The EarthTainer "Farm" Update June 1 - Tomatoes, Peppers, & Cukes

rnewste · May 31, 2013

The "Farm" is in full swing today:

In Harvest mode:

Jetsetter:

Better Boy left; Big Daddy right:

Big Daddy:

Big Beef:

Momotaro:

Early Large Red:

Vilmorin Dona F1:

Today's haul:

I'm glad I decided to prune the lower 12 inches. Minimal fungal problems:

The Peppers are going great:

Colossal

Bianca

And the cukes are filling out:

Sweet Success

Diva

Still trying to decide if the Burpee On-Deck variety is a "keeper":

I have had to reseed 3 times due to very poor germination:

At some point, reseeding becomes not worth it, as the taller stalks will shade the new seedlings.

Next to the On-Deck, I am growing Gurney's Gotta Have It variety (on the right):

Much better first-time germination. So we will see how the comparison goes (2 on left: On Deck; 3 on right: Gotta Have It):

The fertilizer trials continue with all exceeding the performance of the original Tomato-tone. I am now trialing different fertilizers on the same variety (Desters) at the suggestion of "Dust" here on Tomatoville.

...and I will close with a bit of garden color:

From seeds Dole Plantation Store Oahu.

Raybo

ContainerTed · May 31, 2013

You know, Raybo, there is one thing I have taken away from your efforts. You have shown that the list of veggies that can be grown in containers is a long list indeed. As usual, your efforts are making me wish I was your next-door neighbor.

Yes, that's right. I would wait til you leave on one of your frequent trips and, having volunteered to "watch your crop", make sure you didn't return to any problems with "over-ripeness".

Good neighbors make sure of that kind of stuff.

Looking good!!

JamesL · May 31, 2013

Dang Ray! Wonderful, as per your usual.....
My hero worship continues.

rnewste · May 31, 2013

Actually Ted you wouldn't have to "jump the fence".

All that I picked today (except the Momotaro) went to others. Dear wife's OB/GYN is a neighbor down the street and I want to keep him VERY happy!

Son and D-I-L departed with the rest for her father.

Glad these are ripening quickly!

Raybo

chalstonsc · May 31, 2013

Raybo,
Looks like the pruning sure didn't hurt!!!

tlintx · May 31, 2013

WOW!

I wish my plants looked that healthy and tame and loaded with fruit. Are these in the same mix as the guide, or are they experimental?

How are you finding the Large Early Red? I was thinking of trying it (it has such a history!) but wasn't sure of the best place to find seeds, or if it was worth the effort.

Your pictures -- and garden, and techniques -- are an inspiration!

rnewste · May 31, 2013

The EarthTainer Mix is exactly as per the current Construction Guide.

I'll be saving seed from my Early Large Red plant later in the Season, so remember to send me a PM in September and I'll send out seeds.

Raybo

Vespertino · May 31, 2013

Woo hoo!! I've been waiting for this update.

I followed your advice and also trimmed the lower branches, so far no mold as far as I can tell.

Which tomato of the season has been your favorite in terms of taste?

rnewste · May 31, 2013

As I indicated above, I have given them all away today except for Momotaro, which I had with dinner tonight - excellent!

Raybo

lycomania · May 31, 2013

Your pictures are absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

aclum · May 31, 2013

Hi Raybo,

Gorgeous plants and fruits (as usual!!

I'm REALLY impressed by the beautiful uniformity of the fruit. Mine are plentiful but a large percentage now have deep cracks starting at the stem end. I'm pretty sure it's from erratic (or over-) watering. I guess the earthtainers provide the fruits with the ideal amount and frequency of watering. Seems you've really got that down!!

For an idea of scale, how tall are your cages?

Looking forward to more photos in a couple of weeks - when the mater plants will probably be at the top of their cages

Anne

rnewste · May 31, 2013

The cages are 73 inches above the mix. Not apparent in this photo, but the W.B.F. Beauty King has outgrown its cage by 5 inches as of today:

I need to start topping the plants so that I can install the Coleraoo shade in 2 weeks.

Raybo

lycomania · May 31, 2013

What a thing of beauty! Looks wonderful, Raybo!

Dewayne mater · June 1, 2013

Every year it gets more impressive! Wow! I wish I could get fruit set at half the rate you do. Beautiful clusters of fruit set! Inspiring.

Dewayne mater

z_willus_d · June 1, 2013

Hi Ray, it's great to see your efforts come to fruition, year after year. I'll never tie of viewing these posts of yours.

I came very close to purchasing that new Burpee corn variety, but I decided not to pull the trigger as I felt I had reasonable success growing the Gotta Have It last year, in InnTainers nonetheless. Oddly, the same corn that I sprouted in my work garden beds latter in that season did significantly worse, which I owe to the hotter weather of the delayed planting.

Please post a few pics of the grafted varieties as they mature as well.

Thanks,
Naysen

May 31, 2013	#1
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	The EarthTainer "Farm" Update June 1 - Tomatoes, Peppers, & Cukes The "Farm" is in full swing today: In Harvest mode: Jetsetter: Better Boy left; Big Daddy right: Big Daddy: Big Beef: Momotaro: Early Large Red: Vilmorin Dona F1: Today's haul: I'm glad I decided to prune the lower 12 inches. Minimal fungal problems: The Peppers are going great: Colossal Bianca And the cukes are filling out: Sweet Success Diva Still trying to decide if the Burpee On-Deck variety is a "keeper": I have had to reseed 3 times due to very poor germination: At some point, reseeding becomes not worth it, as the taller stalks will shade the new seedlings. Next to the On-Deck, I am growing Gurney's Gotta Have It variety (on the right): Much better first-time germination. So we will see how the comparison goes (2 on left: On Deck; 3 on right: Gotta Have It): The fertilizer trials continue with all exceeding the performance of the original Tomato-tone. I am now trialing different fertilizers on the same variety (Desters) at the suggestion of "Dust" here on Tomatoville. ...and I will close with a bit of garden color: From seeds Dole Plantation Store Oahu. Raybo

May 31, 2013	#2
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	You know, Raybo, there is one thing I have taken away from your efforts. You have shown that the list of veggies that can be grown in containers is a long list indeed. As usual, your efforts are making me wish I was your next-door neighbor. Yes, that's right. I would wait til you leave on one of your frequent trips and, having volunteered to "watch your crop", make sure you didn't return to any problems with "over-ripeness". Good neighbors make sure of that kind of stuff. Looking good!! __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch Last edited by ContainerTed; May 31, 2013 at 08:15 PM.

May 31, 2013	#3
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Dang Ray! Wonderful, as per your usual..... My hero worship continues.

May 31, 2013	#5
chalstonsc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: sc Posts: 339	Raybo, Looks like the pruning sure didn't hurt!!!

May 31, 2013	#6
tlintx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: SeTx Posts: 881	WOW! I wish my plants looked that healthy and tame and loaded with fruit. Are these in the same mix as the guide, or are they experimental? How are you finding the Large Early Red? I was thinking of trying it (it has such a history!) but wasn't sure of the best place to find seeds, or if it was worth the effort. Your pictures -- and garden, and techniques -- are an inspiration!

May 31, 2013	#8
Vespertino Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 743	Woo hoo!! I've been waiting for this update. I followed your advice and also trimmed the lower branches, so far no mold as far as I can tell. Which tomato of the season has been your favorite in terms of taste?

May 31, 2013	#10
lycomania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Zone 5b Posts: 179	Your pictures are absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

May 31, 2013	#11
aclum Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Merced, CA Posts: 832	Hi Raybo, Gorgeous plants and fruits (as usual!! I'm REALLY impressed by the beautiful uniformity of the fruit. Mine are plentiful but a large percentage now have deep cracks starting at the stem end. I'm pretty sure it's from erratic (or over-) watering. I guess the earthtainers provide the fruits with the ideal amount and frequency of watering. Seems you've really got that down!! For an idea of scale, how tall are your cages? Looking forward to more photos in a couple of weeks - when the mater plants will probably be at the top of their cages Anne

June 1, 2013	#14
Dewayne mater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 1,212	Every year it gets more impressive! Wow! I wish I could get fruit set at half the rate you do. Beautiful clusters of fruit set! Inspiring. Dewayne mater

June 1, 2013	#15
z_willus_d Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Eastern Suburb of Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,313	Hi Ray, it's great to see your efforts come to fruition, year after year. I'll never tie of viewing these posts of yours. I came very close to purchasing that new Burpee corn variety, but I decided not to pull the trigger as I felt I had reasonable success growing the Gotta Have It last year, in InnTainers nonetheless. Oddly, the same corn that I sprouted in my work garden beds latter in that season did significantly worse, which I owe to the hotter weather of the delayed planting. Please post a few pics of the grafted varieties as they mature as well. Thanks, Naysen