I think I have a new favorite tomato

[DirtyCoconuts]

Oh I crushed that contest lol

I am pretty sure my first was in 2020!! Hahahahha

[kvet]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

Oh I crushed that contest lol

I've seen kids these days using pictures with text. I'm trying to be hip. Here's my response to DC.

[WaterWitchin]

LOL... anything other than zone 6a is OUT! Yeah, you’re a real hip dude! Ahem... try not to use words likw “hip”. Might help.

---------- Post added at 12:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:10 PM ----------

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

Oh I crushed that contest lol

I am pretty sure my first was in 2020!! Hahahahha

You ain't crushing anything when you can grow tomatoes year-round DC. And you know it. What was wrong with 2001-2019?

[DirtyCoconuts]

i am actually pretty close to year round....i might make it this year. I have a weird hybrid pear/cherry tomoato that grows in the ground unaltered and the everglades which all made it through the "winter" and fruited (albeit lightly) throughout.....

if is can get the moving fruit to seed to seedling part i can get another bed and have them (and strawberries) year round


i know i know...aint i a stinker

[kvet]

The first tomato showed up this week, "momotaro" So, I believe we will have tomatoes right around 4th of July! I didn't spot any others today.

Also, one month update on the tomato patch. The ones in the middle row seem to be stunted (total of 6) - leaves are sharply v-shaped, strong dark-purple veining. There are 2 more in the back of the left-most row also bad (one is cherokee purple). The top row also has a few that while don't look as bad, aren't totally healthy specimens. Not quite phosphorous deficiency. but maybe varieties don't like the cooler temps and overcast weather we've had all May? Today's the first day of full sun in a long while.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by kvet

The first tomato showed up this week, "momotaro" So, I believe we will have tomatoes right around 4th of July! I didn't spot any others today.

Also, one month update on the tomato patch. The ones in the middle row seem to be stunted (total of 6) - leaves are sharply v-shaped, strong dark-purple veining. There are 2 more in the back of the left-most row also bad (one is cherokee purple). The top row also has a few that while don't look as bad, aren't totally healthy specimens. Not quite phosphorous deficiency. but maybe varieties don't like the cooler temps and overcast weather we've had all May? Today's the first day of full sun in a long while.

I strongly suspect that some of those plants just don't like the usual seasonal May gray (which typically is followed by June gloom) As summer kicks into gear and they get more sun, they'll be much happier.

[kvet]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I strongly suspect that some of those plants just don't like the usual seasonal May gray (which typically is followed by June gloom) As summer kicks into gear and they get more sun, they'll be much happier.

May gray? Hah! I hope you are right!

Hey, WW: I have been in contact with the master gardeners in my area asking various questions about tomatoes and watering with my clay soil so I could get some local perspective. I was pretty stoked to be able to say, "Hey, I was recently involved in a short discussion on this"! Here's what she suggested:

If you're of a mind to start using the olla method now you can try this: get a piece of 1-2" (or larger) PVC and cut it into 8-12" lengths; cap one end and then drill holes through the pipe a few inches apart; stick the capped end into the soil leaving a few inches of pipe above the soil line and be sure that all of your holes are below the amended soil level. A rubber mallet will help drive the PVC into the moist soil without demolishing the pipe.

When you irrigate, fill the PVC with water and it will slowly seep into the clay level. When the water in the PVC pipe is low then you know it's time to refill it. Depending on how the plants are spaced it could take quite a few of these (perhaps 2 per plant).

I may actually try this!! The water pressure issue we have makes it very difficult to water deeply. Do pointy pvc caps exist? I'm afraid to actually dig a hole given the close spacing of the tomatoes and my general clumsiness. To make it even easier, I can probably tap into the water line, use a basic valve, feed drip tube over the pvc pipes to fill them at once. I know for sure I'm going to do this with my container tomatoes this year.

[Roberta]

I have lived in southern California my whole life. The marine layer in late spring/early summer is very typical. Bright mornings this time of year are the exception not the rule. (The end of this pattern is now a few weeks earlier than when I was a kid.) So patience... it'll get to tomato weather eventually - and then stay hot until about mid-October or later.

[WaterWitchin]

Yup, kvet, that PVC thing is exactly what I'm talking about. There are numerous ways to tweak and go about it. Been reading up and looking at them for probably ten years. Still haven't done it. Go for it, and let me know!

[WaterWitchin]

Okay, kvet, just now remembered your query about the tomatoes. Here's a couple of pics of Chocolate Cherry tomato. Do they look similar to the ones you were concerned about? Purplish veins and leaves? Pointy leaves? A lot of the heirlooms with the "chocolate" or dark brown characteristics like Purple Cherokee look that way when they're starting out. Very normal.