What did you do in the garden today?

[BReeder!]

Now I'm wondering what kind of tomatoes BReeder is trying to grow, as it would have an effect on the weather/productivity.

This year I am growing San Marzano, Rutgers, Ponderosa and Brandywine.

 

[Elyrian1]

Awesome! I have zero experience with all of those, lol.

 

[BReeder!]

I doubled up the lighting today and grabbed a couple window sill starter trays to utilize a narrow 6" gap that is left on each shelf. I'm trying to utilize every inch of space I can in this setup. It's been an investment, but it should last several garden seasons.

 

[BReeder!]

Awesome! I have zero experience with all of those, lol.

All are indeterminate. The San Marzano and Rutgers are sauce/paste types. The Brandywine and Ponderosa are slicing varieties.

My thought is the bigger they are when transplanted the better of they will be to start the season. I'll transplant them once if not twice into larger containers before transplanting into the ground in the garden, each transplanting giving the opportunity to grow additional roots along the stem and more room for roots in general resulting in a large root system. The large plants with an ability to access plenty of nutrients will hopefully explode into growth, blossums and fruit once outside.

 

[Elyrian1]

Thanks for the rundown! I'm always happy to learn about varieties new to me. You might consider trying to start as many as you want early, and then starting some additional plants at your "normal" tomato starting time so you have backups in case the first round doesn't manage to make it in the pots.

I always have issues with tomatoes and peppers, so doubling up is a bit necessary for me. Not growing them this year though.

 

[BReeder!]

Thanks for the rundown! I'm always happy to learn about varieties new to me. You might consider trying to start as many as you want early, and then starting some additional plants at your "normal" tomato starting time so you have backups in case the first round doesn't manage to make it in the pots.

I always have issues with tomatoes and peppers, so doubling up is a bit necessary for me. Not growing them this year though.

No toms or peppers this year for you?! Those are the foundation of my garden. I would be lost without them. Are pests and/or disease the problem? Or did you just choose to grow something else in their place?

 

[Elyrian1]

No, we're moving in June and I don't want to put in the effort and not get something out of it. Although, pests did destroy my peppers last year. Apparently we had a plethora of some sort of beetle that loves peppers, and I didn't find out until one morning I walked out and every last leaf on my eight inch high transplants had been stripped. They eventually recovered, but not fast enough to produce before our first frost, and the frost blanket wasn't enough to get them through.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

The Luffa seeds came in the mail today. Went by the feed store and picked up some carrots, radishes and sweet corn. They said they expect the next shipment tomorrow so I may go back and get some watermelon and cowpeas if they come in.

 

[chickengr]

No. You dig a deeper hole or a trenched hole and lay the leggy tomato down, like it's lounging on a sofa, with only a few sets of leaves above ground. Bury it and call it a day. Any part of the stem that is below the ground, gets roots. The more roots, the stronger the plant and the better it can tolerate odd water situations, and the more nutrient take up it can manage.

I do plant them crooked. it helps them to survive better the strong winds that we have here.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Never heard of doing them sideways will have to try that