Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
September 18, 2013 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 90
|
2013 tomato growing review
Well, 2013 was the worst tomato crop I've had since I can't remember. We had a light frost on May 17th and my tomato plants were nipped a little. They were recovering nicely and then the monsoon season hit. We had torrential rain after torrential rain along with very cool weather until towards the end of June.
The new growth on my plants was stunted and, after some research, I learned that all of the nutrients were washed out of my soil. I started fertilizing weekly and they eventually came back but I basically harvested just enough tomatoes to keep us in fresh slicers and BLTs. Oh well, next year! |
September 18, 2013 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: texas
Posts: 1,451
|
I do not see how the farmers do it. One year can be good the next a complete bust. After several busts I am looking forward to next year and hoping I get enough to really process and get through the winter. Here is to determination!! Sorry BLTLOVER. May your next garden season be perfect and exceed all your expectations!
|
September 18, 2013 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Alpine, Calif. in winter. Sandpoint Lake, Ont. Canada summers
Posts: 850
|
My tomatoes experienced a freeze while passing through Rock Springs, Wyo.,
and two freezes here in the Canadian wilderness. Additionally, they got hit with an infestation of spider mites. I ended up with the worst looking plants that you can imagine that pumped out more "maters than I knew what to do with. I gave away bags to anyone that stopped by and tomato soup and 'salsa used a lot, but when we leave here on Oct. 4th, most all summer people will have left. Right now, there are over 600 tomatoes on the vines and I am making a list of likely blushing favorites to make the trip home with us. I fear my Calif. garden was not well tended during my absense. What do some of the tomatoville folks do with excessive production??? |
September 18, 2013 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 602
|
BTLOVER,
We had about 5" of rain here in central MN in one night, around June 20th. That really seemed to stunt many of my tomato plants as well. Some of them never recovered much at all. Although I was able to get a few good fruit from them. My garden as a whole was quite poor. I'm guessing many of the nutrients were washed away here as well. Better luck next year, hopefully! |
September 19, 2013 | #5 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: California Central Valley
Posts: 2,543
|
Quote:
I planted about the same number of plants as in past years, but this year I have at least an extra 10-20 tomatoes a week. In past years I gave away 1-3 tomatoes a week. And my late-planted tomatoes (mostly cherry and currant varieties) have just started to produce! |
|
September 19, 2013 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 907
|
|
September 20, 2013 | #7 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: California Central Valley
Posts: 2,543
|
Quote:
I've also brought them Armenian cukes. I don't know if anyone else was bringing them, too, but I saw a pretty sorry looking one in the "take all you want" box 10 days after I brought them some. They get the round red tomatoes. I brought 1 or 2 Ananas Noire and Purple Calabash, and had to explain what they were ("tomatoes -- they're supposed to be that color"). On the other hand, I brought sorrel, rainbow lacinato kale, and a bunch of basil and chives at different times, and clients were there who were happy to get them. But I'm always worried that if I bring something unusual, it's going to go to waste, so I've been trying to find other outlets for the unusual stuff. |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|