Everything but the kitchen sink...

[journey11]

Check out this article I just read on what this lady does when she plants her tomatoes! I've heard a lot of tips and tricks over the years, but these were some new-to-me. Now, if she'll follow up this post with some pics of the results (and there may be some on there, just haven't finished looking around her blog), I will be very convinced to try this next year.

I do use some bonemeal, though not that much. Maybe I'm being too stingy?

And this year, first time, I added eggshells that I had saved up and run through the food processor. I quit throwing them in the compost because they take 2 or 3 years to break down and the chickens were getting some ideas about it, making me worry of egg-eating.

I do bury mine deep, but not that deep. And I do pot mine up to 24 oz. containers and I found that does help. Those bigger tomato plants are no target for cutworms.

Other than some 10-10-10, stakes set in place quickly, mulching and deep watering...that's it.

I've saved fish parts from fish we've caught and eaten and boy do those give a newly planted fruit tree a boost (buried quite deep, no problems.) But I wouldn't have considered using them on tomatoes.

I think it sounds like it really would work, her plan. The aspirin was really the biggest surprise. I do put one in my vase of cut flowers. Maybe it is the same idea...I dunno.

What do you do to get big tomatoes? What special treatment do you give yours?

 

[baymule]

I crunch up egg shells and just drop them on top of the beds. I have put bone meal and Epsom salts in the hole I planted tomatoes in. And I have...... not. And I have filled the bed up with chicken compost, or mulched on top with it. Since I plant so many different varieties, I can't tell you what works best. I plant in plain dirt, I get tomatoes. I put all kinds of stuff in the hole, I get tomatoes. Guess I gotta go find fish heads now..... sure gonna make 'em mad when I take their heads off......

 

[thistlebloom]

I don't know what I do to get big tomatoes...it hasn't happened yet. I do think I'm highly skilled in what not to do. I can give you tips for that if you ask nice.

 

[catjac1975]

Is it just you or your zone? Start plants in the house and put out big seedlings. Variety is key. Pink Cadillac is a monster. Lay down black plastic on the soil 2 weeks in advance to warm it up. Plant the deep-the tops just sticking out. And of course your favorite compost or manure.

 

[Collector]

My gosh that is a lot of stuff to put in one hole Sheesh. I just put one table of epsum salts in each hole and plant deep as possible. Maybe I should try some of those items in the hole next year, couldnt hurt, might help!

 

[journey11]

She has a heated greenhouse too...no fair! I'd love to have a greenhouse someday. I have saved up 4 pairs of sliding glass doors and a bunch of windows, but I'm not sure if we'll stay put here long enough to bother building it...or really where I'd put it at this point, since I've about maxed out my 1 acre.

She said her tomatoes went from 1-gallon pots to planting in the ground and she plants them DEEP, like nearly 2', since they're that big when they go in. Her farm is a business and she's known for growing over 100 types of heirloom tomatoes each year, so I guess she must know what she's doing. You're right, that really is a lot of stuff to put in the hole. I prune and amend and try to grow my tomatoes as big as possible (I prefer to have bigger tomatoes rather than more little tomatoes), but the biggest I had last year was a 1.6 lb. Kellogg's Breakfast. I had some whopper Delicious one year but didn't weigh them.

I may try her tomato voodoo on a few experimental plants next year just to see what happens. I believe I remember @MontyJ saying he grew big tomatoes for competition, so maybe he'll pop in and tell us what he does for his.

 

[thistlebloom]

Is it just you or your zone? Start plants in the house and put out big seedlings. Variety is key. Pink Cadillac is a monster. Lay down black plastic on the soil 2 weeks in advance to warm it up. Plant the deep-the tops just sticking out. And of course your favorite compost or manure.

Well, I think I'll blame my zone. I figure there's about 100 outdoor reliable growing days.

I do start them indoors in February, but only up pot once.
I also plant deep.
I have jumped around with varieties and haven't settled on any
one surefire tomato. Part of it is my garden ADD, forgetting to cover when there's a threat of frost, or like this year, forgetting to bring them in at night on Mothers Day when I was hardening them off. They never forgave me for that.

 

[catjac1975]

Yikes!

 

[ninnymary]

That's what I do! She used to add a couple aspirin but I don't think she does that anymore. Thistle, gave me a hard time when I mentioned using them. Said something like they must have a headacne before I put them to bed! Ha Went to her farm a couple of years ago to buy starts. I haven't been to the new place yet. I tried to get vfem to see her website to get ideas of what she's doing since I think vfem could easily do it also. Cynthia charges a lot for her classes and they always fill up. Must be all those city folks making tons of money down in silicon valley! Ha

Mary

 

[journey11]

I wondered if she was close by your way, @ninnymary . That is neat. I looked through the pics of her farm. Amazing how she has it all terraced into that hillside. Looks like she turns out a lot of produce.