Comparing Tomatoes

[WNYresident]

May 18th



http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/baby-tomatoe-A-and-b.jpg


June 12th

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/tom-jun12.jpg

[wheresthesun]

What in God's name are you feeding those steroidal tomatoes?

[WNYresident]

Wanna see my lettuce? you won't believe it.

[wheresthesun]

Yes, I want to see your lettuce, but you have to tell me, are these photos doctored, airbrushed, or digitally enhanced in any way?

[WNYresident]

Nope not doctored at all.

Grow Bigger, Sweeter Tomatoes — Organically
Our slow-release, 100% organic fertilizer (5-6-5) gives your tomatoes all the nutrients they need, including plenty of phosphorus for big, abundant fruit. Mix a small handful into the soil at transplant time and side dress when tomatoes begin to set fruit.

This Fertilizer (http://www.gardeners.com/Organic-Tomato-Fertilizer/default/StandardCatalog.VegetableGardening_Fertilizers.07-200.cpd)




The Perfect Soil Mix for Self-Watering Containers
Our field tests prove it: This lightweight mix is better than conventional potting soil for use in self-watering planters. Its coarse, airy texture provides excellent wicking action and vigorous root growth without becoming waterlogged.

Promotes vigorous root growth
No watering logging!
Amazing wicking action

I use this below 50/50 with Miracal (Sp.) grow veggie dirt

This Stuff (http://www.gardeners.com/Self-Watering-Container-Soil-Mix/default/StandardCatalog.SoilAccessories_SoilMixes.33-819.cpd)


May 18th

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/greensmay18th.jpg


Jun 12

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/greenleaf-jun-12.jpg


http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/let-jun-12.jpg

[WNYresident]

May 18th

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/baby-brocolli-specimen-a.jpg

Jun 12th

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/brocjun12.jpg

[WNYresident]

This is grown in clay balls.


May 18th

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/baby-brocolli-specimen-B%20hydro.jpg


Jun 12th

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/brochydro-jun-12.jpg

[biker]

If you did this to zucchinis, they'd take over the world.

[WNYresident]

Flora Nutrient
Flora nutrient is the most popular nutrient we have. Order one of each for a complete hydroponic nutrient formula. One gallon of each would make up to 750 gallons of nutrient solution.

Harvest Moon Hydroponics in Cheektowaga on Union (http://www.hmoonhydro.com/)

http://www.hydroponics.net/images/FloraGro-sm.jpg

http://www.hydroponics.net/images/FloraBloom-sm.jpg

http://www.hydroponics.net/images/FloraMicro-sm.jpg

[WNYresident]

I'm still thinking what we can raise in my yard... I wonder how big I can grow a free range chicken.

[wheresthesun]

I am impressed, and craving a big juicy salad right now. Clay balls, huh? Is that legal?

[WNYresident]

Yes... it's a nuetral medium for hydroponics. You can also use coconut fiber and other types of stuff.



http://www.4hydroponics.com/grow_room/images/geoliteL.jpg
Hydroton Expanded Clay (http://www.4hydroponics.com/grow_room/geo.asp) is a pebble type growing medium made from baked clay balls. Expanded Clay is ideal as a hydroponic medium for indoor house plants eg, ferns etc, and is especially suited to Flood and Drain type recycling hydroponic systems. Expanded Clay has a fairly low water holding capacity but provides very high aeration of the plants roots.

You can't beat a salad hand picked 20 minutes before you eat it. Can't get much fresher unless you graze right at the container :)

[wheresthesun]

I'm still thinking what we can raise in my yard... I wonder how big I can grow a free range chicken.
I'm thinking the free-range chicken might not do as well with the clay balls or the miracle grow.

[WNYresident]

I'm thinking the free-range chicken might not do as well with the clay balls or the miracle grow.

Nutrients!!! Chickens eat you know.

[WNYresident]

Last year I acutally tried a pumpkin but the deer around here had thier way with it. Wasn't a pretty picture when they were done. Body parts every where.

[ReformWNY]

Last year I acutally tried a pumpkin but the deer around here had thier way with it. Wasn't a pretty picture when they were done. Body parts every where.

Define "had their way with it."

[WNYresident]

Define "had their way with it."

Well first they broke through the orange plastic fencing that was placed around it. I was sold garlic spikes (small plastic tubes filled with concentrated garlic oil) which were suppose to keep rabbits and deer away. Well you know what? It was just as good as me putting up a sign that said "salad bar open".

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/peter.jpg




See those little white plastic spikes (http://www.gardeners.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Gardeners-Site/default/ViewProductDetail-SellPage?OfferID=11572&SC=xnet8604). That was supposed to be my garlic defense against the deer, rabbits, woodchucks, possoms, chipmunks, squirrals.

This is what they said in their add



Concentrated Garlic Repels Deer & Rabbits for 6 Months

http://images.shopping.msn.com/img/3133/2839/0/5925120.jpg

Deer and rabbits have a sense of smell a hundred times greater than ours, so just imagine how they react to these powerful garlic repellent clips! They're made with a concentrated garlic oil that is 1,000 times stronger than garlic juice, yet is organic and completely safe.
Attach handy clips to trees and shrubs
Stake into the ground to form a barrier—metal probe included
Garlic odor gets out, but rain can't get in so clips last up to six months



Well they don't work.


I bet you didn't think I had a picture of it.

[WNYresident]

You know there's a buffalo garden walk coming up. You have to see how nice some of the yards are.

[Ragin]

Jesus, Res .. promise us you won't feed that stuff to any of those critters living out back!! :eek:

And use care in areas where weeds may be growing. Some are very invasive and quite destructive. That stuff will spread them like wildfire.

(just finished an article about this ;) )

[WNYresident]

Just veggies...

[Ragin]

Pssst ... hey Res ... don't show that stuff to steven. :eek:

I got a bet riding on the success of my veggie garden over his.

I wouldn't want him cheating or anything :p

[wheresthesun]

Pumpkins seem to take off in WNY's climate. Threw a pumpkin into the front garden as mulch one year, after Halloween, the vines grew out to the sidewalk--as though it was posessed. We finally trimmed it back when pedestrians started tripping in front of our house. Funny, only one piece of fruit came from the plant, and it was inedible.

[steven]

Pssst ... hey Res ... don't show that stuff to steven. :eek:

I got a bet riding on the success of my veggie garden over his.

I wouldn't want him cheating or anything :p

to late geek!

and I better not hear about u buying and more manure:mad:

[Ragin]

to late geek!

and I better not hear about u buying and more manure:mad:

Its funny how the mind works sometimes, filing away useless information and then one day all of a sudden "Whomp, there it is" :p

You just better not grow a tomato large enough to feed a third world country, geek :rolleyes:

[therising]

Define "had their way with it."

Yeah, I really bit my tongue on the "had their way with it" phrase last nite. I actually had something typed out, then my own personal offensive censor meter went off.

I almost typed something else as well; I won't even get into it. Had to do with the potential party at Res's house. Wasn't that bad, just a little gross.

[Shasta13]

Wow, those plants are huge. Will there be free samples? I love tomatoes:o

[WNYresident]

Wow, those plants are huge. Will there be free samples? I love tomatoes:o

Production hasn't turned into net product yet. This is all I got...

[WNYresident]

OH there's a new deer...

[biker]

Wow Res. I haven't grown tomatoes for a few years. But aren't those awfully big for mid-June?

[WNYresident]

Wow Res. I haven't grown tomatoes for a few years. But aren't those awfully big for mid-June?

I started early...

[biker]

I started early...

Did you start them indoors?

Did you go from seeds or seedlings.

When did you start them.

My interest is: between watching your pictures last year and walking around No. Buffalo last summer, I saw several instances of people using planters to do a garden.

So I bought about six last year and had a mum garden last Fall.

And I intend to do zucchini (two plants could feed the whole county) and tomatoes in these planters.

[WNYresident]

Did you start them indoors?

No, we got them from a greenhouse near Indian Church Road. They were 12" tall at the time early May. They were $4.99 on sale.



Did you go from seeds or seedlings.

No. They were $4.99 a plant so I knew they were healthy because they were a stocky 12" tall at the time. I could of started seeds but by the time you buy the seeds, the grow pots, the time to do it, etc... $4.99 is well spent. If your going to take the time to make a perfect tomatoe it's easier to start with a happy plant.



When did you start them.

They were 12" tall about May 5th I think. I had them in the Tomato Success Kit (http://www.gardeners.com/Tomato-Success-Kits/default/StandardCatalog.OutdoorPlanters_ForVeggies.35-776RS.cpd) by May 16th or so before I took the first pictures on the 18th.
This year i'm using a 50/50 mix of Self-Watering Container Mix (http://www.gardeners.com/Self-Watering-Container-Soil-Mix/default/StandardCatalog.SoilAccessories_SoilMixes.33-819.cpd) and Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Garden Soil (http://www.miraclegro.com/index.cfm/event/ProductGuide.product/documentId/e881bf6069a9236f84c755846d708d46). That bin holds 40 qts of soil. I also mixed in a 5-6-5 Fertilizer (http://www.gardeners.com/Organic-Tomato-Fertilizer/default/StandardCatalog.VegetableGardening_Fertilizers.07-200.cpd)

But remember i'm also feeding them nutrients in the water. Same nutrients you use with hydroponics just at a reduced level.



My interest is: between watching your pictures last year and walking around No. Buffalo last summer, I saw several instances of people using planters to do a garden.

You can do a lot in pots. It's all soil and nutrients. They now have planters that have a few gallon water reservoir (http://www.gardeners.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Gardeners-Site/default/Link-Category?catalog=StandardCatalog&name=OutdoorPlanters_SelfWatering) so you don't have to water them constantly in the heat. This also allows for nutrients to be added to the water for constant growth.


So I bought about six last year and had a mum garden last Fall.

I bet mums would do good in a pot. Feed them each time you water them with the Flora Series of nutrients (http://www.genhydro.com/genhydro_US/floraseries.html).



And I intend to do zucchini (two plants could feed the whole county) and tomatoes in these planters.

Tomatoes work well. Never did a zucchini.

[Shasta13]

I did zucchini once. It took over the yard. And I hate zucchini....:( The way your stuff grows, if you try zucchini, you won't be able to get out of the house.......

[WNYresident]

Biker
So I bought about six last year and had a mum garden last Fall.

Wait till I show you the mums. I'll bring the camera home today. I'll show you the difference between mums that were fed versus just watered in the same exact soil within a few feet of each other. You are what you eat and that applies to plants too.

When I change the water in my brocoli production pot I drain that into one of the mums in the garden. Apparently the mums like it.

[biker]

When I change the water in my brocoli production pot I drain that into one of the mums in the garden. Apparently the mums like it.

What is that, a broccoli hydroponic setup?

I'll have to stop by sometime to see your "farm"

[Ragin]

hey res, is that stuff good for grape vine propagating?

Was thinking about taking clippings from my grape vines this fall and propagating them in the hydroponic solution until 2007 spring planting.

or perhaps they have a solution made specifically for fruits?

[WNYresident]

What is that, a broccoli hydroponic setup?

I'll have to stop by sometime to see your "farm"

I have two broccolis in the hydroponic type pot. They have a 6/12 pot version I have been eyeing but I have to see how long it would take to recoup the investment. I think it's like 300 bucks. You can buy a lot of veggies for 300 bucks. Won't taste as fresh but $300 bucks is $300 bucks.

[WNYresident]

hey res, is that stuff good for grape vine propagating?

Was thinking about taking clippings from my grape vines this fall and propagating them in the hydroponic solution until 2007 spring planting.

or perhaps they have a solution made specifically for fruits?

I haven't studied grapes :)

[Ragin]

I haven't studied grapes :)

I think I heard that rumor floating around here :D

[biker]

Is that like in Stewie, "You just don't have the grapes."?

[WNYresident]

Is that like in Stewie, "You just don't have the grapes."?

You know STEWIE?

[biker]

Surprise!

[WNYresident]

Jun 17th

Tomatoes...

There should be LOTS of them. Now I will change the "nutrients" mixture for fruit production. The fertilizer will be mixed to maximize fruit production versus the grow out phase of the plant.

[WNYresident]

Well Jun 17th and the lettuce is larger than the container I started them in. Looks like 2 per container would of been more like it. :)

One was used for dinner which will give the others room to grow some more.

Remember on days like today you will have to water more than just once if your plants are in containers that are not self watering.

I'm going to start more seeds tomarrow so I have replacement baby lettuce once these become dinner.

[WNYresident]

Broccoli seems to be thickening up some.

I might top off each pot with peat moss to add more organics to the soil. Add about 2" and hand mix it into the soil already in the pot along with some more 5-6-5 fertilizer. Only like a tablespoon or so. Don't want to burn the plants.

[Shasta13]

I did not do veggies this year and you are making me sorely regret it...:(

[farmall806]

They look good. How many did you plant? I grew 112 tomato plants last year in a 12x45 foot long garden in the backyard.

[WNYresident]

a 112? My gawd I only did 2 :) I dont like tomatoes that much. Plus I dont own 112 pots.

We are near the closed dump in cheektowaga near broadway.

I dont know if things could leech from that thing to the water table in the yard. The tomatoes might glow in the dark.

[WNYresident]

I did not do veggies this year and you are making me sorely regret it...:(

So wanna head of lettuce? pm me

[WNYresident]

June 22....

Crispy Fresh

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/Headoflettuce.jpg



Same Plant May 18th

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/lettucemay18.jpg

[WNYresident]

June 22


http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/tomatojune22.jpg (http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/tomatojune22.jpg)


Loaded with buds

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/tomatobuds.jpg


Now i'm going to change the nutrient levels to what they recommend to produce fruit.

Another very important thing about bud loss. I read it's very bad to let your tomatoe plants dry out and wilt. It does quite a bit of damage to the plant. The 2 tomatoe plants used just under 4 gallons of water today.

The reason there is a red plastic barrier over the dirt is two fold. It's helps hold in the moisture and reflects up the proper spectrum of light that tomatoes like.

[WNYresident]

June 22

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/brocolli-jun22.jpg


So exactly where does the broccolli come out of this thing?

[tronix75]

June 22

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/brocolli-jun22.jpg


So exactly where does the broccolli come out of this thing?

That's a big broccolli plant for June, I haven't grown broccolli in years.
Watch out for cabbage worms though.
Great stuff, you'll get broccolli until the frost comes.

[WNYresident]

There is going to be lots of tomatoes

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/tomatobudcluster.jpg

[Shasta13]

That is a good thing! A drizzle of olive oil, a bit of salt and pepper.....mmmmmmm!:p

[Edisonic]

Spotted recently on the West Side; I wonder if he'd like a nice tomato salad... http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/2883/youngster6cj.jpg

[biker]

You're kidding. A deer running through the West Side of Buffalo? Where was this taken?

[WNYresident]

As of July 3 2006



http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/july3broc.jpg


http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/july3broca.jpg

[WNYresident]

July 3rd 2006


http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/july3tom.jpg

[biker]

We're gonna have to talk offline, Res.

I just got home. The missus planted some tomato plants in the planters I set up before we left. Unfortunately, I told her part of your posts about your plants.

So instead of using some of the forty pounds of compost I generated over the past year, she bought potting soil (with vermiculite) and planted them in that.

The most sickly, yellow tomatoe plants I've ever seen in my life. She didn't know that stuff was sterile. And I didn't tell her of your feeding regimen.

So, emergency Miracle Gro applications today. They say every two to three weeks. I think we're in dire circumstances. Weekly sounds in line to me.

What do you think?

I'd send you pix, but I wouldn't want to make a grown man cry.

[WNYresident]

Go to the hydroponic store and buy three small bottles of what I mentioned earlier in the thread.

If the pots are too small your plants become root bound and don't absorb enough nutrients to make a healthy plant.

I water with the fertilizer everyday to make up for the lack of "nutrients" in the small pots.

Yellow I think means they are over watered. Is there drainage in the pots or do they end up sitting in water until it dries out?

I haven't found the perfect balance for green peppers yet. Mine are holding thier own but no where as well as the broc and tomatoes.

It's all balance.

[biker]

These are big clay pots (at least two gallons of dirt in the smallest) and have drain holes. But I'll keep whatsherpuss from watering them while I'm around.

I was wondering if giving them this Miracle Gro might be like giving cheese and pepperoni to the liberated survivors of a concentration camp: it might kill them.

There's a hydro store on Hertel. I'll give that a try.

Do you think I should wait a few days after the Miracle Gro treatments of today?

[WNYresident]

Never over fertilize..... less is more :)

I never used miracle grow because it was always one strength where as with the 3 bottle system you dose them to fit thier cycle.

I'm going to post up some other items I use shortly.

Terazorb is one and so is floralious.

One product is a moisture holder and the other is like a nutrient supplement.

best compliment I ever got was from a client who took a tomatoe while at the shop. She said "This is how a tomatoe is supposed to taste" Didn't want to tell her that one tomato cost me 9 bucks though :) NOT..

I kept my reciepts so once the season is over I'll figure if i got more produce than what I spent.

[biker]

Ok Res, you're on.

I got the three bottles stuff: Florabloom; FloraMicro; and FloraGrow.

Now, since my stuff is already budding, I'm on the bottom of the chart for dosage.

So just to double check ('cause the clerk guy was more interested in closing than explaining), I'm going to be using all three concoctions (at their 1, 2,3 teaspoon dosages) in the same gallon of water.

Right?

Or have I just killed my 'maters?

[WNYresident]

Ok Res, you're on.

I got the three bottles stuff: Florabloom; FloraMicro; and FloraGrow.

Now, since my stuff is already budding, I'm on the bottom of the chart for dosage.

So just to double check ('cause the clerk guy was more interested in closing than explaining), I'm going to be using all three concoctions (at their 1, 2,3 teaspoon dosages) in the same gallon of water.

Right?

Or have I just killed my 'maters?



That's what I do.. just follow the instructions..

Now I would probally water my plants at half dosage because you never used the stuff on them. You don't want to shock them or anything. I started these plants off day one so they are used to the full dosage of that stuff.

Just water as you noramlly do with it. A dried out tomatoe plant is an unhappy tomato plant.

[WNYresident]

All of this....

As of July 11.


http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/tomatojuly11.jpg

For one of these





http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/onetomato.jpg

[biker]

I am not going to show you mine just because you showed me yours.

[WNYresident]

I'm not really a veggie person but the broccoli taste way better than what you get in the store..

As of July 14th.

This one will be ready soon.. it's cohart was just steamed tonite.

Does anyone know if the side shoots acutally grow to something sizeable as you see in the lower left of this photo?


http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/brocstalk.jpg

[WNYresident]

As you can see the tomato plant is much larger than the supplied wire cage that came with the tomato success kit.

Seeing I want to get as many tomato production units online I had to improvise some string supports.

I have now taken 2 5 foot 3/4 X 3/4 wooden sticks and mounted then within the corners of the wire support cage.

I notched one end of the support stakes on the table saw so I could put a loop at the end of a string and then tie up the taller branches. The tomato plant is now taller than I am.

I'm going to tie up the branches so they can grow outwards some more and give the plant more spots to grow groups of tomatoes.

Look in the lower left of the plant.. It's packed with tomatos



http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/tomatophase3.jpg

[WNYresident]

Oh here's a tip.

Potted plants will show off thier color if fed properly.

When I change the nutrient water in the broccoli hydroponic pot I pour the left overs into the potted plants.

The healthier the plant the more vivid the colors will be.


http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/redflower.jpg

[biker]

Do you pinch off any of the growing tomato vines to force more growth into the tomatoes themselves?

[WNYresident]

No because I think the more leaves the better because they can produce what the place needs for energy. I only pull off some of the suckers because i don't want the tomato plant growing into itself. I want all the leave to have an equal shot for sunlight..

I also rotate the entire pot 90 degrees everyday so that it's lighted eveningly.

[biker]

We've got our first zucchini this week. It was just a blossom on Monday.

Those suckers grow so fast, it's like a balloon being blown up.

The missus planted six of them. That oughta be enough to feed half of No. Buffalo.

[WNYresident]

happy tomatos....

I'll get many dozens from these two plants.



http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/redtomato.jpg

[biker]

Just was at a picnic with a new tomatoe setup: plants growing out the bottom of 2 1/2 gallon buckets. Hanging upside down. Hanging from pegs in a pole. Several plants going up an eight foot stout pole. No need for ropes, stakes or cages as the plants are hanging upside down.

Landscaping fabric plugged around hole so the dirt won't fall out. And across the open top of the bucket. For watering.

The guy didn't use any plant food.

The tomatoes looked very happy.

[Ragin]

:eek:

Jeepers Res .. how tall is that thing?

[biker]

I think he names them now.

The biggest is "long dong".

[biker]

Hey Maestro of the 'Maters (Uhh, that'd be you, Res), I need some advice.

Today, my plants in the pots were wilting, so I watered them. When they still looked peaked, I gave them a little more. Even the first time was just with a watering can.

Late in the day, I noticed some of the leaves looking a little yellow. Which you've told us is a sign of over-watering.

So what gives? They're wilted, I water. I water, they turn yellow.

[Shasta13]

That tomato plant is huge! I think you should call it "Audrey"....:eek:

[biker]

That tomato plant is huge! I think you should call it "Audrey"....:eek:

As in, "Nice tomatoes, Audrey."

Yeah, that works.

[Shasta13]

As in "feed me, Seymore!":D

[WNYresident]

Hey Maestro of the 'Maters (Uhh, that'd be you, Res), I need some advice.

Today, my plants in the pots were wilting, so I watered them. When they still looked peaked, I gave them a little more. Even the first time was just with a watering can.

Late in the day, I noticed some of the leaves looking a little yellow. Which you've told us is a sign of over-watering.

So what gives? They're wilted, I water. I water, they turn yellow.

Yellow is also a sign I believe of over fertilization. You didn't spike the poor kids at 100% strength with fertilizer did you?

Do you have drainage in the pots?

I know it's not good to have water standing in the pot because it can't drain out.

[WNYresident]

i'm 6'1 and the tallest branch is a few inches about my head.

[WNYresident]

Next lesson will be when your roots are bound.

[biker]

Yellow is also a sign I believe of over fertilization. You didn't spike the poor kids at 100% strength with fertilizer did you?

Do you have drainage in the pots?

I know it's not good to have water standing in the pot because it can't drain out.

No, didn't do 100%. But you did say you fed the "chidren" daily. So I did, too.

But on the off chance that was bad (thanks to your "less is more" comments) my babies got only vasser today.

I didn't water this evening, as they shouldn't be dried out by the moonlight.

But tomorrow AM I will give them water. And in the PM, hydroponic food.

UNLESS YOU NOW TELL ME THAT DAILY HYDROPONIC FEEDING IS NO GOOD.

UNLESS YOU NOW TELL ME THAT DAILY HYDROPONIC FEEDING IS NO GOOD.

So, after having tried the subtle approach, do you really feed them that Flora Crapola every day?

[biker]

Do you have drainage in the pots?

I know it's not good to have water standing in the pot because it can't drain out.

Yes sir, I do. Even have little clay feet to elevate the clay pots. So they can pee all over my driveway.

Could it be too hot for the little devils?

[WNYresident]

No, didn't do 100%. But you did say you fed the "chidren" daily. So I did, too.

But on the off chance that was bad (thanks to your "less is more" comments) my babies got only vasser today.

I didn't water this evening, as they shouldn't be dried out by the moonlight.

But tomorrow AM I will give them water. And in the PM, hydroponic food.

UNLESS YOU NOW TELL ME THAT DAILY HYDROPONIC FEEDING IS NO GOOD.

UNLESS YOU NOW TELL ME THAT DAILY HYDROPONIC FEEDING IS NO GOOD.

So, after having tried the subtle approach, do you really feed them that Flora Crapola every day?

I have been feeding my tomatoes everyday... I know the tomato bin holds 4 gallons of water. I poke my finger through the waterfill hole and if I touch the bottom waterless I refill. That's 2 tables spoons of the green/brown and 3 tablespoons of the pink stuff for 4 gallons of water.

If I come home and there's still water in the bottom I leave it till the morning and just top it off. So far every day for the last month it's been empty by the time I got home from work... about 7 or so.

[WNYresident]

Yes sir, I do. Even have little clay feet to elevate the clay pots. So they can pee all over my driveway.

Could it be too hot for the little devils?

Are they bone dry by evening? I noticed it's never good to acutally let the pot totally get dusty dry on a hot day. Some of the plants here in the smaller pots get watered twice a day.

[WNYresident]

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/bigtomato.jpg

Here is a higher res photo of the tomato plant. Modem users beware, it's almost a meg big.


I have to get taller stakes though. I want to see how tall I get it.

[therising]

MONSTER PLANTS

and

This:



We are near the closed dump in cheektowaga near broadway.

I dont know if things could leech from that thing to the water table in the yard. The tomatoes might glow in the dark.

Coincidence???

[WNYresident]

Smarty pants :) That's why I grow them in the pots...

I'm gonna get some soil samples taken before I rototill a chunk of it.

[WNYresident]

So do you guys actually like to read this type of gardening stuff? Yes? No..

[wheresthesun]

So do you guys actually like to read this type of gardening stuff? Yes? No..
I've enjoyed the photos; it's kind of fun watching your tomatoes grow. Now, grow some eggplant and I'll send you a recipe. ;)

[NoCtUrNaL]

Could you post some pictures of your grass growing. That would be fun to watch. TIA.

[biker]

I have been feeding my tomatoes everyday... I know the tomato bin holds 4 gallons of water. I poke my finger through the waterfill hole and if I touch the bottom waterless I refill. That's 2 tables spoons of the green/brown and 3 tablespoons of the pink stuff for 4 gallons of water.

If I come home and there's still water in the bottom I leave it till the morning and just top it off. So far every day for the last month it's been empty by the time I got home from work... about 7 or so.

Maybe I am overfeeding, cause I'm still using the green/FloraGro stuff.

From the label, here's the dosage per gallon of water for blooming and ripening plants:

teaspoon/gal------Name of stuff-------color of stuff
1------------------FloraGro-----------Green
2-----------------FloraMicro--------------Brown
3-----------------FloraBloom------------Pink

3tablespoons in your post of the pink stuff equals 6 teaspoons. At the label's rate of 3 teas per gallon, wouldn't your four gallons require 12 teaspoons or 6 tablespoons?

[biker]

So do you guys actually like to read this type of gardening stuff? Yes? No..


Well, duhhh

Err, Imean yes.

[WNYresident]

Maybe I am overfeeding, cause I'm still using the green/FloraGro stuff.

From the label, here's the dosage per gallon of water for blooming and ripening plants:

teaspoon/gal------Name of stuff-------color of stuff
1------------------FloraGro-----------Green
2-----------------FloraMicro--------------Brown
3-----------------FloraBloom------------Pink

3tablespoons in your post of the pink stuff equals 6 teaspoons. At the label's rate of 3 teas per gallon, wouldn't your four gallons require 12 teaspoons or 6 tablespoons?

I thought there's 4 teaspoons per table spoon? No way... :) You mean there's 2?

Up until 2 weeks ago I was using a teaspoon to measure. Seeing it was a drag to measure out 3 teaspoons X 4 gallons = 12 I started to use the table spoon instead...

[biker]

All right; the boys' side of the aisle is not looking too good.

The missus says there's three teaspoons to a tablespoon, not 2 or four.

So that means you're feeding a little less than the label.

But hey, who can complain with your success? And anyway, aren't they interested in selling you more of this stuff? Not less.

Also, you're not using the green gunk at all?? Any comments.

I think I'll feed every other day now. Might be too much with all the compost in my pots.

[WNYresident]

All three of the feeds are used according to the label.

there's a chart on the back of the bottle that I have been following.

[biker]

Your post only mentioned two. 'At's why I axed.

[WNYresident]

My next thread will be about being root bounded. I'll make a point of stating my facts clearly :)

[biker]

Lead on.

[biker]

"Ah so, Grasshopper. Observation is key."

Having wilted plants ("I need a drink!") and yellow plants ("I'm drowning!) are definetely conflicting signals.

But not if they're coming from different plants in different contrainers.

Water the wilters and the pots immediately pee half the contents onto the driveway.

Tip the yellow guy over and you find the drain holes not opened.

Dfferent plants, different containers, different solutions.

"Ah so, indeed!"

[biker]

Is this Floragro stuff specifically designed for tomatoes?

I ask this because my zucchini plants aren't doing so well.

Half the leaves on one are yellowing. The green ones have white dust on them (looks like someone dusted them). You mentioned yellowing might mean too much water. So I cut back. Then they wilted.

So I watered without food. Cause you mentioned too much food makes em yellow.

The tomatoes are going great guns.

I thought you'd need a ten kiloton nuke to kill off zucchinis. Maybe I'll stop Floragro on them and go to Miraclegro.

Which is giving me a huge zuke in another part of the garden (actually in the ground) but not many zukes yet.

[DR_GONZO]

Cool thread, WNY. I had one of those tomatoe plants last year. That thing grew like Jack's beanstalk. Thing topped out a foot above the house. Tons of tomatoes.

[WNYresident]

I'll read up on the florago stuff tonite.

ONly issue I have with the tomatoes is tipping. IT's so big that it's top heavy now. I'm probally going to the container cage down with two cinder blocks.

[biker]

Puh-leeeeeze

Such bragging is ungentlemanly.

Thanks to you, though, it looks like I'm leaving whatsherpuss with a ton of ripening tomatoes.

But, like they say, "what's in it for me?".

[WNYresident]

I guess tomatoes are popular. I got a pm asking how have they been doing in the summer heat.

Aug 1st Update

Just loads of tomatoes

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/tomatobunches8106.jpg



I have been tieing up the branches so they don't break from thier own weight. I have started to prune the tips so the branch don't get any longer. I have nothing to really tie them up higher.


http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/tomatobunchesa8106.jpg




http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/tomatobunchesb8106.jpg




http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/tomatoplant8106.jpg


Only thing I have changed is the fertilizer rate... The bottle says not to feed at full strength when it's very hot out. I dont know why but I'm following the instructions. I'm now only fully fertilizing according to the label every other full refill of water. It's using about 8 gallons a day now. I fill up 4 gallons before work and another almost full refill about 7 when I get home.

[WNYresident]

Lettuce on August 01 2006


It's growing fine but not as fast as the first group of lettuce.

This is the pot I started them from seeds about 2 and 1/2 weeks ago.


They were too close to each other below. I still want to move 4 more out of there. I dropped a few seeds per hole and left the strongest growing last standing.


http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/lettucesqr8106.jpg

These were the pots I had the peppers in that were root bound. I transplanted these out of another container which has lettuce growing in it.

The peppers are not in the pots that the broccoli was in.


I mixed in another 1/2 cup of the powdered fertilizer and 1 handful of peat moss before reusing the soil.

I took the lettuce that was too close in the sqr pots and put them into the pots below.

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/lettuceside8106.jpg





http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/lettucetop8106.jpg



http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/lettuceclose8106.jpg

[Shasta13]

I cannot believe the size of those plants and the amount of tomatoes on them. I don't think I have ever seen anything quite like it!:eek:

[WNYresident]

Well this will be the last entry for the tomatoes. Last nights wind blew the thing over and it looks like the stems are crushed at the bottom.

It was a good run :)

[DR_GONZO]

:eek: I feel for ya. That same wind snapped off one of my giant sunflowers. : (

[wheresthesun]

...check this out: :confused:
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/flash/hipponoodles.html

[therising]

Well this will be the last entry for the tomatoes. Last nights wind blew the thing over and it looks like the stems are crushed at the bottom.

It was a good run :)

You should buy a new building and plant them indoors next year. :)

[ForestBird]

Maybe dig a hole & set the container down in the ground, next time - no tippage! :) Make sure there is drainage, though

[WNYresident]

Maybe dig a hole & set the container down in the ground, next time - no tippage! :) Make sure there is drainage, though

THe tub didn't tip. The entire plant and all like folded down over itself. It's up again but it's all cracked up. I'll see what I can salvage from it but it looks way bad.

[Shasta13]

Well this will be the last entry for the tomatoes. Last nights wind blew the thing over and it looks like the stems are crushed at the bottom.

It was a good run :)
Oh no! :eek: How sad. You seem to be taking it better than I would have....

[WNYresident]

Well it's a BIG TANGLED ball now ..... Tomarrow i may cut all the broken branches. THe cage is all twisted up. There's a cable holding it back from toppling over again. I think I may end up with a charlie brown tomato plant :)

[Shasta13]

Well it's a BIG TANGLED ball now ..... Tomarrow i may cut all the broken branches. THe cage is all twisted up. There's a cable holding it back from toppling over again. I think I may end up with a charlie brown tomato plant :)
Maybe if you wrap a blanket around it's base it will become all full and beautiful again...:rolleyes:

[WNYresident]

OK..


THe poor little thing... 30% or more just broken apart or cracked half way through....

Talk about a prune job....

It is now tied down with a steel cable to the picnic table....

I think this storm was just a bump in the road for the tomato plant. :)

[wheresthesun]

Remember this one? I'll assume that after October 13th, your tomatoes probably became ketchup. :mad:

[biker]

Come on Res.

See if she throws a hissy-fit if you axe her how her tomatoes are doing!!

I can just smell a double standard here.

[buffy]

Come on Res.

See if she throws a hissy-fit if you axe her how her tomatoes are doing!!

I can just smell a double standard here.

is it just me or, does WTS's avatar look like someone is tweaking her tomatoes?

[WNYresident]

THIS IS A THREAD ABOUT plants :)

All extra tomatoes were given away that were ready... The plants themselves were put into the woods. The little beasts that live the yard picked the rest of the tomatoes off.

The tomatoe growing unit is hanging in the shed all clean waiting for spring.

I'm growing something different now for the winter. It's way too cold to try anyting outside.

[wheresthesun]

I'm growing something different now for the winter. It's way too cold to try anyting outside.
Yes, I am sure you are. May not want to post pics of those plants. :)

[wheresthesun]

is it just me or, does WTS's avatar look like someone is tweaking her tomatoes?
If you are referring to my knobs, I am definitely in the market for a new Avatar. Humor is lost on you ppl. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[WNYresident]

Yes, I am sure you are. May not want to post pics of those plants. :)

not plants!!

These little guys... They were orphaned in a pond and needed a place to stay.

http://www.onlinebuffalo.com/pictures/the-myrons.jpg

[cookie]

I like the chicken idea, but I dunno about the smell. Good fertilizer though.
Have you tried anything like Plantskydd? I don't think it should be put on edibles, but maybe if you planted a few containers of some kind of shrub and treat them, then surround your other plants with the shrubs...

We had a very bad deer problem, but since using a product similar to Plantskydd (a urine based spray) we haven't lost a single tree or shrub. I wouldn't put plants treated with it under any of the windows as it really doesn't smell so good, but it might be worth a try.
I know Adams Nurseries and Bison Nursery carries it.
Their website has a store locator:
http://www.plantskydd.com/State-Prov/newyork.html

[cookie]

BTW, very nice looking stuff rez!!

[Linda_D]

Res, I am very impressed at your container veggie gardening. I'm going to have to try some of that!