well in there with no insect problems. The problem with growing them in pots is the pot size limits the tomatoes. If you get any flying insect problems, try Safer's Sticky Stiks traps. They are ideal and won't interfer with your vegetables. Here's a good website for common tomato problems: http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Pests/Diseases/tomaprob.htm
BTW, a lot of vegetables do well in pots. I know there are a few websites devoted to container gardening. If you google for "container gardening" you will get quite a few. It's surprising what you can grow in containers. Here's a website to get your started: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/container/container.html
