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Eugene,OR

I posted this on the "Other Gardening" message board, but haven't had any response...so I'm re-posting it here.
I've got a couple of big zac plants going gangbusters, but don't know what to do with them to get one huge tomatoe for the first week of October. I know how to grow a big pumpkin, but I'm lost with these tomatoes. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

7/1/2008 9:02:37 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

I'll try and give you a few pointers
First of all, hopefully the plant is close to or better than 4 ft. Secondly, you want your fruit at least 30 in. from the bottom, Now with all that, you want a fused blossom, ie, 4 or 5 blossoms together, The more the better, Now once you have determined the fruit, you want to start removing all other fruit, Especially below your keeper, If memory serves me correct, Big Zacs are about 90 day fruit, so, anytime now or within the last week would be ideal, With your strong sun in Calif, I think it would be advisable to shade the fruit, not the plant though, and water, water, water, And remember Tomatoes do not like to have their leaves wet.

Also, no this gets more tricky, is to pune off all the suckers, The suckers are to a tomato that terest vines are to pumpkins, So you want the branches that are off the main trunk to stay, This part is not as critical, and I've talked to growers that don't prune, (your choice)
also once you have the fruit selected, take off all the blossoms the plant produces, doesn't take long if you do it every second or third day.
Now the most important thing to do is get Marv Meisners book, It's awsome
Eddy

7/2/2008 12:19:38 AM

Eugene,OR

Thanks Eddy. That's exactly what I needed!

7/2/2008 11:59:40 AM

Lots of compost about 6 inches or so around the base about 5 by 5 feet out. This is one of the best ways to grow a big tomato!

7/2/2008 1:31:36 PM

Napa Valley, CA

I looked at Marv Meisner's book that Walt Dabel had with him at our California meeting. It was very informative.

7/3/2008 2:29:25 PM