From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Oak Grove, Mn

This is looking like it might be the most successful season ever. Going thru the diaries.. I have Myself, Dan Sutherland, Weird Wint, Farmer Brown, Pumpkinman Dan, Virtual Veggies all with tomato sets growing. Very close to having to having a set- Wyecomber, Qtip, Seamsfaster, and Bob C. Last years third place winner still might have one going too..EVandy. Keep em growing guys..47 days to go to the end of the competition. Keep the BER away.

1/31/2018 5:14:04 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Let me know if I am missing anyone. Ooops...Wixom still might have one....if we extend the contest to July......

1/31/2018 6:07:59 PM

Topsfield, MA

Count me in. I’ve got a blossom opening in the next week

1/31/2018 6:45:04 PM

Wixom MI.

Lol... Im getting worse at my winter tomatoes. My first buds never developed and its taking forever for the second set to get going !!! In a cold bacement it like watching a cactus grow !!!

1/31/2018 7:13:11 PM

Virginia

Mines the same. Waiting for That blossom. I have grass growing outside at 25 degrees growing faster than this indoor tomato. Lol

1/31/2018 7:36:20 PM

Virginia

Thinking about starting my summer tomatoes. Is it too soon? Might get a blossom by the end of summer.

1/31/2018 7:37:59 PM

Newcastle, CA

The "sunflower" on my 5.24 is the biggest flower I have ever seen on a tomato. I cant wait to see what it grows into.

1/31/2018 8:09:40 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

Wint, Your seed is from BNOTs Megamutt D. Hope your sunflower is a pre-curser to this season for Wixoms cross.

1/31/2018 9:17:11 PM

Wixom MI.

I hope weird wint and bnot continue to have good luck with the megamutt D last summer i didnt have luck on my early sets, but started getting some ribbon vine megablooms late in the season ! But to late to get a tomato for seed. Looks like bnot got the golden seed !!! I didn't hear much from anyone else ?

1/31/2018 10:22:37 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Ha.
My plants are just beginning to throw a blossom.
i need to update my diary.
Maybe this weekend.

1/31/2018 10:54:58 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

Off topic, but Chris, I will grow seeds from my 4.45 MMZ and 4.41 MMD next year. Threw so many large blooms and perfect plants.

I really have enjoyed watching the winter grow this year. You guys rock! bnot, you are something else. Wint, keep it going!

2/1/2018 1:37:19 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

sorry, Henry and Esheel...i will add you to my list that I have written to keep an eye on. 14 growers now still with a chance. This is a record for the winter grow.

2/1/2018 3:14:02 AM

Mn

is March 20th the last day for weighing in bob?

2/1/2018 10:02:11 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

yes, competition ends March 20th. In years past we have allowed growers to weigh on the first day of spring(which is the 20th in 2018) or earlier.

2/1/2018 10:14:43 AM

Newcastle, CA

It is strange, but my 5.24 seedlings had a real hard time getting going, looked terrible compared to the others. But this one sure got better lookin' with age. lol

2/1/2018 12:16:39 PM

Wixom MI.

Bnot what are you going to name your team !!! The Mad Scientists,The Killing Feilds, Cherry Bombs ?

2/1/2018 12:42:13 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I have great teammates. So far most of our conversation has been about growing bigger. Talking about soil and tests and genetics etc. Next might be pruning and care. We might get around to discussing team names...maybe after we get our team weight total up over 35 pounds.

2/1/2018 4:29:28 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Before then...two of my team have the winter indoor challenge to finish. Your megamutt D looks great Weird Wint. Keep it going. We are at the point where I feel the winter grow gets more difficult. Keeping the plant healthy, while still pushing the tomato to grow bigger is a lot harder indoors than outdoor for me. Is it because we are working with a smaller root system, or is it because we don't have enough light to support the bigger plant, or is something else. What is the biggest difference - indoor to outdoor?

2/1/2018 5:15:58 PM

Southeastern Illinois

Bnot...Might move me off the list for now at least. Looks like BER possibly on the 4.86 tomato as well. I am not really set up to battle BER this year. Haven't really ever had much of a problem with BER outside so didn't have any spray or anything for it.

I read sometimes it only happens to the 1st and 2nd trusses so might try to grow new third trusses and see if it helps but that will most likely not be ready before the deadline. Going to see if the 4.86 will ripen and possibly have a seed or two.

Can't wait for spring got a taste of the fun this winter regardless of any further results. Several of my goals have been accomplished so a success overall.

2/1/2018 5:59:08 PM

Newcastle, CA

bnot where'd you get those big plastic pots for your soil tomatoes. looks nice. were they expensive?

2/1/2018 6:10:06 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Just about all of us are fighting the BER predominance issue in the indoor grows. This is where the group effort will pay dividends. If you find a solution...share your knowledge. I can recover from BER if I catch it soon enough...but the tomato never reaches the potential it could have had. Too much leaf damage from the Ca spray and the tomato becomes deformed. I have seven plants left this year to try to find an answer. Will be trying different things but really don't have a clue what the right solution is.

2/1/2018 6:11:50 PM

Newcastle, CA

I have read about using soft rock phosphate mixed into the soil. I guess it has a soluble aspect to the Ca. I am thinking about dumping more oyster shell into my dirt to see if it helps.

2/1/2018 6:14:02 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

The big plastic pots in my garden this year..are not so big. They are only 15 gallons. Last winter, I had 40(155 liter) gallon pots indoors. Those are now out on my deck. I had my local grow store special order them. I went in and told them I wanted the biggest pot they could find. They looked in their catalogs and found the 155 liters. The price was not terrible..I think I paid like $22 per pot. The 15 gallon ones were cheaper. I know you have a local grow store that you go to Austin. See if they can find you something similar. If they are having trouble..I can get you the source of where my grow store got them from. I have noticed...Peter Glazebrook in the UK is also using 155 liter pots.

2/1/2018 6:17:32 PM

Newcastle, CA

that's a good deal!

2/1/2018 6:25:28 PM

Newcastle, CA

I have a bunch of 45 gallon "soft pots" I will be using this season.

2/1/2018 6:31:15 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Rock phosphate in soil isn't going to help me. I am in all hydro for the rest of the season and will be all hydro and aeroponic next winter. Right now I am running very high percentage of CalMg in my nutrient solution. I have been having trouble with BER (ca?) but also my plants are showing signs of Mg deficiency. Ca and Mg should restrict each other. I have been studying Mulder's chart. High potassium can restrict both Ca and Mg, but I am also running very high P which should help in the absorption of Mg. The rest of the season will be trying different thing. Various nutrient mixtures and different pruning techniques. I have noticed that my BER usually happens soon after completely stopping new growth. I am wondering if I keep some new growth if there be an increase in the flow of fluids to make a difference. The winter growers will get the BER problem figured out..then it will be the next issue to solve.

2/1/2018 6:57:16 PM

Newcastle, CA

hmmmm well you've got me there. I also heard, and by heard I mean I read a comment on a youtube video, that said they completely cured their BER problem by snipping off the ends of the newly set tomatoes. I didn't want to risk doing that on my small crop, but I wonder if that has any merit.

2/1/2018 8:21:10 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Can't have blossom end rot if you don't have the end :) About 1/2 the time i see it not on the end but on the sides. Looking forward to seeing what you do with that big set weird wint. I wish I had one like that in my grow room now.

2/3/2018 11:57:00 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Have cured, or certainly slowed down BER, with foliar spray of Calcium! I used to grow approx. tomato plants each year so mom could can as much as she wanted...the Calcium foliar spray always worked if the problem showed up! Peace, Wayne

2/5/2018 12:13:51 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Have cured, or certainly slowed down BER, with foliar spray of Calcium! I used to grow approx. tomato plants each year so mom could can as much as she wanted...the Calcium foliar spray always worked if the problem showed up! Peace, Wayne

2/5/2018 12:13:57 AM

Central NY

Just chopped my indoor beauties down ...I quit

2/5/2018 10:51:24 PM

Zimmerman, Minnesota

I weighed my first of the winter. It came in at 11.18 oz. Nice to get my first ever indoor winter tomato to scale. I have lost 3 to BER and I have 2 left that are about the size of a quarter. I do have a potential massive bloom coming but I’m not getting my hopes up.

2/6/2018 2:53:45 PM