!! THE RACE FOR JUNE TOMATOES IS ON !!

[gixxerific]

Sorry to hear DV hope everything is alright. I still have a bunch of plants come by and get some PLEASE!

I hear you on the Black Cherry every plant I have or given away is fruiting, I should be eating Black Cherry within the week. Never fear on the support cages are in place.

[Hydrogardener]

I am pollinating flowers and thinking mid-June.

[img]https://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp121/hydrogardener/tomatoes.jpg[/img]

[gixxerific]

Way to go Hydro I'm looking at late April that will be weird. I believe Applestar has had some early April late March toms. I'm sure there are a few others that have already harvested. It's funny thinking about these people at the box stores just now buying their Tom's for exuberant prices.

I can't wait. Funny thing is the super early tomato I was growing is not fruiting while the later ones are.. Hmmmmm?

[Hydrogardener]

Way to go Hydro I'm looking at late April that will be weird. I believe Applestar has had some early April late March toms. I'm sure there are a few others that have already harvested. It's funny thinking about these people at the box stores just now buying their Tom's for exuberant prices.

I can't wait. Funny thing is the super early tomato I was growing is not fruiting while the later ones are.. Hmmmmm?

In my part of the world we are still six weeks away from setting plants in the ground. If I did not use the greenhouse it would be mid to late September. We have a real short growing season.

[gixxerific]

6 WEEKS!

I don't know how you can do it. I would go crazy myself. Good luck.

Gotta say those plants look very healthy, good going.

[wjcmpbll]

This sounds like fun. I'll let you know how the container-gardening/apartment-living contingency weighs in. Although I think a handicap of a week or two may be in order.

[Duh_Vinci]

Dono - yes indeed, looks like you have few plants to spare!

Hydro - great looking setup, great, strong looking plants!!!

Regards,
D

[tn_veggie_gardner]

My best contenders, Wisconsin 55:

[img]https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f229/sfbslb/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAGE_158.jpg[/img]

=)

- Steve

[gixxerific]

Nice Veggie gardner, I know all of us just can't wait.

I think this thread should be changed to say "The race for April or May tomatoes is on"

[rainbowgardener]

Yeah, you all are ahead of me, but it isn't May yet and I've had tomatoes in the ground for two weeks, so I'm still on track for June tomatoes. But I sure won't be the first one around here eating home grown tomatoes.

[tn_veggie_gardner]

gix: Chea...for sure! All these tropical & sub-tropical zoners picking their tomatoes year round are killin me!

[hendi_alex]

I was kind of surprised when visiting a friend in Belize a couple of times. The market is filled with tropical fruits and veggies, but the selection of tomatoes looked pitiful. I would have thought that Belize would be a year round tomato paradise.

[rainbowgardener]

I noticed the same thing and was similarly puzzled in Costa Rica. It never gets too hot there or too cold, you would think they would have wonderful tomatoes. Maybe it's just not something they are used to growing? Or the soil isn't conducive? I don't know.

[rainbowgardener]

[img]https://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt102/rainbowgardener/4024%20Paddock%20garden/5-5tomatoes2.jpg[/img]

Couldn't get a very good picture of them what with the broccoli in front and the deer netting and all. My "june racer tomatoes" are now pretty close to the size hendi_alex's were back on 3/23! (not quite but closing in on it, some closer than others). They all have blossoms on them now!

If the broccoli look a little puny, it's because the two closest ones have had their main heads harvested already, just letting them grow side shoots out now.

There's a few carrots in front, there's onions and marigolds scattered around and the roundish thing in middle right is borage. There's another borage barely visible at back right corner.

It is high spring and everything is super lush and green and growing like mad and my garden is so beautiful, all I want to do is be out in it all the time!!!

[rainbowgardener]

A little better tomato picture

[img]https://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt102/rainbowgardener/4024%20Paddock%20garden/5-5tomato3.jpg[/img]

[hendi_alex]

Looks like 'Juliet' is going to win my May tomato race, yet again. Juliet is always first, followed in a few days by 'Sweet Cluster'. My Sweet Cluster has had full sized fruit for some time, but no blush of orange yet.

[img]https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4585481998_f2987d6439_o.jpg[/img]

[gixxerific]

Looking good Hendi. I want a fresh tomato so bad.

Everything in my garden is on slo-mo.

[rainbowgardener]

Hey gixx, don't let all those southerners get to you! For most of us, it's early yet. I'm talking about (mid to late) JUNE tomatoes. I never even dream of May tomatoes. ...

[gixxerific]

Hey gixx, don't let all those southerners get to you! For most of us, it's early yet. I'm talking about (mid to late) JUNE tomatoes. I never even dream of May tomatoes. ...

That's just what my wife just said to me. But just going out there and seeing them in an unperfect state gets me. Look at my neighbors plants behind the fence of the ones on my other thread. They are dark green and have surpassed mine even though they were smaller at the beginning, mine are shriveled and yellow. Right now I don't care about fruit I just want healthy plants.

[parcgreene]

I'm hoping to have some hydroponic Cherokee Purple tomatoes in the next few weeks!

Note: The maters are currently about twice the size of the picture shown.

[img]https://i42.tinypic.com/2jcdbav.jpg[/img]

[Duh_Vinci]

Nice going, Alex! These are always among the first in your garden!

Dono - it's just a beginning of the season, and you will do just fine!

I think I may have a contender for an early mater - Taxi... Looks like it may show a little blush any day now. Though it's not as "compact" of a plant as most describe, getting to be rather bushy! Can't wait to taste the first tomato of the season!

Ended up having a nice little chat with a old farmer today, beautiful fruit trees, absolutely delicious sweet/sour yellow plum I get from him every year for preserves... In his mind, for VA, "If you get a home grown ripe tomater by the 4th of July - you are doing great, son..." But I'm sincerely hoping for mid May!!!

Regards,
D

[gixxerific]

Yeah I will be alright. I actually have mators on almost all of my plants. Still waiting for a black cherry to ripen it's been going for a month now.

[Duh_Vinci]

... Still waiting for a black cherry to ripen it's been going for a month now.

Tomatoes have an amazing way of "teasing"!!! Looks like a full fruit, feels like would ripen any day now, but instead - pant just keep flowering, keeps setting new fruit, and the one you want to be ready - just seats there, and seats there... Until one day - you see a blush!!! They have a mind of their own

Regards,
D

[rainbowgardener]

I have baby tomatoes now too! June (NOT May!) tomatoes here we come!

[hendi_alex]

The tomato harvest begins, May 9, northern part of zone 8 in S.C.

'Juliet'

[img]https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4591596845_669ee98341_o.jpg[/img]

Harvest will be a trickle for a week or two, and then likely more than we can eat. First comes 'Juliet' then in a few days 'Sweet Cluster'. After that the slicers will come on line, but probably a month away. I do have one volunteer green that was overwintered and has a single fruit that is now turning.

[gixxerific]

Nice Alex. still waiting over here. Now we have a cold front but ti should be back up into the upper 70' again here tomorrow.

Here are a few I have been watching. There were a few plants but these seven pics are pushing the limits already

[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Gardening/DSC03613.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Gardening/DSC03614.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Gardening/DSC03615.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Gardening/DSC03616.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Gardening/DSC03617.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Gardening/DSC03618.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Gardening/DSC03620.jpg[/img]

[hendi_alex]

Looks like you have some getting very close!

[Earl K]

I also have maters growing but nothing soon.(got a late start AGAIN)I think Campari will be the first eaten tomato.Also BOUGHT a Parks Whopper a week ago and can see first buds coming.4 beefstake maters are 1 ft. tall.I should have eaten a tomato by the middle of the month.That is before june so I'm happy.Any opinions on the Parks Whopper?

[hendi_alex]

Picked 4 more 'Juliets' today and have about ten more tomatoes at various stages of orange. Temperatures are supposed to get up into the 90's so I would expect the speed of ripening to pick up considerably over the next couple of weeks. So far no signs of disease, but I'm sure that is just a matter of time.

[hendi_alex]

Pace of ripening is picking up. Picked a few 'Sweet Clusters' and have several more in various stages of blush. Slicing tomatoes are still several weeks away.

[img]https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4618691016_b8bd570179_o.jpg[/img]

[applestar]

Oh WOW! Mouth-watering!

My indoor Contender is still producing even though it's seriously pot-bound now, drying out every day, slowly losing lower leaves, AND three of the citrus seeds I sowed around the base of the plant have sprouted (I can't remember if these are from Clementines or Honeybell hybrids). I've been giving it worm tea in encouragement.

I have two outside tomato plants with flowers....

[rainbowgardener]

I have some golf ball sized tomatoes now, without a hint of blush, not even paler green, but they have a ways to go in size first. We've been having a long spell of chilly, cloudy, rainy lately. If it would warm up a bit more, the tomatoes would make better progress.

The Ultimate Opener that I have never grown before is doing best so far, ahead of all the others.

And I have to keep cutting back the borage I planted with them to keep it from taking over. Stuff is huge and VERY fast growing. I can't say people didn't warn me. My only disappointment is I have yet to see a honey bee near it. I was out deadheading the May Night salvia and there was a honeybee and a bumble bee working those flowers.

[runfox]

Planted them March 5th, they are now 5 foot tall and growing like crazy still. Had to fight off a bunch of tomato hornworms, my wife has good eyes. They didn't eat too many leaves , we caught them early. We have a bunch of tomatos on the plants, Big boy hybrid and grape hybrid.

[img]https://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh144/Runfox/Garden%20and%20Chickens/CIMG0202.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh144/Runfox/Garden%20and%20Chickens/CIMG0204.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh144/Runfox/Garden%20and%20Chickens/CIMG0208.jpg[/img]

[rainbowgardener]

You Florida folks just cheat! We should have a separate race for Southern gardeners!

Looking beautiful!

[Duh_Vinci]

Alex,

Nice growing, congrats on the first maters!!!

My early plants are all with fruit, some have been a "full size" for almost 3 weeks, but the weather is not exactly cooperating in terms of provision of warmth and sunlight to ripen them... Still waiting (now, almost impatiently).

There are 2 basket varieties that started to blush, but I really can't count them for the race, those are always early.

Happy growing to all!

Regards,
D

[Duh_Vinci]

Ok, so here is my first mater "mini" - basket variety "Himbeer Rose":

[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010firsttomatorosehimbeer0523/876049471_fSDs3-XL.jpg[/img]

I wish it was something from the main garden, but... Soon, I hope!

Regards,
D

[gixxerific]

Not sure if this would count either. It is a black cherry, I have been waiting for this particular fruit to do this for a month and a half or more.

There are tons more on other plants just waiting but the weather has been cold and wet. We are in a hot humid spell now so maybe they will shift into high gear. That is if it is not too hot. It went from 60's to low to mid 90's in one day. Welcome to St Louis.

[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Gardening/DSC03653.jpg[/img]

[albucsfan]

Not sure if this would count either. It is a black cherry, I have been waiting for this particular fruit to do this for a month and a half or more.

There are tons more on other plants just waiting but the weather has been cold and wet. We are in a hot humid spell now so maybe they will shift into high gear. That is if it is not too hot. It went from 60's to low to mid 90's in one day. Welcome to St Louis.

If it switches back and forth a few more times, it'll be just like north alabama!!

They say, "You know you live in the south when you have to run the heater and the AC in the same day" and ain't it the truth!!

That said... we picked (and ate) the first 3 grape tomatoes today, am just waiting for the yellow pears to ripen....got a couple of "early girls" starting to blush too....we'll see

[Duh_Vinci]

... It is a black cherry, I have been waiting for this particular fruit to do this for a month and a half or more. :lol ...

Dono - pretty fruit, but I hate to tell you, it's no black cherry my man! As long as it taste good - just enjoy it anyway!

Regards,
D

[gixxerific]

... It is a black cherry, I have been waiting for this particular fruit to do this for a month and a half or more. :lol ...

Dono - pretty fruit, but I hate to tell you, it's no black cherry my man! As long as it taste good - just enjoy it anyway!

Regards,
D

Well than what is it? That is what I have written down on my map. Not to say I haven't mixed other things this year. It looks big in the pic but it is only like ping pong ball or smaller.