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Eugene, OR

I was just wondering if it's a good idea to shade the giant tomatoes(Big Zac) similar to the way we shade our pumpkins? Anyone here shade them to keep them from ripening too soon?

7/11/2005 3:56:23 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Tomatoes can get sunburned and if they do they can get a white area which then turns into rot. Also the sun can make the tomato mature prematurely. So, if I have one that looks like it is going big and it is out in the sun because of my excessive pruning of secondaries, I plan on covering it with maybe a piece of sheet.

7/11/2005 10:28:41 PM

Eugene, OR

I have one that seems to be doing well towards the outside of the plant so it does see quite a bit of sun during the day. This is my first try at giant tomatoes so your advice is greatly appreciated. Best of luck!

7/11/2005 11:01:25 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

I have read somewhere to put them in a brown lunch sack so they stay green. Which could be an old wives tale.

7/12/2005 2:37:40 PM

Long Island,New York

A lunch sack?....thats a bag right?

7/12/2005 3:07:47 PM

Okla

lunch sack,, wouldn't you be afraid someone would eat it.

7/12/2005 4:11:09 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

You guys kill me..G yes a lunch sack is a paper bag. Didn't you have sack lunches when you went to school, or a sack race.

7/12/2005 4:55:03 PM

Okla

I never was small enough to fit inside a lunch sack for a sack race, we used gunny sacks... burlap sacks for you who was wondering... Never carried our lunches in them though...

7/12/2005 6:05:07 PM

Long Island,New York

We used paper bags or lunchbags to carry lunch and a soda in....I guess sacks are needed for pop ?
We always "brown-bagged" it.

7/12/2005 7:08:28 PM

Eugene, OR

Thanks for the info and the laughs everyone. As hot as it's been getting here, I think a small piece of a white sheet tossed over the fruit or vegetable or whatever the court decided couldn't hurt.

7/13/2005 2:28:17 PM

Indiana

yes i shade mine with small pieces of plastic feed sacks.duno that it helps but ow well cant seem to beat 3 lbs

7/17/2005 1:46:12 PM