|
Post by rentedmule on Mar 30, 2015 16:05:51 GMT -5
I notice the "heirloom" seeds mentioned here. Interesting. Those old lines seem to be making a fashionable comeback.
|
|
|
Post by aponderer on Mar 30, 2015 16:22:38 GMT -5
Some years ago, the subject of home-growing tomatoes was presented by one of the morning shows. An English woman was the "gardening expert" and claimed that one should always pinch the suckers that sprout out between the main stem and a branch. She said that those suckers never produce fruit. Well, maybe English tomato plants' suckers don't produce fruit, but I've never seen a tomato plant, here, that didn't produce fruit from a sucker.
When I mentioned to my better half that the "expert" was presenting wrong information, she (my better half) asked if I was sure. I led her out to our deck where I had a container garden (including tomatoes) and pointed out the tomatoes hanging from stems on branches that started out as suckers.
Years ago, when I asked a farmer in Texas about the pinching/not pinching suckers, he explained it this way. Farmers in Texas want to get their tomato crops harvested as early as possible to get the best price. By pinching the suckers, the plants produced fruit that could be harvested earlier (by migrant workers). He said that if getting a crop harvest early and over a shorter period of time was the goal, then pinch the suckers. But if that is not an issue, a tomato plant that's not had its suckers pinched will produce more fruit over a longer period of time. Ever since, I never pinched the suckers. And when the frost hits in the fall, we eat a lot of fried green tomatoes...
|
|
|
Post by rentedmule on Mar 31, 2015 17:53:03 GMT -5
I notice the "heirloom" seeds mentioned here. Interesting. Those old lines seem to be making a fashionable comeback. I guess I'm a "hybrid vigor" type of gardener. I really don't grow any heirloom products.
|
|
|
Post by rentedmule on Mar 31, 2015 17:59:35 GMT -5
Some years ago, the subject of home-growing tomatoes was presented by one of the morning shows. An English woman was the "gardening expert" and claimed that one should always pinch the suckers that sprout out between the main stem and a branch. She said that those suckers never produce fruit. Well, maybe English tomato plants' suckers don't produce fruit, but I've never seen a tomato plant, here, that didn't produce fruit from a sucker. When I mentioned to my better half that the "expert" was presenting wrong information, she (my better half) asked if I was sure. I led her out to our deck where I had a container garden (including tomatoes) and pointed out the tomatoes hanging from stems on branches that started out as suckers. Years ago, when I asked a farmer in Texas about the pinching/not pinching suckers, he explained it this way. Farmers in Texas want to get their tomato crops harvested as early as possible to get the best price. By pinching the suckers, the plants produced fruit that could be harvested earlier (by migrant workers). He said that if getting a crop harvest early and over a shorter period of time was the goal, then pinch the suckers. But if that is not an issue, a tomato plant that's not had its suckers pinched will produce more fruit over a longer period of time. Ever since, I never pinched the suckers. And when the frost hits in the fall, we eat a lot of fried green tomatoes... Nice post. I've seen it done all different ways! The joy of home gardening is that a mortgage and your employee's future does not depend upon your decision making! Just pursue the pleasure of growing and enjoy the fruits. Most of the time something good results anyway.
|
|
|
Post by pahunter on Apr 3, 2015 8:18:06 GMT -5
Amen to that.
|
|
|
Post by shutout on May 4, 2015 6:01:45 GMT -5
Any garden reports?
|
|
|
Post by pahunter on May 4, 2015 7:26:37 GMT -5
I'm planting my tomatoes today, they are about 16" in height. Peppers will go in next week. The cold weather plants are already in, some others yet to be decided on.
|
|
|
Post by aboutwell on May 5, 2015 9:48:59 GMT -5
All my black tomato plants died... I planted them according to instructions... they came up slowly... I kept them warm and moist... but they just simply died... don't have a clue as to why... (any suggestions?)... I've never had any luck with tomatoes... other veggies?... fine...
|
|
|
Post by aponderer on May 5, 2015 10:45:57 GMT -5
You didn't give those black tomato plants enough stimulus...
|
|
|
Post by aboutwell on May 5, 2015 10:50:17 GMT -5
What would that have been?... I followed the instructions to the T...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 5, 2015 11:03:30 GMT -5
All my black tomato plants died... I planted them according to instructions... they came up slowly... I kept them warm and moist... but they just simply died... don't have a clue as to why... (any suggestions?)... I've never had any luck with tomatoes... other veggies?... fine... That proves it, you're obviously a racist.
|
|
|
Post by aponderer on May 5, 2015 11:39:19 GMT -5
What would that have been?... I followed the instructions to the T... $$$... You need to give 'em more $$$...
|
|
|
Post by aboutwell on May 6, 2015 21:16:09 GMT -5
I'm gonna grow my tomatoes at "The Garden Spot"... (a veggie store)...
|
|
|
Post by rentedmule on May 13, 2015 16:49:24 GMT -5
Black tomatoes?
|
|
|
Post by aponderer on May 13, 2015 20:06:31 GMT -5
Maybe growing black tomatoes is a black art, A.D...
|
|
|
Post by aponderer on May 13, 2015 20:07:57 GMT -5
I haven't transplanted my tomatoes or peppers, yet. We could very well have frost tonight up here.
|
|
|
Post by pahunter on May 14, 2015 8:17:31 GMT -5
Don'i say that, no frost no.
|
|
|
Post by aboutwell on May 14, 2015 13:01:36 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by rentedmule on May 15, 2015 12:12:09 GMT -5
"latest swap food craze". Prosperity enables us to exercise MANY choices! Most of which are discarded.
|
|
|
Post by aboutwell on May 15, 2015 18:49:30 GMT -5
Any of you guys or gals tried the purple sweet potatoes?... I grew some once... bought some a couple of times since... don't particularly like them... give me the white ones...
White squash as well...
|
|
|
Post by pahunter on May 29, 2015 7:09:48 GMT -5
First tomato ready for picking next week, many more to follow, looking good.
|
|
|
Post by shutout on Oct 21, 2015 6:12:32 GMT -5
Time to till in some manure and put it to bed.
|
|
|
Post by aponderer on Oct 21, 2015 10:32:26 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by immrblue on Nov 17, 2015 20:41:35 GMT -5
I'm in for green pepper next year if anyone has a bumper crop. Kabobs... steak, onions, shrooms & pepper!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by shutout on Jan 31, 2016 15:38:47 GMT -5
Seed starting time will be here soon.
|
|