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Wixom MI.

back in 1987 charies h. wilber of alabama grew 1368 lbs of tomatoes from 4 plants average 342 lbs per plant..... it is clear to me that the root system of a tomato plant is suficient enough to suport a 10 lbs tomato, so how do we stretch out the growth rate in days a tomato grows or the speed that it grows per day ?

8/27/2014 1:43:44 PM

Central NY

I've tried yelling at the plants ... Don't think it's working

8/27/2014 2:12:09 PM

Wixom MI.

if they dont listen, then cut off another limb, it works for dan !!! lol.......

8/27/2014 2:20:26 PM

Allentown, PA

First off it takes strains of tomatoes that take a long period of time in which to ripen like a beefsteak.

The other main component is the climate in which your growing them in. If not an enclosed climate like a greenhouse/high tunnel then the climate in which the plants are exposed to IE your location.

Of course their are many other variables but these two I believe are the main ones.

8/27/2014 6:09:09 PM

Central NY

I would be willing to guess that the soil and what's happening in there is more of a contributing factor....

8/27/2014 6:31:23 PM

Allentown, PA

Soil nutrient levels are extremely important and are critical in creating the atmosphere necessary in order for the tomato to achieve growth.

8/28/2014 1:16:43 PM

East Carbon, Utah

Charles Wilber watered with water from a pond well stocked with fish. That's some GOOD water for tomato plants! He made his own compost using, among other things, kudzu. He really focused on soil and nutrients, using only organic methods.

It stands to reason that the same techniques used for soil and water management which produced 300+ lbs. of tomatoes per plant would also be successful for growing huge individual fruits, with variety selection and cultural practices obviously being the major difference: drastic pruning and thinning.

I added 8" of organic matter to my giant tomato bed this year, including horse manure, leaves and almost my entire compost pile. The population of worms is impressive.

Since early August, I've been harvesting ripe 2-3+ pound tomatoes every day. Compared to last year when I only managed one 2+ pound tomato all year, even with >1,600 plants (admittedly only 200 or so of which had the potential to grow big tomatoes).

Wish I could take credit for "figuring it out" by greatly increasing organic matter, but I think it's the weather more than anything.

Here's a temperature comparison from June 01 to August 26, 2013 (a record hot year) vs. 2014 (the coolest summer I remember here).

High____2013____2014
>99______20_______2
>94______52______19
>89______70______42

Min_____2013____2014
>74_______5_______1
>69______47______10
>65______69______30

Tomatoes grow best when high temperatures are in the 70-85° range and night time lows are below 70. A major problem in 2013 was just getting tomato blossoms pollinated!

8/31/2014 7:55:11 PM

East Carbon, Utah

Julia mentioned slow-maturing varieties and I agree. This combined with weather. During a typically hot summer here, I expect a tomato to be ripe 36-42 days after fruit set.

At the moment, I have a Big Zac that measures to 4.2 lbs. and is 48 days since fruit set, still growing steady without a hint of pink. There is no way this would have happened in the summer of 2013.

Under good growing conditions (which is typically May and October here), I've often seen Big Zac tomatoes last for 60-70 days on the vine and still continue to grow, albeit not as fast as during September and June.

And I've become very sold on the value of growing under plastic as a means to moderate soil temperature primarily, but also air temperature. Also the structure (high tunnel in my case) provides a convenient attachment point for shade cloth.

8/31/2014 7:56:35 PM