tomato retirement lodge - when?

tessa · April 25, 2007

i've got a sweet bite plant in a container in my courtyard that receives about three hours of direct sunlight a day, gets bore water during the dry months, and rain water during the wet months. it has now survived two hot summers, one dry winter...and now we're heading into a seemingly wetter winter (average overnight temps in the 40's, day temps in the 60-70's) and it's having another flourish and seems raring to go another round.
my question is:
how long can this last? this particular plant has been absolutely fanatical about producing fruit and just when i thought it was safe to finally rip it out and amend the soil in that container...it started throwing on new leaves and is blooming like crazy again.
i'm not complaining, now, just inquiring...cuz inquiring minds needs to know.
so who knows?

at what age does one expect to send the tomato plants off to pasture?

landarc · April 25, 2007

Wow, for me, they go off to pasture on their own after about 9 months. I have seen a couple of years (or there abouts) in greenhouse situations.

sirtanon · April 25, 2007

I like to look at tomato plants like that, which seem to just keep growing, producing, etc.. despite their age and the change of seasons..

...kind of like an old dog. If it still manages to get up every day, wander around the house, enjoy the sun and breeze, and isn't sick, just let him be and enjoy is company. Sure, he might not do as much as he used to, but he's still good to have around

tessa · April 26, 2007

oh yes...i'm definitely keeping the old dog around!

April 25, 2007	#1
tessa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: perth, western australia Posts: 1,031	tomato retirement lodge - when? i've got a sweet bite plant in a container in my courtyard that receives about three hours of direct sunlight a day, gets bore water during the dry months, and rain water during the wet months. it has now survived two hot summers, one dry winter...and now we're heading into a seemingly wetter winter (average overnight temps in the 40's, day temps in the 60-70's) and it's having another flourish and seems raring to go another round. my question is: how long can this last? this particular plant has been absolutely fanatical about producing fruit and just when i thought it was safe to finally rip it out and amend the soil in that container...it started throwing on new leaves and is blooming like crazy again. i'm not complaining, now, just inquiring...cuz inquiring minds needs to know. so who knows? at what age does one expect to send the tomato plants off to pasture?

April 25, 2007	#2
landarc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Left Coasty Posts: 964	Wow, for me, they go off to pasture on their own after about 9 months. I have seen a couple of years (or there abouts) in greenhouse situations. __________________ Lets see...$10 for Worth and $5 for Fusion, man. Tomatoes are expensive! Bob

April 25, 2007	#3
sirtanon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ (zone 9b) Posts: 796	I like to look at tomato plants like that, which seem to just keep growing, producing, etc.. despite their age and the change of seasons.. ...kind of like an old dog. If it still manages to get up every day, wander around the house, enjoy the sun and breeze, and isn't sick, just let him be and enjoy is company. Sure, he might not do as much as he used to, but he's still good to have around __________________ I could sail by on the winds of silence, and maybe they won't notice... but this time I think it would be better if I swim..

April 26, 2007	#4
tessa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: perth, western australia Posts: 1,031	oh yes...i'm definitely keeping the old dog around!