Hi DD,
Thanks for the link. It seems to be in line with other discussions here on the taste, production, appearance, and overall quality of the Goliath Hybrid.
I stopped by the stand before I left to get more info and pictures. The planting is very similar to the Earl's Hole Method for growing tomatoes.
I understood him to say Original Goliath Hybrid, but I'm going to verify that to be sure. Don't want to mistake "Original" for "Old Fashioned," which is a bit confusing in terminology, especially after I looked at the seed web site.
They are started them from seed that he gets from TotallyTomatoes. I know there are other good seed sources and some of the owners are on this forum so I'm not plugging any company, I'm just relaying information because I imagine some here will want to know. This year he planted 120 plants and has picked over 3,000 pounds and expects to get 1,000 more, for a projected minimum season total of 2 tons.
http://www.totallytomato.com/sp.asp?c=49
He digs a hole about the diameter of a five gallon bucket, and about a foot deep. He fills it with compost and a little horse manure, and was careful to emphasize horse and not cow. He also adds a handful of Rainbow 5-10-15 fertilizer and insists on that brand and formula. Once the plants are up and growing he sprinkles a tablespoon of Epsom Salts a few inches from the plant and around it. I was surprised to learn he cages every plant.
He has a drip irrigation system with emitters on a spaghetti line from the main line to each plant. The fertilizer is simply Miracle Grow for Tomatoes. He uses a fertilizer applicator that runs the fertilizer through the irrigation system. He changes planting location every year so not to plant new seedlings where the previous crop was.
No magic secrets, pretty basic stuff, but the one thing it shows is what a fine tomato Goliath Hybrid can be for home and market.
Don
Thanks Feldon for the use of your photo hosting site.