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Prairie Du Sac Wi

hello !
im going to try giant tomatoes for the first time for an oct weighoff . i will be growing big zac,s. it seems that most people would start there seeds in june for an oct weighoff but i was wondering why i couldnt start much sooner and just keep nipping off the flower clusters.i would think that this would give me bigger plants and more juice to the fruit??? tomato plants seem to me to have a long life span. will this work? or should i just start them from seed in june?????
thank you so much for any help!!!!

1/19/2012 12:46:03 AM

Cameron

We start our 1st ones @ the last week in May & then start others a week apart until 2nd week in June. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Jane & Phil

1/19/2012 9:32:58 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Sorta thinkin, that I have read, that the first or second megabloom produces the biggest maters? True or no? If true, then catond, might need to reconsider. Peace, Wayne

1/19/2012 11:40:33 PM

Cameron

I've heard that too. I think it's likely true for the most part, but we seen some decent megablooms further up the plant. Our starting date really only allows for 2, maybe 3 (if we get a good Sept) flower clusters to grow out to their full potential.

Good luck.
Jane & Phil

1/20/2012 9:02:06 AM

East Carbon, Utah

Weather is an important factor. Most years I can't seem to get blossoms to set fruit, ESPECIALLY megablooms, from about late June to mid August. But by late August and well into October, I get loads of megablooms and very good fruit set. Problem is, after early October, it usually gets too cool for them to grow fast enough to get very large.

Where I live (Salt Lake Valley), we often get many consecutive days of 95-100+° temperatures during the heat of summer. I'm guessing your weather is very similar to Jane and Phil's, so I would put a lot of weight in their suggestions.

That said, it seems more logical to me to grow the plants HUGE and prevent all fruit set, then, counting back from your competition date, pollinate your best blossoms about 50 days before the event (for example, last week of August for an October 20th competition). This is similar to the approach used for growing giant pumpkins.

On the other hand, I also have read that many, if not most varieties of tomatoes set their biggest fruits on the first or second truss, so it would make no sense to prune those off.

I've already started on a little experiment to test the HUGE plant vs. aggressive pruning approaches to growing giant tomatoes. If you're interested, I'll be glad to post updates and links in my Grower Diary.

1/21/2012 4:44:24 AM

valparaiso, in

Post the updates.

1/21/2012 9:36:56 PM

East Carbon, Utah

Just posted an overview of the Huge Plant vs. Heavy Pruning experiment, along with a pic, in my Grower Diary. Started some seeds insanely early, plants are growing like crazy, I've got to get that heated hoop house built soon!

1/24/2012 9:40:29 PM

valparaiso, in

Think you will be able to keep them going until your planting time?

1/26/2012 1:13:40 AM

Prairie Du Sac Wi

cool .thanks to all. im with you seamsfaster.ill try both.

2/2/2012 1:01:59 AM

East Carbon, Utah

I just transplanted up to 4-gallon jugs. The tallest (7 weeks along) was Church (3.36 Perry 2008) at 26", with 10 of the other 11 at least 21" tall.

I've been pinching off flower buds already, including a few megabuds. That takes discipline for me.

No progress on building their home yet...

2/5/2012 7:56:10 PM