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New Brunswick

I was wondering how to go about growing giant tomatoes. I have great luck with the ordinary ones and was wondering if anyone would have seeds and info to share. Am I too late to start them this year? (Frost date, early September)

4/14/2005 2:13:03 PM

Rockford,il

I am growing Delicious and Mortgage Lifter which I germinated a couple of weeks ago.Big Zac seeds are real popular for growing but hard to find.I got both my seeds either from Home Depot (Delicious) and Walmart(Mortgage Lifter).I used the exact same germinating method as for pumpkin seeds.You might not be too late but the sooner the better.

4/14/2005 7:45:23 PM

Canada

Ya its starting to get "late" for starting Tomatoe seeds
but still not "TOO" late, I like to start my Tomatoe, Pepper plants around 2nd week in march ( this year I was a tad later) due to schooling. But normally when I start my plants by seed in middle of march come may 24 long weekend when they get transplanted outdoors they are already produceing flowers so come middle of June I have ready to pick tomatoes untill late aug early sept. Good luck later
Dave

4/14/2005 9:16:11 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

Check your local greenhouses or even the garden centres of your Rona, Home Depot etc. They all sell started plants. The Home Depot has some decent tomato varieties. I've seen Big boy, Mortgage lifters and Belgiums in our local stores.
Eddy

4/14/2005 10:19:02 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

It all depends when your weighoff is. For the October weighoffs, you still have plenty of time.

Phil

4/15/2005 6:55:34 AM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

Start regular tomatos now but many growers start giants in June.

4/15/2005 8:17:50 AM

New Brunswick

We do not have a local home depo but I will check out the walmart. I always buy my plants all started but only have been able to find regular ones so far. I always get a couple of ones with tomatoes all on them to set out in large containers on the deck in June. I pick as many as 9 pails off the 9 plants in the garden....not counting the two older plants on the deck. I have a hard time starting them in the house as tomato plants are toxic to cats and I have several cats that love chewing any plant.....even artifical ones! I spray "bitter apple"on the plants but the cats still chew if they get a chance. Best if I stick to the already started plants and buy just in time to set out probably. Thanks for the info anyway...cause I just might figure out a way to try the giants some day.

4/16/2005 10:53:23 PM

Eugene, OR

If you really have your heart set on trying to grow a big tomato and you can't find the plants or seeds locally, you can order them online. Hirt's is already selling their Big Zac plants online for 3 bucks a piece. http://www.hirts.com/cgi-local/catalog.cgi?cat=&item=2600 This will be my first year trying to grow a giant tomato as well. Best of luck! Brian

4/16/2005 11:05:38 PM

New Jersey

"HEIRLOOM - Indeterminate - 80 Days - This is the tomato that holds the present world record."


Uh....??? No it's not. :)

4/16/2005 11:54:25 PM

Eugene, OR

Did the Delicious variety take the new record? I don't keep up with such things as I'll never come close to the record anyway. What is the current record?

4/17/2005 12:46:33 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

The current record is 7.75 pounds held by Gordon Graham and grown in 1986 in Edmond, Oklahoma using the variety Delicious as the seed. Apparently the tomato came from a fused blossom which actually was around 5 blossoms fused together. It was ugly but big. sort of like some pumpkins.

4/18/2005 7:14:11 PM

Md/ Usa

the suggestion that graham tomato was fused blossom is only a theory not a proven fact because graham never said it was.

5/21/2005 9:52:07 AM