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Garf
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Winter Tomatoes in Miami Florida

I am going to torture northern tomato growers by showing my winter tomato plants while most of the north is knee deep in snow.
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Garf
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More torture.
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digitS'
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I can take it, Garf!

At nearly 49° North latitude, I live farther north than any point on the US East Coast. Maine might be knee-deep in snow but not here. In fact, there is concern that there will be enough snow in the mountains since quite a lot of rain instead of snow has fallen. We may be greatly relying on snow in Canada for summer irrigation this year.

Cold? It used to be that a winter with no sub-zero temperatures was unusual. It looks like we may have 3 out of the last 4 winters, with nothing sub-zero!

I will be ordering some tomato seed today. An order to Florida's Tomato Growers Supply for pepper and tomato seed should be going out soon, as well. Just wish I could show up in person to pick it up!

Steve :)

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rainbowgardener
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yup, torture indeed! :) They are looking beautiful!

We will get ours back in July and August when we are having peak tomato season and you have nothing growing because it is too hot! :wink: (But I have to admit your growing season is a lot longer. I have about 6 frost free months, jal_ut has about 4, you have all year.) You just have to time things carefully, what to grow when.

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Garf
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I have been watching the forums for several years, seeing lush foliage and red tomatoes while I have had nothing but dead, roasted, plants. This year, one plant survived the summer and is producing tomatoes.

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Garf
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Now they are coming in in clusters.

Cluster 1-5
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Garf
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Looks like pic 4 is a duplicate. Moderator, please remove pic 4. I believe I finally figured out what I have been doing wrong.

imafan26
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Looks great. I have no tomatoes. Apparently they are the best fruit around because the birds have gotten them all. But, I am a glutton for punishment. I have some more beefsteak tomato seedlings that need to be planted out soon and the birds really go after those.

imafan26
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Update: Now I don't have tomatoes, I pulled the plant to day and cleaned the pot with bleach.

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Garf
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Current head count on the maters is 37 including the babies from all 7 plants.

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Garf
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Total count as of today is 45 including babies. Some should be blushing soon.

catgrass
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What kind of tomatoes are those? Are they cherry tomatoes? I have one cherry tomato in a large pot that I overwintered in my greenhouse and it has never stopped. Mine are large cherry tomatoes, and they taste so good!

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Garf
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Since they are grown from seed taken from supermarket tomato, I have to wait till they are mature to know. Tomato from the lone survivor of batch 1 are small plum shaped and taste good. The rest are yet to bee seen.

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Garf
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Todays count gives me 51. Still none blushing.

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Garf
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I just picked the first blushing tomato of this season. It is from Batch 1 summer survivor. It measures 1 3/4" and will be several days before it is ready to taste. This ends the head counts at 72.
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Garf
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I have picked 2 blushing tomatoes so far. My head count topped out at 72. Size is 1 3/4"

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Garf
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Both tomatoes have been eaten by my official tomato taster and have received the seal of approval. Now I will need to save seed from this plant for next season.

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Garf
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Looks like I have a confirmed case of Bacterial Spot. I will try trimming first then, if necessary, I will begin treatment.

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Garf
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catgrass wrote:What kind of tomatoes are those? Are they cherry tomatoes? I have one cherry tomato in a large pot that I overwintered in my greenhouse and it has never stopped. Mine are large cherry tomatoes, and they taste so good!
Probably not. The mother plant was most likely Supermarket Campiri. The babies are on the large size of cherry.

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applestar
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It will be really neat if you can grow several generations down the line and select out an OP version of Campari that meets your performance and taste requirements.

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Garf
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The closest I have come so far is Bloody Butcher.

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Garf
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I have picked the first tomato from Batch #2. I will pick them at first blush for a while so no creatures get them. Maybe later I will let them vine ripen. It measures 2 1/2" across. It will be around 3 more days till it can be tasted.
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Garf
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They can't hide from me.
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Garf
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I found 2 big hornworms today. They had partially eaten some greenies. I really smeared those 2.

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Garf
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I have accumulated 5 #15 pots for next years tomato garden. #15 pots measure 13 and a fraction gallons which should be enough for most tomato plants. Now to buy more ProMix BX. These plus 2ea. 18 gallon recycling tubs plus 4ea. 6 gallon pots should do nicely.

catgrass
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That should be a good size-If I'm using a pot for vegetables, I don't want anything smaller than 10 gallon. I just don't feel they have enough root system in a 5 gal. pot.

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Garf
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I went looking for 10 gallon, but this was all they had.

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Garf
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I have started seed for African Queen. Lets see how they do over summer in Miami.

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Garf
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Garf wrote:I have started seed for African Queen. Lets see how they do over summer in Miami.
So far, nothing.

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Garf
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I spoke too soon. I have 1 sprout. Tiniest I have ever seen.

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Garf
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As the winter plants die off, I will plant my attempt at summer tomatoes. I wonder what else grows during a Miami summer? Maybe Brussels sprouts?

imafan26
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I plant Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli in late July so they will mature in cooler weather.

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Garf
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I have one surviving African Queen. We'll see how it likes the Miami summer.



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