Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 81 Entries. Monday, April 4 View Page Got my patches ready, put in soil heating cables & electric heaters yesterday. Stoked for the growing season!   Monday, April 4 View Page Here is my other patch. For unknown reason the soil temp is 7 degrees warmer here than in the other patch.   Monday, April 4 View Page Here are some of my tomato seedlings. Each 3” pot holds a rootstock plant & either an heirloom or giant tomato. Should be able to start grafting this weekend.   Monday, April 4 View Page It helps to include the pic. The rootstock is Arnold & Shin Cheong Gang.   Monday, April 25 View Page Several days ago I received a box from Porkchop for an award I didn’t even know existed. It contained this awesome trophy, a WOW shirt, coozie & package of super starter paks, a monetary award & a nice note from Steve. And my team didn’t even place in the tomato team competition! That Porkchop, a H#ll of a nice feller!   Monday, April 25 View Page A closeup of the trophy.   Monday, April 25 View Page I transplanted out yesterday. Here the 2004 VanderWielen & the 1989.5 Daletas.   Monday, April 25 View Page Here I placed 2 1938 Sperrys.   Monday, April 25 View Page And finally, in my third spot, a 2226.7 BoonenHerman & a 1803 Gadberry. Still have 2 backups in the house.   Tuesday, May 10 View Page 2 weeks in the ground as of Sunday. 2004 VanderWeilen on left. 1989.5 Daletas on right. The Daletas has a kink in the main vine that I hope will be alright   Tuesday, May 10 View Page 2 weeks in the ground as of Sunday. Both plants are 1938 Sperry. Unfortunately the one on the right has a kink in the main vine. Hopefully it will be alright. Need to get them through this heatwave.   Tuesday, May 10 View Page 2 weeks in the ground as of Sunday. 2226.7 BoonenHerman on the left. 1803 Gadberry on the right with a massive main vine.   Saturday, May 21 View Page My 1989.5 Daletas, 12 ‘ long, planted APRIL 24.   Saturday, May 21 View Page My 1938 Sperry, planted out April 24, 10.5’ long.   Saturday, May 21 View Page My 2226.7 BoonenHerman, planted out April 24, 9.5’ long. Very chuffed with my plants. Just put rooting hormone on the leaf nodes, now to bury them!   Friday, May 27 View Page A leaf node on my 1989.5 Daletas. I love the developing root in the underside. The purple on the top is Clonex gel which will encourage another root to form once it is buried. Update on my plants: 1989.5 Daletas is now 17.5’ long. 1938 Sperry is 15’ long. 2226.7 BoonenHerman the tip of the main vine has ended in only a leaf so a vigorous secondary has been swung forward as the main vine. Total length is 15.5’.   Friday, May 27 View Page A leaf node on my 1989.5 Daletas. I love the developing root in the underside. The purple on the top is Clonex gel which will encourage another root to form once it is buried. Update on my plants: 1989.5 Daletas is now 17.5’ long. 1938 Sperry is 15’ long. 2226.7 BoonenHerman the tip of the main vine has ended in only a leaf so a vigorous secondary has been swung forward as the main vine. Total length is 15.5’.   Sunday, May 29 View Page My 1989.5 Daletas measuring 18’, has a female at 15’. I am ecstatic with how large my plants have become.   Sunday, May 29 View Page My 1938 Sperry, measuring 16.5’. Has a female that opened this morning at 11.5’. I pollinated with my 2226.7 BoonenHerman but am really excited about the next bloom at 16’   Sunday, May 29 View Page The female on my 2226.7 BH, a little asymmetric   Sunday, May 29 View Page My 2226.7 BoonenHerman had the main vine end in a leaf at 14’. So I swung the most distal vigorous secondary forward making it the main vine. Total length is 16’. There are some females on the secondaries but not on the main vine yet.   Sunday, May 29 View Page Error! The last post the blossom was on the 1938 Sperry. My 2226.7 BoonenHerman had the main vine end in a leaf at 14’. So I swung the most distal vigorous secondary forward making it the main vine. Total length is 16’. There are some females on the secondaries but not on the main vine yet.   Tuesday, May 31 View Page The female blossom at 15’ opened on my 1989.5 Daletas opened today, an asymmetric 4-lober. Pollinated it with the 2226.7 BoonenHerman.   Friday, June 3 View Page 15’ out on my 1938 Sperry. Pollinated it with 2226.7 BoonenHerman today.   Monday, June 6 View Page Blossom on my 1989.5 Daletas this morning, pollinated by 2261 Schmit, 20’ out on the main vine.   Monday, June 13 View Page 4 lober blossom 24’ out on the main vine of my 1989.5 Daletas. Pollinated it with 2261 Schmit. This is a backup as the 5 lober blossom at 20’ seems to have taken. I need to cull the fruit at 15’.   Monday, June 13 View Page 5 lober blossom 24’ out on my 1938 Sperry. Pollinated with 1989.5 Daletas. Another backup, as the fruit at 16’ seems to have taken.   Monday, June 13 View Page Proud of my large leaves. This one is on my 2989.5 Daletas plant.   Monday, June 13 View Page Whoops! Betcha didn’t know that Steve set a new world record!   Tuesday, June 14 View Page This is the blossom that opened today on my 2226.7 BoonenHerman 17.5’ out. I pollinated it with 1938 Sperry. It got to 93 degrees today. I had frozen gallon jugs of water close to the blossom with a fan blowing on it. I also sprayed some cold water on the resin table that was shielding it from the sun. I don’t know what my chances are that she will take, I’ve got my fingers crossed!   Friday, June 17 View Page This is the keeper I have chosen on my 1989.5 Daletas. At 15’ from the stump, it has been growing too fast to ignore. It is currently 17 DAP with an OTT of 136”.   Friday, June 17 View Page This is the keeper I have chosen on my 1989.5 Daletas. At 15’ from the stump, it has been growing too fast to ignore. It is currently 17 DAP with an OTT of 136”.   Saturday, July 2 View Page Update on my 1989.5 Daletas. Now at 32 DAP, taping around 420 lbs. Decided to name him Sparky.   Saturday, July 2 View Page This is the keeper on my 1938 Sperry. It is 27’ out on the main vine at 15 DAP. Decided to name it Tesla.   Saturday, July 2 View Page These are the culls for today. The larger one is from the 1938 Sperry, on a secondary vine. I thought Tesla would grow more quickly without this one on the vine. Still have a small spare on the main vine distal to the keeper. The other 2 are from my 2226.7 BoonenHerman. Still have a 10 day old fruit 27’ out on the main vine & a 7 day old fruit on a distal secondary. I am actually favoring going with the secondary fruit because it had been crossed with the 1989.5 Daletas.   Saturday, July 2 View Page These are the culls for today. The larger one is from the 1938 Sperry, on a secondary vine. I thought Tesla would grow more quickly without this one on the vine. Still have a small spare on the main vine distal to the keeper. The other 2 are from my 2226.7 BoonenHerman. Still have a 10 day old fruit 27’ out on the main vine & a 7 day old fruit on a distal secondary. I am actually favoring going with the secondary fruit because it had been crossed with the 1989.5 Daletas.   Wednesday, July 6 View Page Sparky was growing into the main vine so I decided to move him while he is relatively small (around 600). So we hooked him up to the hitch of my truck with a Come-along & gently drew him back 3”. Still sphincter-tightening!   Wednesday, July 6 View Page Sparky was growing into the main vine so I decided to move him while he is relatively small (around 600). So we hooked him up to the hitch of my truck with a Come-along & gently drew him back 3”. Still sphincter-tightening!   Wednesday, July 13 View Page Here is Sparky, my 1979.5 fruit at 43 DAP, taping around 785#, averaging about 25#/day. Not satisfied with that at all. The main vine & all secondaries are terminated. There are 7 tertiary vines on the right & 4 on the left. Tomorrow those get terminated.   Wednesday, July 13 View Page This is Tesla, my 1938 Sperry fruit at 26 DAP. He is taping around 291#. Been averaging 31#/day over the last 3 days. He has the main vine terminated about 7’ past the fruit. He has 4 secondary & 2 tertiary vines still growing but they will be terminated tomorrow.   Wednesday, July 13 View Page This is Heisenberg, my 2226.7 BoonenHerman fruit at 21 DAP. He should be over 160” tomorrow & on the OTT chart. He has some secondary vines that will be terminated tomorrow but 2 of them are quite vigorous & will be spared the blade temporarily.   Saturday, July 16 View Page This is a leaf stalk on my 2226.7 BoonenHerman plant. Surprisingly, it has tiny roots that have developed at one margin. Has anyone else ever seen this? I figured I might as well bury these tiny roots with my usual technique. I will be sure to excavate this at the end of the season to see how these roots turn out.   Saturday, July 16 View Page This is a leaf stalk on my 2226.7 BoonenHerman plant. Surprisingly, it has tiny roots that have developed at one margin. Has anyone else ever seen this? I figured I might as well bury these tiny roots with my usual technique. I will be sure to excavate this at the end of the season to see how these roots turn out.   Wednesday, July 20 View Page This weird thing is on an old male blossom. Does anyone know what it is? I think I recall seeing another one last summer.   Wednesday, July 20 View Page Sparky on my 1989.5 Daletas is 50 DAP today, taping at around 1,000#. Growing at 32#/day over the last 5 days.   Wednesday, July 20 View Page Tesla on my 1938 Sperry is 33 DAP & taping around 590#. Has been growing at 44#/day over the last 5 days. My wife wants to change the name to Kim Kardashian.   Wednesday, July 20 View Page Heisenberg on my 2226.7 BoonenHerman is 28 DAP and is taping at around 230 pounds.l Growing at 24 pounds a day over the last five days.   Thursday, July 21 View Page This is my driptape from one of my patches. Numerous holes from birds pecking at it. I have 2 other sections that I’ve had to cut out & reconnect the remainders. Don’t tell me to put water out for them, we already have that.   Saturday, July 30 View Page The fruit on my 2226.7 BoonenHerman plant. I found this yesterday morning but I believe it happened Thursday evening. Around 470 by OTT, had been growing at 30#/day.   Saturday, July 30 View Page I just barely touched the blossom end Friday morning, there was a loud ‘pop’ which made me jump back. My 1938 Sperry fruit, taped 975 by OTT, growing at 42/day.   Sunday, July 31 View Page And then there was one. Sparky is 61 DAP today, currently taping at 1,240# & growing 24#/day. Getting a lot of growth cracks.   Friday, August 5 View Page Sparky is currently taping around 1,300. Just trying to keep him going. Trying to keep weeds down around the main vine & promote good air circulation.   Friday, August 5 View Page Sparky is currently taping around 1,300. Just trying to keep him going. Trying to keep weeds down around the main vine & promote good air circulation.   Tuesday, August 9 View Page You have to start somewhere. I thought this a suitable first entry for my giant tomatoes. From my 5.39 Strickler Brutus Magnum seed.   Monday, August 15 View Page Another entry for my giant tomatoes. Seed was Porkchop’s PDX Domingo. Should mention that my team has chosen ETS for our name Extreme Tomato Syndicate. It incorporates the first initial of the members of the team.   Thursday, August 18 View Page I hate when I find this! Circ was 24” Probably a possum, can’t rule out a raccoon. I set my trap up, baited with a small amount of tinned cat food & an apple split in half.   Saturday, August 27 View Page My sweet wife perched atop Sparky. He is 88 DAP today & taping 6.5” greater than my PB. Growing around 8#/day. Grow baby, grow! This fruit has the most growth cracks & canteloping of any AG I’ve ever grown. I figure the walls got to be 12” thick so I have no concerns for that lightweight on top of him.   Saturday, August 27 View Page My sweet wife perched atop Sparky. He is 88 DAP today & taping 6.5” greater than my PB. Growing around 8#/day. Grow baby, grow! This fruit has the most growth cracks & canteloping of any AG I’ve ever grown. I figure the walls got to be 12” thick so I have no concerns for that lightweight on top of him.   Saturday, August 27 View Page What have we here? Something tasty for weighoff season!   Friday, September 2 View Page My latest GPC entry for the tomato team competition, draft division.   Friday, September 2 View Page My Handy Knuckle, courtesy of Jeff Theil.   Monday, September 5 View Page Sparky is taping 417” today, 11” larger than my pb, very excited!   Saturday, September 10 View Page Still hanging in there. This pic from Thursday the fruit was 100 days old.   Saturday, September 10 View Page I really hate to see these late megablooms appear. This one on a 9.90 LaRue Domingo.   Saturday, September 10 View Page Correction: Obviously 9.09 LaRue Domingo.   Friday, September 23 View Page We lifted Sparky yesterday to take him to the Wasson Nursery weighoff in Fishers Saturday. This is my new steel tripod with a Handy Knuckle which worked flawlessly. Thanks Jeff Theil!   Friday, September 23 View Page Midway in the lifting process.   Friday, September 23 View Page Many thanks to the lifting crew!   Sunday, September 25 View Page Sparky went 1739#, 11.9% heavy & took first place at the Wasson Nursery weighoff in Fishers. New pb, we are ecstatic!   Sunday, September 25 View Page My lovely helper with me.   Sunday, September 25 View Page My lovely helper with me.   Friday, September 30 View Page Still have a big one to take to Fair Oaks Oct 8. Grow baby grow! This is on a clone of the 5.61 Konieczny MegaDom that gave me my 8.355 last year.   Friday, September 30 View Page Still have a big one to take to Fair Oaks Oct 8. Grow baby grow! This is on a clone of the 5.61 Konieczny MegaDom that gave me my 8.355 last year.   Sunday, October 23 View Page 5.41 Strickler at the Fair Oaks weighoff Oct 15. First place. Apologies for my tardiness in posting.   Sunday, October 23 View Page 5.41 Strickler at the Fair Oaks weighoff Oct 15. First place. Apologies for my tardiness in posting.   Thursday, October 27 View Page I elected to have a friend with a landscaping business unload Sparky from the trailer. He brought his big Bobcat, told me that he could lift a 3,000 pounder. As if!   Thursday, October 27 View Page That explains 12% heavy! I wasn’t impressed by the number of seeds, given the size.   Tuesday, November 1 View Page Happy belated Halloween from Snoopy!   Wednesday, November 2 View Page I’m used to green & black fungus but red? Never seen that before!   Wednesday, November 2 View Page Time to remove Sparky & get him to composting.   Wednesday, November 2 View Page Time to remove Sparky & get him to composting.