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Ankeny, Iowa

I am thinking about growing some BIG Zac Tomatoes this year. but I do not know how to grow them. Does anyone have any advice.

1/1/2002 1:25:01 PM

Indiana

Plant them in the crapiest soil you have, and leave them alone. That is what I did, and ended up with a 2.36 pound tomato that took first in the state.
Tom Beachy

1/1/2002 4:02:53 PM

canal winchester ohio

Hey Junior here is how I done them.
First if you don't have your seeds yet you can get them through this site - http://www.totallytomato.com/
Second you start 3x as many seeds as you want plants. Not all seeds throw pure, so as you see them grow, thin out the weak ones & after about 2 months you will have only the
"best" ones left.
Where ever you are going to plant them dig the area out & lay drainage pipe with holes in it ( make sure the pipe is level)& have both ends sticking up out of the ground. Backfill the dirt back over the pipe " about 1 1/2 ft deep.
This is how you will water them. The roots will draw deep & wrap around the pipe. You also fertilize through pipe.
Start off with a 10-50-10 every other week until the plant is about 3' high. Switch to a 20-20-20 at that point ( again every other week) When flowers start to form go to a 5-10-40. Also use a fish/seaweed mixture each time you apply your fertilizer. I watered every 3rd day unless we recieved a rain.
I didn't sucker or prune the plants & I got over 185 lbs of fruit off my 3 plants. Three of them over 4 lbs & about a dozen over 3 lbs.........Paul

1/1/2002 4:30:02 PM

Long Island,New York

If a tomato is green.....is it a tomato or a squash?....G

1/1/2002 5:40:15 PM

canal winchester ohio

Only you Glen...........LOL

1/1/2002 5:53:05 PM

Indiana

Nice call Glenn, I'm sure you could have one classified squash....lol
Tom Beachy

1/1/2002 7:06:49 PM

Ankeny, Iowa

I am just wondering how tall do Big Zac tomato plants get.

1/1/2002 10:37:42 PM

canal winchester ohio

I topped mine off when they got 10' tall............Paul

1/2/2002 7:24:54 AM

Liverpool , England

Yo Glenn,
I saw an advertisement for green tomtoes last year .....hope for you yet man..we have a green and red striped one called tigerella would this be a squastom...and yellow ones.

Alun...still in a frosty Liverpool

1/2/2002 1:51:45 PM

Ankeny, Iowa

How long does it take Big zac tomato seeds to germinate?

1/2/2002 5:15:41 PM

virginia

Paul, this is johnboy, where do you get your 5-10-40 fertilizer at? Thanks.

1/2/2002 9:58:41 PM

Ankeny, Iowa

Hey John boy I know fertilegrower.com has 5-10-40 fertilizer.

1/2/2002 10:32:41 PM

Rexburg, Idaho (brianchristensenmd@gmail.com )

I just ordered my big Zac seeds today. now I'm still looking for big onions

1/2/2002 10:44:38 PM

canal winchester ohio

Junior is right. fertilegrower.com has every fertilizer I named off..
And Brian, I think Alun can hook you up with giant onion seeds if I remember right.........Paul

1/3/2002 7:27:21 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Reimer Seeds has Kelsae Sweet Giant Onions and A lot of other Giant Vegetable Seeds.http://www.reimerseeds.com/

1/3/2002 9:43:30 AM

virginia

Thanks junior and paul.Those are some big tomatoes that you grow paul.The best i did with big zacs was 3 pounds 3 ounces last year.Paul do you have any pictures of your 4 pounders tomatoes. Could you send me some pictures though email.I would love to see them. Thanks

1/3/2002 10:14:41 AM

canal winchester ohio

Sorry no pictures, it's a touchy subject. I was going to go to the Ohio Valley with them, but I had no pumpkin to take & a 3 hour drive just for tomatoes didn't seem like a good enough reason to miss work. Found out the next day that under 3 lbs won the Ohio & under 4 won the GPC
( 500 bucks down the drain..)
I'm just now this week starting to come to grips with it.
Oh well they made some GREAT salsa.
And there are no pictures of them because I didn't want to be reminded how STUPID I was for not going.........Paul

1/3/2002 10:23:41 AM

Western Pa.

Paul,

You sore loser, you!
I'm personally glad you didn't come!

kilr

(1st place tomato Ohio Valley 2001!)

1/3/2002 12:31:15 PM

canal winchester ohio

Hey Kilr,
If someone else had to win, I was glad it was you.
Cherish the title well my friend, your reign only last 9 more months......LOL.......Paul

1/3/2002 1:00:04 PM

Ankeny, Iowa

Hey Brian I saw some giant onion seeds at www.pandpseed.com They also have a great selection of other giant vegtables.

1/3/2002 4:45:26 PM

walton n.y.

try www.dixondalefarms.com they have young onion plants for sale and a varity called alisa craig get close to 4lb had some nice ones last year made blooming onions out of them

1/3/2002 6:36:49 PM

Ankeny, Iowa

I was just wondering do you water and fertilize your tomatoes by the gallon,by the liter or does it depend on how much rain has been falling?

1/4/2002 7:05:24 PM

canal winchester ohio

I always go by feel ( let the plants tell me).......Paul

1/4/2002 7:42:56 PM

virginia

Paul, I got drainage pipe,but the holes is just on one side all the way down. Should the holes be all over the drainage pipe all the way down to the end. Thanks.

1/9/2002 6:03:09 PM

canal winchester ohio

If the holes go from one end of the pipe to the other you will be allright . When you lay the pipe make sure the holes point down, to allow for drainage. The roots will actually wrap around the pipe. And by drawing the roots deep if you have a hot day your plant will be fine as the roots are not shallow like they tend to get when you only top water........Paul

1/9/2002 6:09:09 PM

canal winchester ohio

By the way I'm using this same idea this year when I dig my pit for my pumpkins.....

1/9/2002 6:12:15 PM

virginia

Thanks alot paul,you got a good idea to do your pumpkins that way to. And thanks again.

1/9/2002 7:01:44 PM

Ankeny, Iowa

Thats a great idea paul. i think I my try that too.

1/9/2002 10:15:34 PM