tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post2013140539442156355..comments2023-11-11T10:00:52.832-08:00Comments on Annie's Kitchen Garden: April 22, 2010: Think Big!Annie*s Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-37397549519622481782010-04-24T09:41:09.433-07:002010-04-24T09:41:09.433-07:00Stefaneener, I'm hoping I can find room to pla...Stefaneener, I'm hoping I can find room to plant one of each variety, then do a real comparison this year and narrow down my choices for next year. I'd like to pare it down to no more than 10 plants in 2011. Some of my extras will be going to DaBeardeOne next week, and I've already given away four to Pat's grandson. I'll plant the determinates in her yard, and she also wants a Cherry Roma. Any I have left will be put out by the street with a "Free" sign. So far, Ive planted out a dozen.<br /><br />********<br />Mr. H. (with a period), I'm always afraid my readers think I'm writing about you and not my Mr. H (without a period)! I think, to stop the confusion, I'll refer to him as Mr. Husband from now on.Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-17101897197302500572010-04-24T09:25:18.967-07:002010-04-24T09:25:18.967-07:00It's all looking so good Granny. You and Mr. H...It's all looking so good Granny. You and Mr. H (this Mr. H thing is really confusing:) set up a terrific looking tomato cage system. The Kellogs breakfast became one of our favorites last year and we will definately be growing them again.<br /><br />Look at those raspberries...wow.Mr. H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04576034751522467377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-49485377408869292102010-04-24T09:22:34.400-07:002010-04-24T09:22:34.400-07:00I'm amazed. What on earth do you plan to do wi...I'm amazed. What on earth do you plan to do with all those tomatoes? At least you trialing varieties means I don't have to!!<br /><br />Raspeberries are a treat. I have got to get my support system up to snuff! Seems I can't keep up with you either in gardening or blogging.Stefaneenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08422241601075022500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-83510881187334736702010-04-23T21:38:01.335-07:002010-04-23T21:38:01.335-07:00I'm still not going to prune, Dan. My pruned ...I'm still not going to prune, Dan. My pruned plants just didn't produce enough to bother with last year. They looked pretty, though ;-)Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-52834586915403374212010-04-23T21:12:38.981-07:002010-04-23T21:12:38.981-07:00That was some tomato jungle! This year I am going ...That was some tomato jungle! This year I am going to try my best to be on-top of pruning after last years blight. Seem you can prune a tomato every other day thought :-)Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07743102355360873845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-84115038300137273302010-04-23T21:02:53.134-07:002010-04-23T21:02:53.134-07:00Kitsap, I thought my structure looked rather like ...Kitsap, I thought my structure looked rather like the beginnings of a billboard. Maybe I'll just put up a big advertisement, "Take My Tomatoes...PLEASE!"<br /><br />LOL!Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-5085168434145052132010-04-23T20:49:53.826-07:002010-04-23T20:49:53.826-07:00I think that is a fortress of a tomato support - i...I think that is a fortress of a tomato support - it might actually hold up as a result! LOL! I have never had a perfect tomato support - good but never perfect. I suspiciion there really is no such thing. What fun would it be if there were anyways?! Afterall, coming up with new and creative ways to try and contain our tomato plants is an important pasttime for avid gardeners. <br /><br />The raspberries look outstanding. My patch is taking off this year too after a hohum first year (last year). I think my rejuvenation project really did the trick.kitsapFGhttp://www.modernvictorygarden.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-5331552587589334072010-04-23T18:45:18.459-07:002010-04-23T18:45:18.459-07:00Shawn Ann, I planted it yesterday, and our temps a...Shawn Ann, I planted it yesterday, and our temps are supposed to plunge into the mid 30s tomorrow night. Keeping my fingers crossed the make it.Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-54241341656090186352010-04-23T18:36:50.849-07:002010-04-23T18:36:50.849-07:00granny... I can't wait to see that contraption...granny... I can't wait to see that contraption filled with tomato plants!Shawn Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16242486533549946479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-53925523428359725052010-04-23T14:30:46.701-07:002010-04-23T14:30:46.701-07:00Daphne, he likes raspberries, too. It's just ...Daphne, he likes raspberries, too. It's just that I won't let him anywhere near the garden crops any more. Though come to think about it, he did pick a few tomatoes last year....unripe ones. He just won't leave them to vine ripen! They were the tomatoes by the patio...he doesn't dare go into the main garden ;-)<br /><br />Don't you remember how he "trimmed" my tam juniper last year? I had to have it completely removed this year, it was so ugly. The man is dangerous around plants.<br /><br />*******<br />Jen, here is a photo of the two Better Boys that I kept pruned to a single stem...pretty but only 5-6 tomatoes from each plant. You'll notice they grew taller than the roof of the patio:<br /><br />http://tinyurl.com/2fw5t94<br /><br />Here is another Better Boy that I grew unpruned, on a long stake with two tomato cages fastened together:<br /><br />http://tinyurl.com/2f84jwg<br /><br />Lots of tomatoes, and good flavored ones. Notice this one also grows up to the roof of the shed, but I didn't have an 8' stake screwed to the eaves like in the other photo. A windstorm toppled this one and killed it. I'll be planting my tall cherry tomatoes there this year, but will screw the supports on to the shed eaves.<br /><br />So that's how big your Better Boy will get.Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-62396342844514017772010-04-23T13:56:22.663-07:002010-04-23T13:56:22.663-07:00OK now I'm scared. I bought 2 better boys and ...OK now I'm scared. I bought 2 better boys and Giant Beefsteaks. Aren't they BOTH indeterminates? If so, I am soooooo in trouble. I am used to the bush type variety. I think I am going to stop at Lowe's on my way home from work to get some concrete mesh. Thanks for the link Granny!JenGChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13737415352788082656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-13987757278064326142010-04-23T12:16:24.019-07:002010-04-23T12:16:24.019-07:00Hmm Mr. H is willing to help out with your crazy t...Hmm Mr. H is willing to help out with your crazy tomato plans, but he rips out your Heritage raspberries as too hard? I'm betting he likes tomatoes a lot more than raspberries. I hope you have a nice step ladder so you can tie up those tomatoes when they get huge. I love your crazy plan :> All gardeners should think that big.Daphne Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305049560953735881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-36727207358144573692010-04-23T07:50:28.551-07:002010-04-23T07:50:28.551-07:00Roasted Garlicious, That's me...the too many s...Roasted Garlicious, That's me...the too many seedlings thing! Let's keep our fingers crossed for each other ;-)<br /><br />I've never had raspberries take off like these did! Those were four puny sticks last year.Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-48268961231606872232010-04-23T07:38:42.697-07:002010-04-23T07:38:42.697-07:00Rachel, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed, b...Rachel, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed, because this proved to be the best method last year (on a couple other plants). They were a bit lower to the ground though. I'm not sure I'll be able to reach to the tops of these without falling off the ladder!Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-6845429492621922482010-04-23T07:35:46.081-07:002010-04-23T07:35:46.081-07:00LOL, Kelly. Do you want to bet it will end up loo...LOL, Kelly. Do you want to bet it will end up looking like last year's tomatoes, only with big sticks poking out of the top of the mess? I'm going to have to use a ladder to try to keep them tied to the stakes.Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-81024894243558566572010-04-23T07:34:09.856-07:002010-04-23T07:34:09.856-07:00Jan, the tomatoes in the first photo were held up ...Jan, the tomatoes in the first photo were held up with the "Florida Weave", but they still got away from me. I had others that had the tall stakes and cages and they worked very well....except a windstorm toppled them (we get really strong winds, too). That's why we've added the crossbar for more stability.Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-47580885007653248252010-04-23T07:30:11.163-07:002010-04-23T07:30:11.163-07:00i love your tomato cage idea and the big buckets f...i love your tomato cage idea and the big buckets for the plants... i might try a few that way this year... i have an over abundance of tomato seedlings this year so anyone i know will be getting my cast offs! your raspberries are way ahead of mine too... and i'm on the coast... can't wait for them to flower and start producing.. mmmm good!!!Roasted Garlicioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07556028794687730410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-28023951052453255112010-04-23T07:29:52.014-07:002010-04-23T07:29:52.014-07:00TIG, to grow up a single bamboo stake would mean I...TIG, to grow up a single bamboo stake would mean I'd have to prune to a single stem. If the good Lord meant for tomatoes to grow on one single stem, he wouldn't have given them suckers ;-) I grew two plants last year, and kept them pruned to a single stem. I got about five tomatoes off of them. The other twenty or so plants grew in cages and gave me over 500 pounds. The cages just help keep them off the ground, so the fruit doesn't lay on the soil and rot. The cages I have are not the best for that, the ones made with concrete reinforcement wire are good ones. See here:<br /><br />http://kitchengardeners.org/building-tomato-cages<br /><br />We're talking indeterminate tomatoes here, which can easily grow 8' tall and really, really heavy. They could easily topple a bamboo stake in a windstorm. Now, if you're growing the determinate type tomatoes, you might get away with bamboo, but they will still flop all over unless you spend all your time pruning and tying. The more you prune, the fewer tomatoes you'll get.Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-76996873014862357332010-04-23T07:18:20.708-07:002010-04-23T07:18:20.708-07:00SB, I sometimes wonder if growing the indeterminat...SB, I sometimes wonder if growing the indeterminates is worth it! Then I taste the tomatoes and decide, yes. Yes, it's worth it.Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-45818518852393133982010-04-23T05:35:19.872-07:002010-04-23T05:35:19.872-07:00Each year I am always fooled by how large my small...Each year I am always fooled by how large my small tomato plants grow and I am always struggling to tie them in. I too do not trim suckers...I just can't. Hopefully I will plan better this year.<br /><br />Your raspberries look very healthy and the growth is dense. I am sure you will have a lot of berries.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01129119492962711399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-54899125759697202192010-04-23T04:59:04.829-07:002010-04-23T04:59:04.829-07:00Wow, that is one heck of a tomato system, I can...Wow, that is one heck of a tomato system, I can't wait to see photos of it in action! <br /><br />And those raspberries, WOW!Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06457953816169352495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-50674814808984952352010-04-23T01:58:28.631-07:002010-04-23T01:58:28.631-07:00Goodness, that looks a strong support system. Las...Goodness, that looks a strong support system. Last year all I did was stick in some stout twigs and plant the tomatoes quite close together, and then wove them in and out of each other as they grew. It worked well although, as we have a problem with wind here, I didn't let them get too wall.Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11430236104525571846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-7547610532745233932010-04-22T23:54:01.142-07:002010-04-22T23:54:01.142-07:00Now, this might seem a really stupid question, but...Now, this might seem a really stupid question, but why would you want a tomato cage, and what are the benefits over just growing them with bamboos?The Idiothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345021580985320660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-31296378537780761852010-04-22T22:10:28.448-07:002010-04-22T22:10:28.448-07:00Kind of discouraging to read that gardeners keep t...Kind of discouraging to read that gardeners keep trying to come up with a way to control tomatoes, with decidedly mixed results. Good luck with this try. Looks like it should work. Will be anxiously awaiting further developments.sb158http://www.squirtbug.com/Garden/wordpress/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597627580631284872.post-66659379338376917462010-04-22T20:50:51.498-07:002010-04-22T20:50:51.498-07:00Momma_S, I think my Tumbling Toms had crossed with...Momma_S, I think my Tumbling Toms had crossed with something else, as they were nothing like they were supposed to be. Just a plain old cherry tomato, with not much flavor, and huge vine. I hope yours are better.Annie*s Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04772261218172078099noreply@blogger.com