I think I have a new favorite tomato

[DirtyCoconuts]

HAHAHA, this thread is great- this is why this place is such a great community

[WaterWitchin]

Well crap. Late to the Festivus as always. Here in Kansas, plus being old, plus knowing how to grow stuff, my thoughts... in Kansas. I've planted from already started plants plus seeds. Both, most years. My family has always had a race of who gets the first ripe tomato before July. (Must be an heirloom) For like five generations. I've won since the year my dad died. He's been gone since 2003.

For the first time since I can last remember, I bought no already started tomatoes and only did seed. Covid BS, dontcha know. I lost to my cousin. I still don't have a ripe tomato.

I know how to grow from seed. I know how to take a root bound tomato from even a big box store, and get it rolling fast. Which do I prefer? I prefer someone else do all that work to get them started. But I have five gen old seeds that must perform regardless. So I normally go both ways.

Know your goal, know what you wanna do and how you wanna do it. For you. In your climate. With your spare time or lack thereof. I think either or both work just fine, as long as ya know what you're doing. I'm just ready to eat a BLT. And enough tomatoes to put sores on my tongue.

[JScott]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Well crap. Late to the Festivus as always. Here in Kansas, plus being old, plus knowing how to grow stuff, my thoughts... in Kansas. I've planted from already started plants plus seeds. Both, most years. My family has always had a race of who gets the first ripe tomato before July. (Must be an heirloom) For like five generations. I've won since the year my dad died. He's been gone since 2003.

For the first time since I can last remember, I bought no already started tomatoes and only did seed. Covid BS, dontcha know. I lost to my cousin. I still don't have a ripe tomato.

I know how to grow from seed. I know how to take a root bound tomato from even a big box store, and get it rolling fast. Which do I prefer? I prefer someone else do all that work to get them started. But I have five gen old seeds that must perform regardless. So I normally go both ways.

Know your goal, know what you wanna do and how you wanna do it. For you. In your climate. With your spare time or lack thereof. I think either or both work just fine, as long as ya know what you're doing. I'm just ready to eat a BLT. And enough tomatoes to put sores on my tongue.

To me, the only reason I can think of to start plants from seed is if you had like heirloom varieties or other uncommon ones that you can't find already started at the garden centers. Planting plants that are already started are sturdy, vigorous, and ready to plant in the garden. I don't know why You would go to all that extra trouble unless you have to.

However, today heirlooms are making a comeback. People aren't as interested in Better Boy or Champion as they used to be. People are beginning to catch on to the fact that you can grow tomatoes for flavor rather than just nice red perfect round tomatoes. Because of this, the heirlooms are getting easier to find already started. Lowe's always has a good selection of some of the best heirlooms (Cherokee Purple, Brandywine, and such), but if you can't find it at the garden center, you can certainly find them online, already growing and ready to plant. I might start some from seed this winter just to try it and see how they do, but other than that I'm going to stick with the ones somebody else already did all the work of getting them started for me, whether I buy them at the garden center, or order them online.

[WaterWitchin]

There's an heirloom seed place over in Missouri, about an hour or so away from us. They have (usually) a festival each fall. It's a great place to order heirloom seeds. When I think of the name I'll let ya know.

Yes, I grow some Purple Cherokee from seed each year, because they've passed down to seven generations now. Family tradition. I've also bought some started from our local Ace hardware, because I can get tomatoes sooner.

[DirtyCoconuts]

It is about striking a balance that works for you....sage words WW!!

[JScott]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

It is about striking a balance that works for you....safe words WW!!

I found another good article about growing tomatoes in south Florida. It covers technique and planting time, but it also suggests a number of varieties that should do well for you:

Tomatoes - Gardening Solutions - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Here's another one:
Access Denied

The link says "access denied" but that's a lie. My issue with this article is that it recommends the use of the EarthBoxes, which are like self-watering planters. I have several of them, and I did not have good results. Maybe in a cooler climate, they would be fine, but here in Texas, it's just too damn hot and since the roots are in a box above the ground, the roots get too hot too and the results are not good. Maybe in a cooler climate they would work. Also, you can only fit two tomatoes in each box, and I plant a lot of tomatoes, so I'd need a ton of those boxes to plant every variety I want. I guess maybe if your Florida winters when you would grow tomatoes are cool enough it could work, but I don't know. I can't say that I recommend the EarthBox, as cool an idea as it is.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Awesome. Thanks!

I have really wanted to try the Japanese tomato ring approach (somehow not from japan) but I have not gotten around to it

Anyone ever try that?

[JScott]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

Awesome. Thanks!

I have really wanted to try the Japanese tomato ring approach (somehow not from japan) but I have not gotten around to it

Anyone ever try that?

I have never heard of this, but I googled it and it looks really cool. I might try one this spring. If I do, I'll keep you updated.

[WaterWitchin]

I've used the method. Didn't like it. We have very hot, very humid conditions June through August, and fight septoria every year. Yes, we rotate tomatoes each year, and go two years before using the same spot or soil.

In my climate, the tomatoes in the Japanese tomato ring are too close together. I have more success with planting in a single line, two to three feet apart, and pruning bottom leaves up to point where the first fruit sets on. I never have leaves below about 1-2 feet on bottom of vine, which helps with air flow.

In the Japanese tomato ring, it creates an even more humid area in the middle of the ring, surrounded by the tomatoes, and around here almost guarantees septoria will set in. Tried experimenting with a couple for two years, and quit.

The same ring I use at times for growing a potato tower. Worked well, and took up much less real estate to grow fingerling potatoes.

---------- Post added at 07:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:45 AM ----------

Now I fight cucumber wilt instead. Don't quite have that one perfected yet, but I'm gunning for it next year.

---------- Post added at 07:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:46 AM ----------

PS Is this the thread where I said I'd come up with the name of the heirloom seed company I buy from? I guess if not, won't hurt anyway... About us
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. They have a great place to go visit as well, and a fall festival, if you're in the area. All unfortunately closed for now other than seed shipping due to the damned Covid19.

[kvet]

Here's what I'm considering growing next season. Any thoughts?

Cherry:
Maglia Rosa
Black Cherry

Large:
Cherokee Purple
Japanese Triffle

Paste:
San Marzano
Opalka

I am wondering if I should look for more variety, there are three black tomatoes here. 2020 I grew only two types, black krim and tasmanian chocolate, totaling 12 tomatoes, all in containers (ground is not fertile and lacks sunlight). I like the descriptions of the maglia rosa being able to grow in 3 gallon containers, makes it easier to manage my space which is already challenging.