The KARMA Project

[Whwoz]

I have just taken photos of the two plants growing here, plus the first fruit to form. Both plants have organza bags on them for seed collection purposes. The top plant is the one with the fruit

[ginger2778]

You're doing us proud Whwoz.

[KarenO]

They look great!

KarenO

[Whwoz]

Yes ladies, your creations are doing superbly

[Whwoz]

Up at parents on Christmas Day and wandered down to the vegetable garden, where. KARMA Pink is growing well at roughly 1 m high,plenty of flowers but no fruit as of yet. Soil is of volcanic origins, very fertile, especially by Australian standards and drains very well. Plenty of water on the farm that the folks pump about as needed.

[Whwoz]

Had a 44c/110f day today with solid winds probably in the 25+ mph range. My plants are showing a fair bit of leaf roll, more than the other PL tomatoes that I am growing. I don't prune leaves and these saved any fruit from sunburn damage. Mcsee's plant did not do as well, with fruit sunburn occurring. I will let him fully detail his experiences.

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by Whwoz

Had a 44c/110f day today with solid winds probably in the 25+ mph range. My plants are showing a fair bit of leaf roll, more than the other PL tomatoes that I am growing. I don't prune leaves and these saved any fruit from sunburn damage. Mcsee's plant did not do as well, with fruit sunburn occurring. I will let him fully detail his experiences.

Oh My Gosh! I can't believe how hot that is! 111F!

[mcsee]

I had to attend my cousins wake in a town two hours drive away and knowing it was going to be hot, all I could do was to give my 50 plants a drink and hope for the best. At one stage while I was away, I checked the temperature at home and it showed 44.2C, so I knew there'd be lots of damage.
When we got home, the damage was evident, burnt tops on all plants, sunscald on lots, with fruit scalded from top of plant to the bottom. It was pretty sad to see, but of all days to be so hot was when I was away from home.


I've since pulled out 6 plants and cut the tops out of most others (including Karma Pink) in the hope I can get some of the remaining fruit through to ripening. I usually don't grow so many plants, but I've been out of home growing for several years and was using up old seed to restock. I had most plants bagged for seed saving, but still may get a few through.

[KarenO]

Awe what a sad thing. Over 110 and windy... you may yet salvage some seeds from the scalded ones if they don’t rot.
Is it supposed to cool down? I would wait til the weather moderated, , prune hard, fertilizer and hope they come back.

[Whwoz]

Karen the temperature dropped overnight as a cool change came through at night, we got 4.5 mm here at Trafalgar, not sure if Mcsee got rain at Maffra. The following day was only 21C.

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by Whwoz

Karen the temperature dropped overnight as a cool change came through at night, we got 4.5 mm here at Trafalgar, not sure if Mcsee got rain at Maffra. The following day was only 21C.

Very good news.
Mcsee, I am sorry that you had such bad weather, but there might be good seeds on the non burnt side, as Karen said.

[Whwoz]

Starting to blush, be tasting soon

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by Whwoz

Starting to blush, be tasting soon

If you have any humidity, I suggest pulling it and letting it ripen on your countertop, the skin splits in humidity. They taste exactly the same when you let them get fully pink, no green.

[Harry Cabluck]

Sorry for your heat-caused losses. Don't give up!

[Whwoz]

Not expecting any humidity otherwise would have picked it last night.

Harry C. I won't be giving up, to many tomatoes to taste yet