So, call me a square!

dcarch · August 5, 2006

Those of you who wonder about my avatar now have the answer.

I figure sandwiches are mostly square, why not a square tomato? Well here it is, a real square tomato. Would have been a lot more square, but it was starting to crack from too much rain.

Lots of fun when you serve your friends with a square tomato.

dcarch

peppereater · August 5, 2006

That is just too cool!

Warren · May 30, 2007

your an L 7 heehee nice have you tried to do more?

Granny · May 30, 2007

Very cool! I wonder if you could keep in from cracking by growing it in an upside down square container like the French grow fruit in a bottle?

dcarch · May 30, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warren

your an L 7 heehee nice have you tried to do more?

I tried a few more last year. It was fun. I have not done any yet this year.

dcarch

Warren · May 30, 2007

you should try more.

harleysilo · May 30, 2007

O.K. so I actually asked this in another thread here but you never responded. I suspected as much!

I would like to try this. What thickness of plexiglass do you recommend? I've tried to cut plexiglass before but could not do it without cracking/splintering of the plexi. What did you cut it with?

And I assume the process is to stick the tiny tom throught the hole, then support the cube while it grows....

Another guestion, I guess the tomato itself will grow and rippen within the cube? It doesn't need full strength sunlight to rippen? Or did you let this one ripen off the vine? How difficult was it to remove the tom from the cube, or is one side of the cube removable? I want to do it to some watermelon we have started as well.

dcarch · May 30, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by harleysilo

O.K. so I actually asked this in another thread here but you never responded. I suspected as much!
I must have missed it. Give me the link.

I would like to try this. What thickness of plexiglass do you recommend? I've tried to cut plexiglass before but could not do it without cracking/splintering of the plexi. What did you cut it with?
About 1/4" thick. Use a fine cut new blade on a table saw and go slow.

And I assume the process is to stick the tiny tom throught the hole, then support the cube while it grows....
No. The tom goes in the box, the little hole is on the bottom for water drainage.

Another guestion, I guess the tomato itself will grow and rippen within the cube? It doesn't need full strength sunlight to rippen? Or did you let this one ripen off the vine? How difficult was it to remove the tom from the cube, or is one side of the cube removable? I want to do it to some watermelon we have started as well.

The Tom will ripen without additional sun. The trick is the make the box with a slight taper so that you can slide the tom out without having to remove the sides. You can make the sides removable by using duct tape to tape the box together. Also, there is a special adhesive for gluing Plexiglas. You can buy it from the plastic store.

If you do water melon, you can use 3/4 " plywood for the mold.

Have fun.

dcarch

harleysilo · May 30, 2007

I searched but can't find it, not important anyhow.

Have brand new 80 tooth fine cut blade, fine enough do you think?

So Watermelon will rippen completely in the dark of the plywood box?

"No. The tom goes in the box, the little hole is on the bottom for water drainage."

Got it!

I don't know why I can't get over the idea the various fruits need sunlight to rippen....

instar8 · May 30, 2007

Oh, toooo funny!

The next question is how big is the cube? Then after that, what kind o mater is that?

I've seen this done with molds to make faces, etc. with gourds or melons, but the fruit usually isn't edible.

WAaay too funny! I have a bunch of polycarbonate I'm gonna use for coldframes, but it's prolly not strong enuf...what glue did you use??
I

dcarch · May 30, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by harleysilo

------Have brand new 80 tooth fine cut blade, fine enough do you think?-----------

80-tooth for a 10" blade is not that fine. If you are careful it may work because it's a new blade. Set the blade just high enough to cut the thickness of the plastic. Leave the protective paper on the plastic will help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by instar8

Oh, toooo funny!
The next question is how big is the cube? Then after that, what kind o mater is that?--------------------
WAaay too funny! I have a bunch of polycarbonate I'm gonna use for coldframes, but it's prolly not strong enuf...what glue did you use??
I

Look at the size of the Green Zebra tomato, that will give you an idea the size. I forgot what tomato it was. This year I may try it on Big Zac.
I think the glue is called Metheline chloride, not sure of the spelling. It's not a glue, it's a solvent. Drys very quickly.

Have fun.

dcarch

oldgaredneck · May 30, 2007

Hmmmm - I have some plexiglass softball display cases running around here somewhere - might try one of those!

Worth1 · May 30, 2007

I'm still thinking. morestuffsothepostwillgo

August 5, 2006	#1
dcarch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,618	So, call me a square! Those of you who wonder about my avatar now have the answer. I figure sandwiches are mostly square, why not a square tomato? Well here it is, a real square tomato. Would have been a lot more square, but it was starting to crack from too much rain. Lots of fun when you serve your friends with a square tomato. dcarch __________________ tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato tomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomatomato matomato

August 5, 2006	#2
peppereater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 99	That is just too cool! __________________ Dave

May 30, 2007	#12
oldgaredneck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Crawford County Georgia Posts: 163	Hmmmm - I have some plexiglass softball display cases running around here somewhere - might try one of those! __________________ "So many tomato varieties, so little time...."

May 30, 2007	#3
Warren Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kilgore Texas Posts: 102	your an L 7 heehee nice have you tried to do more?

May 30, 2007	#4
Granny Tomatovillian™ Honoree Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 507	Very cool! I wonder if you could keep in from cracking by growing it in an upside down square container like the French grow fruit in a bottle?

May 30, 2007	#7
harleysilo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Woodstock GA Posts: 418	O.K. so I actually asked this in another thread here but you never responded. I suspected as much! I would like to try this. What thickness of plexiglass do you recommend? I've tried to cut plexiglass before but could not do it without cracking/splintering of the plexi. What did you cut it with? And I assume the process is to stick the tiny tom throught the hole, then support the cube while it grows.... Another guestion, I guess the tomato itself will grow and rippen within the cube? It doesn't need full strength sunlight to rippen? Or did you let this one ripen off the vine? How difficult was it to remove the tom from the cube, or is one side of the cube removable? I want to do it to some watermelon we have started as well.

May 30, 2007	#10
instar8 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: N. Indiana Posts: 48	Oh, toooo funny! The next question is how big is the cube? Then after that, what kind o mater is that? I've seen this done with molds to make faces, etc. with gourds or melons, but the fruit usually isn't edible. WAaay too funny! I have a bunch of polycarbonate I'm gonna use for coldframes, but it's prolly not strong enuf...what glue did you use?? I

May 30, 2007	#13
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I'm still thinking. morestuffsothepostwillgo