Alright gentlemen. I blew it last year by starting to late with my Tomato planting. I am going out to west Tulsa and get my favorite Cherokee purple Tomato plants this weekend. Is this to early ?
And what kind of Tomato's do you like to plant around here ?
Quote from: DolfanBob on March 23, 2011, 12:24:05 PM
Alright gentlemen. I blew it last year by starting to late with my Tomato planting. I am going out to west Tulsa and get my favorite Cherokee purple Tomato plants this weekend. Is this to early ?
And what kind of Tomato's do you like to plant around here ?
I would wait just a couple more weeks unless you have a way to cover them if we get a final freeze. I put my hot peppers & tomatoes out usually the 3rd weekend of April. I have always used plants ready to transplant before this year. This year I am trying to start some peppers from seeds. Some of the early germinators might be ready in another 3 weeks.
Go for it.
Buy the Early Blooming varieties and baby them if it gets cold. In a few weeks, plant some Large Fruit varieties.
I can't imagine having too many tomatoes.
Quote from: DolfanBob on March 23, 2011, 12:24:05 PM
Alright gentlemen. I blew it last year by starting to late with my Tomato planting. I am going out to west Tulsa and get my favorite Cherokee purple Tomato plants this weekend. Is this to early ?
And what kind of Tomato's do you like to plant around here ?
My favorite subject. I love the Cherokees. They are available now at you local Lowe's stores.
Started mine outside a couple of weeks ago. I buy 6" plants and. . .let me back up. . .
1. I tilled just after the snow melted, then a week before planting I put down a layer of old hay.
2. On top of the hay I put about 1 inch of composted manure.
3. I then put drip irrigation on top of my manure bed.
4. On top of the manure I lay weed cloth.
5. On top of the weed cloth i put (very important) 50/50 cheap red Cyprus mulch, and red cedar mulch (it has been proven that somehow the reflected red light increases yield).
6. I cut a hole and plant each tomato and pepper plant.
7. I go to Walmart and buy 10" x 10" x 12" clear plastic storage bins ($3 each) and cover each plant putting a large rock or brick on the top.
Several things happen, first of all the manure reacts with the straw and creates heat and lots of nitrogen. It actually produces visible steam in the mornings. The plastic boxes act as green houses and boost early flowering. I don't have weeds and the mulch increased my yield and all but eliminates insects. I run the irrigation on a timer to provide water in the morning and a small amount in the late afternoon.
I don't use any pesticides, only water to spray off aphids if I get them.
I get a TON of tomatos and still have peppers in the freezer from last year.
FMC and I tried growing tomatoes and peppers in soil bags last year per a recommendation I saw on here. The results were not at all what we hoped. Yield was low, and fruit size was not great at all. We realized later on we should have probably used some pasteurized soil so we didn't get weeds or disease in the soil.
I'm cutting and pasting your methodology to her. Though time consuming to set it up, you get a great payback later not having to deal with weeds. We've also thought of doing the raised box garden.
Quote from: Conan71 on March 23, 2011, 02:17:45 PM
FMC and I tried growing tomatoes and peppers in soil bags last year per a recommendation I saw on here. The results were not at all what we hoped. Yield was low, and fruit size was not great at all. We realized later on we should have probably used some pasteurized soil so we didn't get weeds or disease in the soil.
I'm cutting and pasting your methodology to her. Though time consuming to set it up, you get a great payback later not having to deal with weeds. We've also thought of doing the raised box garden.
I'll send you some pics. My only problem this time of year is the waskely wabbits! I have sugar snaps and green beans down too and the rabbits keep hacking them down. I use hot pepper flakes but you have to re-apply after every rain. I think I'm going to start applying lead at high speed.
Quote from: Red Arrow on March 23, 2011, 12:28:16 PM
I would wait just a couple more weeks unless you have a way to cover them if we get a final freeze. I put my hot peppers & tomatoes out usually the 3rd weekend of April. I have always used plants ready to transplant before this year. This year I am trying to start some peppers from seeds.
How long before those hot peppers ripen and when are you typically away from home? :P
Quote from: guido911 on March 23, 2011, 03:02:16 PM
How long before those hot peppers ripen and when are you typically away from home? :P
Save yourself the trouble of dealing with our 4 leg, pointy ear, sharp teeth security system. Go to Carmichaels and Conrads for plenty of relatively inexpensive plants ready to transplant.
Quote from: guido911 on March 23, 2011, 03:02:16 PM
How long before those hot peppers ripen and when are you typically away from home? :P
I only do one variety of hot anymore. It's a hybrid between one of my piquins and another Asian variety I had several years ago. It's about the size of a pea and completely round. I love the heat from it and how well it dries and fits into a pepper grinder or can be crushed between two fingers over a pot of chili. Has a bit of a woody flavor.
Quote from: Conan71 on March 23, 2011, 02:17:45 PM
We've also thought of doing the raised box garden.
I grew some broccoli late last year in one, with good results. I'm trying some cherry tomato and bell peppers this spring.
Hey guy's help me out here. I am still trying to figure out the best place on my property for the right amount of sunlight. I have the ability to either have them planted for morning to mid afternoon of mid to late afternoon.
I had a spot my first couple of years but have since moved and tried other locations because that area was burning my plants the later summer came along.
Quote from: DolfanBob on March 23, 2011, 03:51:58 PM
Hey guy's help me out here. I am still trying to figure out the best place on my property for the right amount of sunlight. I have the ability to either have them planted for morning to mid afternoon of mid to late afternoon.
I had a spot my first couple of years but have since moved and tried other locations because that area was burning my plants the later summer came along.
Shade in the afternoon is best. I'd go for the spot with morning to afternoon sun. Really depends on what the season is like. Most of the time the burn people experience on their tomatoes is actually tobacco virus. Keep smokers away from your tomato plants. Anyone who handles tobacco can easily transmit the disease to the plants. Makes the leaves all dry out and fall off in mid season.
I plant some in pots (at least 15" dia) so I can move them if necessary. One of my friends plants tomatoes in 33 gal trash cans. Lots of room for roots. He moves them with a two-wheeler dolly.
Quote from: DolfanBob on March 23, 2011, 12:24:05 PM
Alright gentlemen. I blew it last year by starting to late with my Tomato planting. I am going out to west Tulsa and get my favorite Cherokee purple Tomato plants this weekend. Is this to early ?
And what kind of Tomato's do you like to plant around here ?
Considering I heard on the radio this morning we may have some snow in the area Sunday night/Monday Morning, I'd hold off planting tomatoes this weekend.
April 10th is my date to plant warm season plants such as Tomatoes, even then there is a slight chance they may get nipped.