Spring Garden-It's time for show and tell

crosscreekcooter

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Pretty sure that's all in how you have cared for them. You find a particular type you like and you tweek it as you learn the characteristics. For instance, I have always suckered my plants no matter the type of tomato. Im growing all beefsteak and sweet 100's and this year stopped all suckering and they both put more tomatoes on one plant than i have ever had. My plants this year were averaging 20 tomatoes each, I had 2 that hit 25. I have seen hydroponic grows that produce twice that but thats all hothouse.
I also reduced the amount of nitrogen although I did use 3 different fertilizer types (bone meal, bat quano, and a slow release- once the fruit started coming on, i pretty much stopped all that and just hit them with 1/2 strength Miracle Grow every 10-14 days depending on rain) and tried to be real consistant with watering.
I'm hoping to keep the plants healthy and maybe get another run off them in late fall. Thinking about starting some okra and cukes soon.
 

SeabeeGator

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Really great thread. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Question: I’m moving back south soon. Any sense in starting a garden then or will I miss out because it’s too late? Would love to catch some late season tomatoes, maybe can them.
 

grengadgy

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Really great thread. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Question: I’m moving back south soon. Any sense in starting a garden then or will I miss out because it’s too late? Would love to catch some late season tomatoes, maybe can them.
Fall gardens are great.
 

SeabeeGator

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Fall gardens are great.
Thought so. Found a good website with dates for when we get there and it seems like we’ll be good to go as long as we get seeds into potted soil quick for most. Pretty sure we’re going to have to buy juvenile tomato plants though. They recommend indoor seeding now.
 

Albert

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Pretty sure that's all in how you have cared for them. You find a particular type you like and you tweek it as you learn the characteristics. For instance, I have always suckered my plants no matter the type of tomato. Im growing all beefsteak and sweet 100's and this year stopped all suckering and they both put more tomatoes on one plant than i have ever had. My plants this year were averaging 20 tomatoes each, I had 2 that hit 25.
I agree that the care is crucial. A little bit about suckering: Most commercial growers will remove early suckers but that’s it. The reason is to achieve early fruit uniformity. Other than that it serves little purpose. Some people remove them religiously, but all they are accomplishing is growing fewer, but only marginally larger fruit that takes longer to mature. That last part is why the commercial guys don’t sucker past the 4th or 5th node.
As for my varieties, I have 3 creoles, 3 Cherokee purples( won’t do again), 3 Arkansas Travelers(maybe) 3 Early Girl (yes), 2 Beefsteak(maybe). I just planted 3 more Better Boys this week to see how they will stand up later in the year so stay tuned. I am trying to decide my balance between determinate and indeterminate varieties.
For fertility I’ve done nothing but 15-15-15, but after this year I am going to get some chicken litter and till in to the soil once everything is out. No better source of micros- Magnesium, Sulfur, Molybdenum especially.
The Fipronil drench is essential IMO, although you could substitute Imidacloprid and get the same result. The reason being it will deter whiteflies that vector Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus. The virus won’t kill the plant but could cause it to reduce yield and terminate early.
Gonna have a pic update from the big garden in a day or 2, the crop is grabbing the N from the application 3 weeks ago and is starting to really take off. Time to apply Mepiquat Chloride( basically a refined sugar blend) as a plant growth regulator that slows the vertical growth, redirecting the plants energy to put on more fruiting positions. I want to try some on tomatoes but I haven’t figured out the rate yet. May try one plant in a container for fun.
 

crosscreekcooter

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@Albert - If my wore-out brain can remember, I may order some Creole seed for next season to give them a try. I see Bonnie Plants sells them but I've never seen them in this area so like the cover of Athlons college football annual it's probably a regional thing.
I'm with you on the chicken litter thing. Question, how does the Fipronil drench affect mycorrhiizal development in the soil from the manure litter? As I understand it, the fungi feeds the plant roots the macros and micros and in turn the plant roots feed the fungi.
Interested in learning more about the Mepiquat Chloride.
 

Albert

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@Albert - Question, how does the Fipronil drench affect mycorrhiizal development in the soil from the manure litter? As I understand it, the fungi feeds the plant roots the macros and micros and in turn the plant roots feed the fungi.
There is no effect whatsoever. I’m using it for insecticidinal purposes only. If put in the soil it won’t have any effect on root development, but will be taken up in the plant so that only stinging and sucking insects are affected like whitefly and aphid. It leaves the beneficial insects to do their thing when applied in this manner. I try to stay away from foliar insecticides as much as possible. I prefer using pyrethroids Like lambda cylohathrin or bifenthrin and maybe some fipronil mixed in, but usually only once per season. I only use Spinosad in the control of army worms. I scout my plants hard and when I see worm eggs stating to turn brown I spray. It usually breaks the cycle and you don’t have to do it again.
I’m gonna mix some Azoxystrobin in the drench next year for rhizoctonia control, and leave a few plants off as a check for efficacy.
 

Albert

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Really great thread. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Question: I’m moving back south soon. Any sense in starting a garden then or will I miss out because it’s too late? Would love to catch some late season tomatoes, maybe can them.
Do it. Most commercial Tomato growers in Fl plant a fall crop. What state are you moving to? It would give me an idea on planting times. You could adjust your variety selection accordingly as well.
 

Albert

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SeabeeGator

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Very much so although that Nov 23 date is more like Nov1. Strictly talking tomatoes I would look at a mid August planting there. It’s going to be warm at transplant time and they will grow like crazy.. Everything will happen faster than a spring planting.
I won't be there in time to do indoor seeding so I'm thinking I'll have to get some juveniles. How would you go about finding a good garden store? I doubt Walmart will be a great source...
 

Albert

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I won't be there in time to do indoor seeding so I'm thinking I'll have to get some juveniles. How would you go about finding a good garden store? I doubt Walmart will be a great source...
As in most arena’s, Wal Mart sucks.
As far as chain stores go Tractor Supply is a real good start. Call it cheating or whatever but I never do indoor seeding. Would rather go to a local nursery and pick out the biggest and healthiest and roll with that. Look for local feed and seed stores as those people have real world knowledge about what works in the area. There are local nuances to almost every crop grown, that’s the info you’re looking for. It won’t be found at Lowe’s/Home Depot/Wally.
 

SeabeeGator

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As in most arena’s, Wal Mart sucks.
As far as chain stores go Tractor Supply is a real good start. Call it cheating or whatever but I never do indoor seeding. Would rather go to a local nursery and pick out the biggest and healthiest and roll with that. Look for local feed and seed stores as those people have real world knowledge about what works in the area. There are local nuances to almost every crop grown, that’s the info you’re looking for. It won’t be found at Lowe’s/Home Depot/Wally.
Makes sense. I was going to just google it. Wonder if I should go outside Va Beach since its such an urbanized area? Maybe look in the country nearby for a good nursery?
 

Albert

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Makes sense. I was going to just google it. Wonder if I should go outside Va Beach since its such an urbanized area? Maybe look in the country nearby for a good nursery?
I would definitely look to the suburb nurseries at least. VA Tech is the land grant school, look up their county extension agent for some free local info.
 

SeabeeGator

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Thanks gents! When I was stationed in South Carolina, we had a nice little garden that was ok for tomatoes but gangbusters for peppers and cucumbers. Couldn't keep up. Hoping to have a similarly productive garden in Va.
 

alcoholica

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Pretty sure that's all in how you have cared for them. You find a particular type you like and you tweek it as you learn the characteristics. For instance, I have always suckered my plants no matter the type of tomato. Im growing all beefsteak and sweet 100's and this year stopped all suckering and they both put more tomatoes on one plant than i have ever had. My plants this year were averaging 20 tomatoes each, I had 2 that hit 25. I have seen hydroponic grows that produce twice that but thats all hothouse.
I also reduced the amount of nitrogen although I did use 3 different fertilizer types (bone meal, bat quano, and a slow release- once the fruit started coming on, i pretty much stopped all that and just hit them with 1/2 strength Miracle Grow every 10-14 days depending on rain) and tried to be real consistant with watering.
I'm hoping to keep the plants healthy and maybe get another run off them in late fall. Thinking about starting some okra and cukes soon.

The theory that I've heard about pruning suckers is due to suckers producing less than the main stem. So it comes down to planting density and getting as many main stems as you can without creating disease, pest pressure or stress on the plants. This of course is for indeterminate varieties.I wouldn't worry about what commercial guys do too much. Their operation and your garden have very little in common. Bottomline, do what works for you, but that's the theory. A lot of the gardening channels are pushing high density growing with a lot of success, so keep in mind the context of who is telling you what.

Really great thread. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Question: I’m moving back south soon. Any sense in starting a garden then or will I miss out because it’s too late? Would love to catch some late season tomatoes, maybe can them.

VaTech is going to be a great resource, since it's the land grant there with extension offices. If it's like UF, you'll have an office in each county.

Virginia’s Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide: Recommended Planting Dates and Amounts to Plant
 

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