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Canada

Next Year I'm going to give it a go and see what happens, Ive already got a nice composted hole with room for at least 5 plants. Ive scanned through some posts on this forum but still have some questions.

1.what time of the year do I start these indoors? I normally transplant tomatoes and such outdoors after last forst which is normally May 24th weekend.

2. How long does it take to grow a big tomatoe? like from the time its pollinated?

3. do you let the bees do the work or is it the same as kins were you gotta hand pollinate them?

4. lastly when is an ideal pollination time for an Oct weightoff like these suckers once grown will only last so long in the fridge before they go soft correct? or how do you keep them

thanks

Dave,

10/21/2010 10:31:05 PM

Wv

welcome Davem, 1- start them just the same as you have been,2-depends on the weather hot nights they turn red faster cold nights slow growth,iv seen anywere from 30,60,90 days lol im sure that didnt help you,3-tomatoes are self pollinating kinda,if you want to keep them pure or want to cross them by hand you should bag them till the little tomato sets, use and elec. tooth brush held on the blooms stem to self it,4- thats a hard one,you dont want to pass on a mega bloom by trying to time it correct, i held my 3.65 in the crisper for thee weeks after turning red. i hope i helped more than hurt. GOD BLESS, TREETOP, if you need seeds let me know

10/21/2010 11:08:31 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

1. Early March. Start in deep open starter flats, transplant to 4" pots at 4 true leaves and bury stems to cots if you can.

I transplant at least one more time to allow burying stem and reducing leggy. Harden off for two weeks before planting out.

2. 30-45 days usually for a fruit from bloomset.

3. You can do open or you can bag and qtip (controlled pollenation)

4. Yes you can coast them carefully in fridge for a bit if you need to. We had that rampant this year.

Trim suckers and train plant, most are Delicious or Big Zac or heavy in those genes... they do best as staked plants. Pinch off the side bloomlets on bloom clusters if you're not getting megablooms. Just leave the center flower.

Some love to hide sets way down where they can fall to or set on the ground and rot. Beware and look carefully.

They are like pumpkins in too hot they don't want to set.

Welcome to the bigredfugly squad :)

10/21/2010 11:49:52 PM

Hamilton Nj

dave, i grew big zac this year and i found that once the flowers turn bright yellow there prettymuch polinated,dont try to polinate megablooms your wasteing your time !!! just let the bee do its job and if you give the plant a little shake once in a while that helps the pollen get going !!! also dont bend flowers to get a good pic lol they break easy broke 4 megablooms off this year lol!!! i noticed once a tomato has set u see the flower turning brown , then about 45 days till ripe is average can go to 60 plus days longer is better and every plant is different and growing climates are very different u half to ajust to your climate !!!! most of my tom ripened in 45 days this year was hot for them grew about 20 1 pounders and one 2 pounder lol but u never know !! lots of horse poop is the way to go if you ask me ,hope this helps also got seeds if u need !!! pizza pizzapete@hotmail.com

10/22/2010 3:33:07 PM

Canada

Thanks

10/22/2010 4:02:15 PM

Saskatchewan Fosston Canada

Looking for seeds from Delicious & Big Zac.Thanks.
Bossen.

10/27/2010 5:25:12 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Dave

We started our seed @ June 1st. It was just 1 week early for the weigh off. Another week & it would have ripened & gained an oz or two.

Phil & Jane

10/29/2010 2:23:49 PM

Canada

Thanks Phil.

11/5/2010 1:11:28 AM

Canada

Once you get a good one growing how do most of you support the vine and fruit? upside down pot under tomatoe?

Dave

11/6/2010 11:50:49 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Sacrifice old teeshirt and tie a sling.. or a nylon, and usually put in another post to hold up vine and fruit sling.

11/7/2010 1:09:32 AM

Canada

ahh ok thanks
Dave

11/11/2010 12:57:28 AM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Okie, I'm sure your way works very well, you have been at it longer than most. This tomato virgin used the Chris Lyons method. Here is a quote from GVGO

"It's really not necessary to support the tomato itself as the stem and tomato become stronger as the tomato grows. It is however important to support the stalk by tying it up to the main vine or the tomato stake supporting the plant."

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=145657

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=145660

11/11/2010 8:00:57 AM