The Huntington's not the only garden in town. People around here love to plant all sorts of exotic things. Back yards overflow with the beauty of nature. Folks share their secrets and the fruits of their labors. And oh, how they brag.Well, move over.
31 comments:
oh... my tomato plants look tinny next to that one ;-)
must be the sun!
Yours, Farmer Petrea?!
Mine maters are a bit anemic as well.
Too funny!
If those other blossoms bear fruit, you may get enough for a couple BLTs.
Good for you, Petrea ~ nice to see your recent soil education coming to fruition!
I had a couple of tomato plants too, notice the past tense ? We have a pesky little squirrel that actually strips the hard green fruit off the vine. From the look of the vine I think he chews through the stems and then makes a get-away with his loot ! Darn the little bugger !
That's hysterical. Your plant has taken a look around and decided life isn't worth living. Maybe Boz will put it out of its misery. Albert eats the weak.
No topping the post today.
Fried green tomatoes? I'm making my first stab at this too, and one of my plants is much unhappier looking, but it isn't a squirrel problem. Squirrels --or something-- do love the basil, though.
This is hilarious!
Cristina, I just peeked at your London Garden blog. Maybe it's the sun, I don't know. This thing is indeed tall, but so far bears little fruit.
Mine, friend Dina.
MG, how often do you water? Must we do it every day?
I like BLTs, Susan. Plural.
Shell, I like your positive attitude.
Thanks for the warning, Precious. I may have to further protect my vine.
I don't think Boz has noticed it, Hiker, but now I'm concerned about the squirrels. Unless Boz chases them (which he doesn't if he's sunning himself), they might eat my tomato.
Good idea, Jean. I'll just pick it now and put me out of my misery.
Fine, Laurie, fine. You probably have a full-time landscaper and your yard has been photographed for House Beautiful. This is my dream.
Petrea, are you watering that poor thing enough? Tomatoes are usually hardy things, all they need is sun and water.
I am growing tomatoes too. I looked at one plant yesterday and it was covered with ants. I am worried. Thoughts? Advice? Anyone?
Oh missed your Zen Monday !!:-(
Hmmmmm....Our vegetable patch hve some tomatoes too,but red one....
Joliies !!!
Margaret, get out the hose and give those ants a blast, same with aphids. Stay away from commercial products. As the caretaker of a dozen or so tomato plants I look forward to the day ......
I LOVE tomato's...
The hose! Ok, Jim. I'm on it. Thanks.
I had a cherry tomato plant growing on a pot with canna bengal tiger at my terrace, which came out of nowhere last summer. And of course I had a nice salad when the six fruits turned red! :-)
The close-up reminds me of that plant in Little Shop of Horrors! Has it sung to you yet in a very low voice?
Way to go farmer Petrea!
About water: I'm also experimenting with tomatoes here in Pasadena... my plant is in a container on my porch and is going crazy! (I'm surprised because it faces north, but it has 12 fruits so far.) My biggest lesson has been to water every day, and twice on hot days. First time doing this, so I hope they can ripen on the vine a bit without critters eating them. Also, I fertilize lightly once a week, and the day after, I usually see a new little guy pop out.
mine is still sweet and petite. we will see what this hot weather brings to it. bon chance Mz. P.
Well, Petrea, I applaud your green thumb. Last year I think I had about 4 tomatoes. This year I thought I'd go with invisible tomatoes. They don't taste as good, but I don't have to worry about caring for them. And actually we had so much rain this past month everyone else is complaining about their bad tomato crop...invisible is better this year.
I'm impressed at the growth, considering it looks like no soil amendments were made. Next year, try a little addition and less California clay to let the tomat flourish a little easier.
But---hey, you GREW something! Kewl!
I will attest to pups liking to self-feed at tomato plants...which have, ahem, OTHER results at the opposite end from their mouth. A round of chicken wire around the plant to a tall point, plus a bit on top will keep Boz and your neighborhood squirrel at bay.
I dear, what a sorry sight! I won't tell you I'm a horticulturalist. Good effort though, at least there is one tomato.
Looking at you photos it doesn't look like you took out the side shoots. I suggest some serious nitrogen feed to perk it up!
Seeing this reminds me of the lyrics in Pink Martini's "Hang on Little Tomato" that say:
Just hang on, hang on to the vine
Stay on, soon you'll be divine
Best of luck with your tomato!
Escapist, I like your "jollies."
Well, this is all good advice. I don't have ants. I think there were some early bugs but they're gone. I've been watering twice a week but maybe I need more. This plant gets a lot of direct sun, and we've had several hot days now.
Seriously, Marley, are you a horticulturalist? I've got two suggestions here for fertilizer, so I may give that a shot. Something non-chemical. And someone today recommended mulching, so that is already done. I'm grateful for all our suggestions and I hope my tomato will not be invisible until I eat it.
Say, Marley, what's this about taking out side shoots? Are those the lower branches? Should I pluck them off?
Hi Petrea,
Yes I am a horticulturalist but don't tell anyone!
The side shoots are the leaves that appear at the joint of the main leaves/branches and the main stem. These should be pinched out (or cut out if really big!) so the plant puts its energy into producing fruit not loads of foilage. Looking at your main photo all that growth round the bottom looks like you didn't have a
plant witha main stalk (leader.) Not to worry though as it produced flowers and a tomato. I would cut these all off, being careful not to cut the one that has the fruit and,if different,the main upright stem (obviously) Tomato plants are really hungry plants so a weekly feed,or even twice weekly, with a high nitrogen fertiliser is needed. Go to you local garden shop and ask them for one, they should have something.
Hope this all helps. E-mail me if you like.
Marley
P.s - water the plant daily, even if there has been a shower of rain. I'm guessing its hot over there :)
Marley...you helped me. I've never understood that pinching business.
Petrea.. our tomato's look related or is that our technique?
Me again.
Had another look at the photo of your tomato plant. I can see that those stems shooting from round the base have flowers on. DON'T cut them off! You'll have no fruit otherwise! Do you know what variety it is? It might be a bush variety so no need to pinch out and that would explain the growth at the base.
Okay, Marley, I took off a bunch of shoots today but NOT ones with flowers on them. None of the lower ones had flowers, only the upper ones. And guess what? I found two more tomatoes on the lower shoots! (I didn't pluck those.) So I have a total of THREE tomatoes now. I am thrilled.
This is an heirloom tomato called "Momotaro, White Beauty." They're not going to get red. I'll post another shot when they're mature.
Tomato have vitamin C. iranian say (Goje)
Let's hope so, Danial. I now have three tomatoes on my plant and it's looking a little better.
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