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Corryton, TN

At 2, 3 or 4 weeks roughly how large does a fruit have to be to reach 5 lb? Anyone keep these kind of notes?

6/7/2014 11:43:17 AM

Allentown, PA

According to Dr. Meisner's book "" Growing Giant Tomatoes ""
a potential giant can grow up to 1/2 inch a day in circumference.

Based on that information the following CC" data was compiled and taken from the same book;

15 inches = 1 LB
16 inches = 1.5 LBS
17 inches = 1.5 to 2.0 LBS
18 inches = 2.0 + LBS
19 inches = 2.5 + LBS
20 inches = 3.0 + LBS
21 inches = 3.5 + LBS
22 inches = 4.0 + LBS
23 inches = 4.5 + LBS
24 inches = 5.0 + LBS
25 inches = 5.5 + LBS
26 inches = 6.0 + LBS

My personal best from last season was a 4.46 pound Big Zac with a final CC measurement of 23.5 inches. As you can see the above chart is an approx measurement.

My 4.46 pound Big Zac was just like any other Big Zac when it came to it being a oblong and lumpy tomato which will effect CC measurement.

My 4.01 tomato from a Mega Marv from last season was ribbed and almost perfectly round. It's CC measurement was 23 2/8 inches in diameter. In my 2013 diary you can see both tomatoes. As you can see, the shape of a tomato can alter it's measurement thus altering your timed cc measurements of your growing tomato.

I trust this helps you.

6/7/2014 8:29:04 PM

Allentown, PA

Addendum; Also different strains of tomatoes will grow at differing rates from one another thus adding another variable into your record keeping.

6/7/2014 8:32:14 PM

Corryton, TN

That helps some. Was hoping to know if a tomato has for example: an 18 inch cc at 21 DAP can it reach 5 lb or is there relatively no chance. I have no idea if these numbers are realistic. I'm looking for target numbers.

6/8/2014 7:45:01 PM

Allentown, PA

Due to the different shapes of various strains it is very difficult to extrapolate that sort of approximate data.

Also due to various environmental conditions present in your area like average temperature, moisture and days with full sun, your hypothetical tomato might or might not begin to ripen and thus stop growing.

There is little to no correlation between giant pumpkin growing and giant tomato growing when it comes to many aspects such as X measurement at X day number.

Like I said the variables make it strictly a guessing game when it comes to a definitive size to day count chart.

6/8/2014 10:04:19 PM

Corryton, TN

Got it---Thanks

6/9/2014 5:18:51 AM