SETTFest™ event information and discussion forum. South East Texas Tomato Fest
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June 30, 2007 | #16 | |||
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,027
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Thanks for the kind words, folks. Some years are better than others, and this has been a good one for me. It was tough going in early April with those late (near) frosts, and I even got some minor cold damage at one point. The plants grew out of it, though.
I use Daconil early in the season, as I think it makes a big difference in helping the plants stay healthy long enough to reach a critical mass. Later on, I stop using it for two reasons: (1) It's a pain to thoroughly scrub all that ripe fruit, and (2) Too many plants in my case to make it practical when they get big. In the pictures, I hadn't sprayed for over a month. I'm meticulous about my plants early on, and will clean up leaves below the first fruit set. I'll also go though a couple of times a week and remove any 'blighty' leaves I see. Of course, later on, with all those plants it becomes impractical to keep it up - but I like to get them off to a good start. Also, I don't have it as bad as the folks in Houston do. We don't get as much rain (normally), but still a fair amount, and it is not quite as 'tropical' here. A little less humidity, bugs, etc. So, my season is a little longer. Quote:
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I'm on solid sugar sand -- my backyard is like a beach. The raised beds are 12" high and were filled with a custom garden mix (50/50) of quality compost and sandy loam (I inspected the mix before buying). I also added Peat Moss; two bales per 3' x 12' bed. According to my rough calculations, the peat was probably ~25% of the mixture. The peat may have not been strictly necessary, but I wanted to be absolutely sure everything was light and fluffy, because that's what plants seem to prefer, especially with the occasional torrential rains that can happen here. Amendments - I limed the beds with dolomitic/granulated lime, small amounts of Epsom Salts, plenty of organic fert (a cornmeal/alfalfa mixture). Then, I mixed everything up with a pitchfork and wet it down a couple of weeks before planting - the soil mix, the peat, the amendments. I also have been feeding every couple of weeks since fruit set with slow release/granulated fertilizer marked 'for tomatoes' (or vegetables). I use whatever is on sale. Yes, I am growing the one you shared with C. that should be spelled w/the "u". I didn't mention that to Morgan, and our tasting notes were likely pretty jumbled and tomato juice smeared. |
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July 1, 2007 | #17 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: belgium
Posts: 134
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Amazing garden, and the way the tomatoes are grown, simply unimaginable over here because of the late blight, this year's first 'attack' end of May(!), even in a greenhouse this cannot be realized over here, and wonderful pictures too, great,
Frank |
July 1, 2007 | #18 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Home=Napa Valley/ Garden=Solano County
Posts: 245
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Very nice!
If you just moved there then I would call it an instant pop-up tomato forest. Brad.... |
July 1, 2007 | #19 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Warm Springs, GA
Posts: 1,421
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Very very NICE!!!
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July 1, 2007 | #20 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Kansas
Posts: 155
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What are the cages made of?
How many plants are in the 3 x 12 beds? Great looking tomato garden. |
July 2, 2007 | #21 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Cranberry Country, SE MA - zone 6?
Posts: 353
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Suze,
You certainly have a beautiful garden. Hard to believe it's the first year. How many varieties total are you growing? It is almost enough to make me want to visit Tejas again. Actually I love it, but my experience is mostly Houston and points south along the coast. I am extremely jealous. Here in my frost pocket my plants are just beginning to flower and set fruit. Happy gardening, Tom
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I never met a fish I didn't like. |
July 2, 2007 | #22 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Rock Hill, SC
Posts: 5,346
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[SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I] |
July 3, 2007 | #23 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,027
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Tom, I'm growing around 110 varieties this year. Thanks for the compliments.
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July 7, 2007 | #24 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 2,722
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Glad to read your assessment of GMG.
Wonderful beds. Inspiring. Got me all excited again. Thanks Suze and Feldon. |
July 9, 2007 | #25 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Philly
Posts: 559
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Wow...I mean wow...those are great pics and Suze has a great garden. Truly an inspiration!
Thank you both...simply beautiful.
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Mark |
July 9, 2007 | #26 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 1,278
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Very Nicely Done, Feldon! And Suze, wow is an understatement, those are superb plants. I now proclaim Suze, Queen Suze, Queen of Tomatoville!
My god, now I'll be ashamed to post pics of my pitiful plants! Glad ol' Faux did so well in the tasting. It really is a great tasting tomato.
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"Seriously think about what you're about to do/say before you do it and the outcome will always be better." Earl |
July 9, 2007 | #27 | ||
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,027
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Coming from you, Unca Earl, that is high praise indeed. Just remember that Carolyn is still Princess of Pistils. LOL. Quote:
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July 10, 2007 | #28 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Corpus Christi,Texas Z9
Posts: 1,996
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While it may not mean nothing, I consider many of you here at tomatoville practically royalty when it comes to tomatoes. Great bunch here no doubt and its nice to see South Texas so well represented. Suze, although you may not toot your own horn, the praise you recieve is well deserved. Its great to have such a great resource almost in my backyard.
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July 10, 2007 | #29 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Cranberry Country, SE MA - zone 6?
Posts: 353
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Only in Texas is 250 miles almost in your back yard.
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I never met a fish I didn't like. |
July 11, 2007 | #30 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,521
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Since I've known fellow Crazy Canucks that have driven from Regina to Calgary(764km/477.5Mi) for a good steak, or from Toronto to Montreal (539km/336.9Mi) in time for a lunch of Montreal Smoked Meat (one serious leadfoot used to do the Toronto/Montreal run in less than 3 hours on a regular basis, so much so that the cops after years of not catching him, set up road blocks along the Hwy 401/Trans Canada Highway to finally catch him! Still got off with a relatively low fine in comparison to these days - today he'd lose his license.) Our own family drives over 350km/219Mi to our place up in "cottage country" for the weekend....and many other "southern" Ontarians drive quite a bit farther and longer for a chance at a weekend away from the city.
Since I travel over 2600km/1625Mi to see my Sweetie in Sugar Land, 250 miles doesn't seem all that far to little ol' moi. I'm with you, duajones....almost in your own backyard! LOL....its all relative. Suze! I'm in awe of your tomato patch. I can only aspire to producing something like that here....or in Sugar Land. |
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