Tomatoes - Five Varieties

After 120 days, it is time to compare the varieties....

For the most part, I got fruit from all and there was not a huge difference in the fruit color or size. I have yet to do a real taste test difference.

At this point, I am going to try to get another set of fruit out of each plant. I am doing this by stripping out the dead leaves. Below are before and after pictures of each.

Sample Before and After stripping of dead leaves.

Bush Beefsteak (purchased from Farmers Market)

Thin stalks with some flowers

Homestead (purchased from Home Depot)

Huge plant with lots of flowers and some small fruit

Husky Red (purchased from Farmers Market)

Thick stalks with few leaves and no new flowers

Big Boy (purchased from Home Depot)

Large plant with lots of flowers

Bush Early Girl (purchased from Farmets Market)

Thick stalks with few leaves and no new flowers

Tomatoes...too many to deal with

So the neighbors came by....















So now I have lots of tomatoes. And the neighbor may can some for me.

New Plantings...Seeds

I have two ready planters so I went ahead and am trying some seeds.

In one...Marketmore 76 and teh Arkansas Little Leaf cucumbers.

In the other...Sugar Baby watermelon and Hales Best melon.

We'll see what happens.

Tomatoes....finally after 105 days...

One week ago, the tomatoes turned red. Or at least pink. It was the Husky Red and Bush Early Girl. That makes 105 DAYS. So much for the 60 day window. I don't know if the cold was an issue or not.

Also... the tomatoes still haven't fully ripened. They are still a little hard but my wife keeps picking them. So far the fruit is around 2 to 3 inches for both varieties and we have gotten around 10 fruit so far.

I also put down 1/3 cup epson salts and 1/8 of miracle grow today.

Two Month Update

Cukes gone byebye. The aphids, or whatever, were too much. I cut them down.

But the tomatoes are doing nicely. I have an abundance of green ones, the largest 3 inches in diameter. I did not check which ones were the big producers yet. But hopefully, some will started getting the red color soon.

The peppers are acting pepperly and coming in fine. I think I have some green peppers, habaneros, and jalapenos.

The weather has been kinda cold and I have done nothing to protect the plants. The low temp got to around 40 degrees.

I went by the farmers market guy and asked him a little about the tomatoes and should I pinch any of the small ones off. He said no need. He also gave the following advice:

1. Mix 14-14-14 Ozmocote(sp?) in with the soil at planting. It gives time released fertilizing over the life of the plant.

2. It is better to use a small amount of liquid fertilizer often than a large fertilizing more infrequently.

3. In my planters, use 1/4 Epsom Salts every month.

So, today I put in the reservoir of each planter 1/3 cup Epsom with around 1/8 cup of Miracle Grow.

We will see if some of the smaller tomatoes grow up better.

Cuke Update

I hit the Cukes with malithion on Sunday along with adding a big spoonful of Miracle Grow to each of the containers (through the water pipe).

I also examined the black dots more closely. Some of them moved. Must be aphids.

We'll see what happens.

My current Pineapples

I have a pineapple patch with around 15 pineapples in it. I have another 5 or so around the yard in various places (some with over a 6 foot wingspan). I got another two pots with 2 or 3 plants in each pot.

That makes over 25 plants.

When will they put out fruit?