!! THE RACE FOR JUNE TOMATOES IS ON !!

[Ozark Lady]

I love everyone's tomato pics... gorgeous!

Good job!

I especially liked Apples photo... did you see the window?

What a contrast, a tiny green tomato growing, and obvious snow on the ground!

Does the window chill the plants any?

I am in trouble here...

I bought Jiffy, Organic Seed Starting Jiffy Mix... just bought it.
I have tried hot water in cups you name it... it drains well, but won't hold moisture... I now have the cups in a dome on top of the fridge, not planted, trying to raise humidity enough to moisten the soil.

Does anyone have more suggestions? The domes are steaming up... maybe the soil will finally absorb some moisture? Weird.

I only filled cups half full, figure as they grow I will use a different potting soil. The styrofoam cups are 8.5 oz. I fit 7 of them in plastic shoe box with lid.

I do not want to put seeds into soil that is not moist... now what?

[hendi_alex]

I'll be really sad if I don't get ripe tomatoes before June, though I'm in zone 8. Would hope to have my first ripe 'Juliet' in early May. The plants are already forming blossoms, but cold weather has slowed development of the plants, so maybe will be frustrated when it comes to early harvest. As you say, most people in this area get their first ripe tomatoes in late June or early July. I continue to strive for late April, but have not succeeded hitting that early date yet.

[Duh_Vinci]

applestar: We didn't say March tomatoes, we said June ones! ...

Yeah, that!!!

Nice job overwintering this guys, and fruit is already set - nice!!!

Regards,
D

[applestar]

It's the beach bucket -- it thinks it's summertime
But SHHH! don't spill the beans

I keep the tomato back enough away from the window so the leaves don't touch the glass (the one time that one did, it promptly got frost bitten). At night time, I draw the cafe curtains between the tomato and the window, making sure to tuck any stray tomato leaf inside of the curtain (which incidentally, helps to reflect the lights back -- 2 CFL lights, aimed sideways, stay on as long as I'm up -- on first thing in the morning, off last thing at night; there's an overhead 75W incandescent in a hanging Tiffany light that is now about 18" from the top of the tomato which gets turned on at dusk and stays on while I'm up).

The row of parsleys, onion bottom sprouts, seedling citruses, and a scented geranium on the window sill stays between the curtain and the window to chill . The peppers are 1/2 pot further inside to avoid any chance of cold draft, and the jalapeno is right next to a CFL to keep warm. The one other plant, all the way back in the photo, is Stevia, wich is managing to stay alive and occasionally send out new shoots. I added the 2nd CFL on that side early this month or late last month. I think the tomato would be a little less spindly had I done that from the start, but now that the sun is rising further east and earlier, these plants will receive more and more light in this ESE window while the trees remain bare.

Incidentally, I see a jumping spider patrolling the window and the window sill right now

[Duh_Vinci]

Looks like CFL addition works rather well!

I'm clearing one of the rooms, that would eventually be a spare bedroom/office, has double windows, going to convert that area for the "spring growout" racks. Need to think about how to add some light there on the budget. As of right now, both windows get good sun light from 12PM till 5pm or so, so a little help would be nice...

In the mean time, letting the sun to warm up some home made potting mix, need to transplant 3 tomatoes to 1 gal containers... Too bad that neither are early varieties. Leftovers from the soil-less mixtures I was testing: Rutgers and Brandywine X Cherokee Purple (or at least I think is what that cross is)

Regards,
D

[top_dollar_bread]

ok ok, heres what i got going on
all poped out of soil on feb 1

sugar sweete cherry
super sweet 100 cherry
red and yellow brandywine
cherokee purple
speckled roman
beefsteak
and black krim

the chrry toms should give me fruit the earliest (i think) but so far all but brandywine were planted in a coco/compost/casting/sand mix. because of no amendments ther growing pretty slow.
my brandywines were started in recyled amended soil and they are 3-4 times bigger then the rest.
i start like 3-5 seeds per party cup, so i moved 2 brandywines out side in the garden. ill re plant the rest of the toms in recyled soil and see what happends.
happy gardening everyone

[applestar]

It's snowing again...

...but me and my buds
-- Hey, Peps! Hey, Jal! -- are happy

[gixxerific]

I would have to call that a winner. are those peppers on the background?

Looking very awesome Apple making me feel bad looking at my tiny little plants here.

[applestar]

Aw, don't feel bad! I told you that Contender is a "Ringer" didn't I?
It's one of these guys, and I really wasn't considering it eligible for the race.

But yes! Those dark green round lumps are sweet peppers (3 on each plant) and the pendant ones (not all in the photo but there are 6) are Jalapenos. They were lugged inside just before first frost in fall. I've been eating the Jalapenos -- I think 3 already. They develop fast. Soil surfaces in all three containers are covered with "worm signs"

[rainbowgardener]

Yeah, the rest of us are just starting the race, and Applestar has already won it! Imagine eating home grown tomatoes in the snow! Maybe next year I'll try harder!

[gixxerific]

Yeah, the rest of us are just starting the race, and Applestar has already won it! Imagine eating home grown tomatoes in the snow! Maybe next year I'll try harder!

It just isn't right is it RG? And apple don't worry I'm not over here crying in a ball (or am I). Just jealous of your jungle versus my ant sized jungle.

[Jbest]

Not so fast applestar this photo was taken on Feb 13. I think I am the wiener. John

[gixxerific]

Jbest didn't you post some pics of your greenhouse on the other forum? I want to say that was you that I was talking about earlier in this thread with toms on their plants already.

Still not fair Oh how I yearn for a fresh tomato. How about you or Apple mail me one?

[Ozark Lady]

I have a question...

You know how tomatoes that you buy in the stores in winter, have no flavor?

If you grow tomatoes inside, without sunshine, will they taste the same as the supermarket ones, or more like the garden fresh ones?

[Jbest]

Jbest didn't you post some pics of your greenhouse on the other forum? I want to say that was you that I was talking about earlier in this thread with toms on their plants already.

Still not fair Oh how I yearn for a fresh tomato. How about you or Apple mail me one?

I think this the photo you seen. It was also taken on Feb 13. John