The 'Mater Maze

[lakngulf]

The best sunlight I have for growing tomatoes is alongside a small pier. Two years ago I had a wonderful crop there, but the soil or bacterial problems took its toll the second year. This year I am trying container maters, and packing in all I can on the little pier.

Here are the beginnings of my 'Mater Maze....and I even have some "maise" growing in one of the boxes.



The container tomatoes are in some new top soil from my hunting land/old farm, and are looking great. These are Beef Steak and Better Boy.



Here a shot that shows the test box. Better Boy and Celebrity tomatoes died in this box last year. This year I am trying Neptune, Florida 7514 and also have some corn. Check out the hydrangheas too. I LOVE springtime.

[PunkRotten]

Wow it is so cool you live right by a lake.

[lakngulf]

Good thing about gardening alongside the lake is I can work awhile and just jump in when I get hot and tired.

Today, I planted Beef Steak, Better Boy and Monticello Brandywine in the big green pots.

[gixxerific]

Looking good. Glad to see the humongus pots. Better than smaller pots for sure.

I wish you good luck I remeber your plight last year. I hope you have a great season.

[lakngulf]

Overall the tomato plants are looking good, with many blooms and fruit. We have so many green tomatoes that we have already had fried green tomatoes a couple of times.

One section of my Pier Boxes has soil in which tomatoes died last year, most likely from Southern Bacterial Wilt. Well, I have had the first casualties for the year in that box. The plants were a healthy dark green, blooming and fruiting, and then the leaves began to curl. This plant is a Beef Steak or a Better Boy. The one to its left is the other. You can see the curled leaves among the other very healthly vines.



The Beef Steak and Better Boy were planted in the middle of the row as controls (Better Boy was among the varieties that died last year, but had produced great fruit the year before). The other plants in this box are Neptune and Florida 7514, supposed to have some resistance to the wilt. I alternated them in the row. At the end these two are showing the same signs of wilt.



I was hoping these leaves were curled due only to lack of water, but I do not think that is the case. I will check again tomorrow as I watered them well today. If leaves are still curled then I will pull these plants and perform the stem in glass of water wilt test.

[lakngulf]

So far, I have one Better Boy and one Beef Steak down for the count. I pulled them and saved the green tomatoes for cooking. At least, they will be good. The Florida 7514 and Neptune at the end of the row are still showing wilt, but I have not pulled them yet. In one other location with older soil I have had one casualty.

I cut the stem of one and place in a clear glass with water. The milky substance did not immediately show, so I am not certain of the cause of the wilting. I will continue to test, and enjoy fried green tomatoes.

In case you are wondering, I have a lot of plants either in pots or in the ground.....about 90. I have documented the type in each spot, so as to provide some order to this amateur test.

[lakngulf]

Most of my tomatoes are looking good No more casualties so far.

[dsyukon]

Those are some goood looking plants !

[lakngulf]

Updated picture of the mater maze, and some mater and maise

Lunch was GOOD today!!

[DownriverGardener]

I love your set up and the proximity to the water! I envy you!

[lakngulf]

I love your set up and the proximity to the water! I envy you!

I really like it too. Plenty of water for the plants. Also, on days like this I always put on my bathing suit under my blue jeans. When I get hot, tired and/or dirty I just jump in.