Gardening

[GeorgeH]

Anybody here grow their own tomatoes? what varieties do you like?

For sauce I like Amish paste and oxheart, tho Roma is fine I don’t tend to plant too much of it

For eating I love the Tommy Toe cherry tomatoes, tho the skin is a bit tough for some tastes. In the beefsteak line I love the Cherokee Purple, a variety developed in Tennessee. It stays green on top even when ripe, tends to crack a bit but it is way tasty!

If you only grow 1-2 tomato plants do try the cherokee purple. Dig in plenty of lime/dolomite/gypsum and compost.

[AiA in Atlanta]

This summer none. Last summer lots of tomatoes: heirloom, Roma, and a couple of other varieties. Used grow bags for the first time. They work okay. I never really have much luck with tomatoes which is why I didn't plant any this year.

[GeorgeH]

They are fiddly, subject to some pests and to blossom end rot if soil is at all low on calcium. Sulphur spray is good for pests and seaweed emulsion good for growth and good fruiting.

I grow usually 70–100 plants for sauce and buy 2 10Kg boxes to supplement. Gives me enough sauce for one pasta meal a week for most of the year. The little tomato processing machine I have is good for 10Kg batches tops and that suits the pan capacity to boil the sauce and waterbath the jars of sauce.

Doing it in 3-4 small batches through summer suits my hip too—no huge pain anymore since the hip replacement op but it isn’t back to how it was 40 years ago, still discomfort.

[AiA in Atlanta]

What turns tomato plants yellow?

[GeorgeH]

Lack of some nutrients like trace elements, pests and disease. Especially when the weather gets really hot—spray the plants with seaweed extract to which trace elements are added. Add some fish extract, bit of quick easy nitrogen in the hot weather.

[Neferti]

What turns tomato plants yellow?

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/ ... leaves.htm

[xmaoli]

Am having some success with strawberries this year. Very early days yet but looks promising so far. Growing them in hanging containers out of the wind.

[xmaoli]

Tomatoes are hit and miss, but never had problems with yellow.

[AiA in Atlanta]

Have always heard not to plant tomatoes in the same soil twice which is why I used grow bags last year. Not sure it really made any difference: the plants start out promising but end up disappointing,

[Black Orchid]

Plants have good and bad relationships with other plants as they can chemically enhance or inhibit each others growth. Similar to people.

Plant basil around your tomatoes to help repel damaging insects. Carrots planted near tomatoes can also be helpful. They share the space well but the carrots can turn out slightly stunted..