Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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April 28, 2008
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#1 |
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Tomatopalooza™ Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: NC-Zone 7
Posts: 2,188
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The maters are in
It was a long weekend folks, but the maters are finally in the ground!
We moved in December and I had to start from scratch on the tomato patch. First I picked a corner of the yard near the fence that gets about 12+ hours of sun a day. Second, my dad and I spent a few gruelling hours hand digging the 6 week old SOD up from a 100+ square foot area. Next, we hand dug and broke up the existing soil/red clay to a depth of 6~12". (This red clay is great as it is not very dense, breaks up easy, and hold tons of moisture!) Then we mixed in organic soil from the local garden supply, along with a few bags of cow manure, some lime, and organic fertilizer. This raised the height about 10" above grade. Finally I topped the border of this new 5x18' bed with cyprus mulch to make a nice weed/mud free border around the perimeter. It is now supporting 18 of the finest tomato plants around, with hopes that a lot of sun, great soil, and constant attention will lead to the largest & best harvest I have ever had! Now, guess what variety got put in the garden first. The first one to get it right will win a no-expenses paid trip for two to Tomatopalooza[tm] VI this July, where they will get the pleasue of sampling a tomato from said first planted variety!  Lee OK. I guess I should be fair and tell you what I planted to make the guess easier. Dreamy F2 x2 Dwarf Emerald Giant F4 Summertime Gold F4 Tasmanian Chocolate x2 F4 Cuostralee BW x Tad F6 (Gotta name this sucker this year!) Big Beef Spear's Tennessee Green Large Barred Boar Orange Heirloom Sungold Select II Witty F4 - Big Yellow (Gotta name this one too!) Ferris Wheel Stokes County Tidwell German Djenna Lee's Golden Girl Pale Leaf Mortgage Lifter KBX Gary O'Sena Joe Thieneman's Austrailian Heart
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Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread. |
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April 28, 2008
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#2 |
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Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 2,722
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Awesome Lee... but for some strange reason I read the headline and was preparing myself for a visual assault, with Lee pictured reclining amid a veritable sea of red, pink, orange, yellow and green orbs. Ah, well, my day will come soon enough. Now, grow you suckers... g-r-o-w!
And you planted Green Giant first. |
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April 28, 2008
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#3 |
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Tomatopalooza™ Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: NC-Zone 7
Posts: 2,188
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Sorry Grub, didn't mean to mislead. Once the rain stops, (~ 2" in 12 hours!) I'll
snap & post some photos of the bed. Also, you get another guess as I should've posted what I was growing to be fair. Although it shouldn't be necessary for a correct response, hint, hint! Lee
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Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread. |
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April 28, 2008
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#4 |
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a
Posts: 21,169
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Cuostralee, what else?
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Carolyn |
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April 28, 2008
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#5 |
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Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: N.C.
Posts: 1,821
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Djenna Lee's Golden Girl?
Did I win? Did I win? Did I win?!?! Greg |
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April 28, 2008
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#6 |
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Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 100
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Stokes county ?!?!?
-Jimmy
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All Typos are Crappyrighted @ |
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April 28, 2008
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#7 |
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Growing for Market Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westland, Michigan
Posts: 861
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Cuostralee, what else?
 Since I know Carolyn won, and you said 'for two', can I be the second person? I would be honored to join Dr.M on this all-expenses paid trip (and with the chocolate included I hope you have a large bank roll Lee!) Duane
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May I aspire to live my life so that I may be the man my dog thinks I am. |
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April 28, 2008
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#8 |
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Tomatopalooza™ Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: NC-Zone 7
Posts: 2,188
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OK, as the suspense is too much...
Yes, it was Cuostralee. My fave mater had to be the first in the garden! So Duane, you can be the second person, but re-read the post. This is a no-expenses paid trip! I didn't want to have to put any tax liability on you if you won!  Lee
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Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread. |
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April 28, 2008
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#9 |
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a
Posts: 21,169
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So Duane, you can be the second person
**** No, no, since I can't make it to Tpalooza b/c of my current physical disability problems I cede FIRST PLACE to Duane for this NO-expense trip to Tpalooza, and he can take anyone he wants to as the second NO EXPENSE person. Duane, you can contact me about what you might wish to pay me off with for ceding to you.
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Carolyn |
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April 28, 2008
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#10 |
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Growing for Market Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westland, Michigan
Posts: 861
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Carolyn, thanks for ceding the win. The check is in the mail.
 Lee, no-expense trip means I pay no expenses and you pay all the expenses  !!!Thanks! PM and I will send you my Paypal info. $1000.00 should cover the weekend. Your generosity is so very much appreciated! Glad you got the garden in. Another 3 weeks for me here, but we are finally getting there. Long winter here in the northland. Duane
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May I aspire to live my life so that I may be the man my dog thinks I am. |
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April 28, 2008
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#11 |
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Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Saumarez Ponds, NSW, Australia
Posts: 946
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Good one Lee. Looking forward to the pics.
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Ray |
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