Very Informative Publication on Tomatoes

[ContainerTed]

I found this a few months back and just got around to reading it. While it is aimed at commercial efforts, it has a wealth of information on tomato seed planting, seedlings, transplanting, diseases and insects. I think it is a must read for folks who are just getting into growing their own seedlings. But, it is also some very good info for us all. Great descriptions of diseases and other afflictions to our plants is really an eye opener for even the experienced.

[AlittleSalt]

So far, I've made it to page 6. I had never heard of float trays. Of course, I'm not growing commercially either. It is interesting though.

[ContainerTed]

I'm still working on "float trays" to be sure, but I'm aware of one enterprise nearby that uses the same principle that lettuce growers use - Styrofoam trays with holes for roots and support for the growing seedlings. It's a hydroponic system on steroids. I'll confirm when I'm sure of what they are referring to in this Publication.

This Pub refers to "Roundup" and indicates use at least one year before trying to use the sprayed area. But later there are descriptions of diseases and effects of a good list of critters. Look past the commercial side of things here, and there's a lot for the backyard gardener as well. I think it is good foundation material for the "newbies" and the "Oldies" alike.

[AlittleSalt]

There's a lot to learn from that PDF site.

I just read about Harvesting, and I also read in-between the lines. Sometimes, it's better to see things written out to understand it better.

Mature green tomatoes are usually harvested

when a white star appears on the blossom

end of the fruit. The white star signifies

that the seeds are mature and the fruit will develop

normal color when exposed to ethylene gas. Usually,

three or four harvests are all that is made of mature

green tomatoes. Mature green tomatoes are

harvested into large bulk bins and then hauled to a

packing shed where they are run across a grading

machine and separated according to size, color and

defects. They are then placed into 25—pound boxes

according to size, placed in the ripening room and

then transported to market. Vine-ripe tomatoes are

normally harvested about twice per week during the

growing season. They are normally packed

individually into appropriate containers according to

the market demand.