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Oak Grove, Mn

I have been asked when the official winter challenge will be over. In the fall we said it would end on the first day of spring which is March 20th. I have been asked what time on the first day of spring. The vernal equinox happens at 5:29 am central time. But I decided if you make an entry by 11:59 pm on March 20th, you will have an official entry for this years competition. Since this competition is for fun, I accept home scales. Right now...i have listed myself at 2.51 pounds being in first,EVandy at .95 pounds in second. As far as I know, both myself and EVandy still have one left to weigh. And the last I have heard, having fruit set and a still growing is Garden Rebel, WixomChris, and MobyMIke. Let me know if anyone else is still in the running.

3/6/2017 4:19:13 PM

Wixom MI.

Mine is on day 63 and still green ??? I just put a thermometer by my plants and found that the temperature in my basement is actually 63°-64° not 67°-68° like i thought. Explains why its taking so long. Good news is that i can pollinate them at a rather cold temperature.

3/7/2017 12:22:01 PM

Wixom MI.

So if my tomatoes turn in time for march 20 that will make my tomato 76 days old !!!

3/7/2017 12:25:01 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Someone needs to do an experiment to find the ideal temp. The colder temp delays ripening, but also slows weight gains. I dropped my indoor grow area to 80 daylight and 72 and night. At 37 days right now, if i make it to 50 it will be my record indoor for length to turning. Being able to control all the grow environment variables doesn't help if you don't know what the best number to set them at is.

3/7/2017 4:49:46 PM

Colorado

Just weighed my last one on Sunday....... 1.33lbs oh well first time at it, I will try again!

3/7/2017 10:33:24 PM

Colorado

Just weighed my last one on Sunday....... 1.33lbs oh well first time at it, I will try again!

3/7/2017 10:33:24 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Congratulations EVandy. For your first try at indoor growing that is a great result. 3 tomatoes...1.33 lbs, .99 lbs and .95 lbs. I am expecting to see some really big numbers from you next year. So now in 1st is 2.51 lb, in 2nd is 1.33 lbs and 3rd is still to be determined.

3/8/2017 5:29:55 AM

Ely Mn

I say 80 85 is the right temp.they will ripen in 40 to 45 days, but they gain more inches quicker.
That's just my experience from my 2014 season.
You need that big caterpillar bloom and everything in the soil, weather just right and hold on!it could happen to anyone of us.good luck to you guys this year!

3/8/2017 8:07:10 PM

Valencia Spain

Hi there Bob did u manage to grow any domingos to finish

3/12/2017 10:54:36 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

Only a week to go in the challenge. 1st is still at 2.51 pounds, second at 1.33. As far as I know right now..the only growers that still have tomatoes on the vine are wixomchris and garden rebel. To answer your question James...one of my first tomatoes this year was on domingo plant, but i lost that tomato to blossom end rot, no seeds saved. My hydro tomatoes all were different F-2 WixomSlammers which is a cross of Domingo and Big Zac. I will get some seeds to you..will include seeds from a domingo that I grew this summer.

3/13/2017 4:58:05 PM

Wixom MI.

Well mine are finally turning just in time.

3/13/2017 5:05:29 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

Mine is only a couple weeks old but will have to pick it on Saturday to squeeze out every last gram of weight. It might weight around 2 oz but at least it is something.

3/13/2017 8:13:11 PM

Valencia Spain

Thanks Bob

3/15/2017 4:35:44 PM

Wixom MI.

Well i came in at 8.9 oz. Or now known as the 0.56 konieczny(MegaMut)

This may be the new great tomato seed!!!

3/16/2017 12:48:04 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Ok, the top three right now are 1st 2.51 lbs, 2nd 1.33 lbs, 3rd .56 lbs. Unless there is an unknown grower...the only one left to weigh is Garden Rebel. Ribbons should be delivered to me next week.Soon after that will be sending them to the winners. We have ribbons for the top 4 places.

3/16/2017 4:04:43 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

Mine will be on Saturday. To pick the smallest tomato and share it with everyone is truly exciting and equally embarrassing. I have spent much $$$ on heating my outdoor hut just to keep the plant alive then to actually pollinate is a miracle to me. In this situation size doesn't matter, it's the principle.

3/16/2017 5:58:49 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Don't be embarrassed. If you have a pollinated tomato to weigh you did better than the majority this winter. From my calculations, only about a third of growers (maybe less) managed to get a tomato to a scale. Indoor giant tomato growing is not as easy as many people think it would be.

3/17/2017 5:19:36 AM

Lebanon, Oregon

Photo taken but not up yet. Mine was 3.1 oz or 0.19 lbs. Will definitely need more light next year to crack the 1.0 lb barrier.

3/17/2017 4:27:07 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Now i have the list at 2.51,1.33, .56 and .19 Three days left for any other grower to claim their spot in the 2016/2017 BigPumpkins winter indoor grow challenge.

3/17/2017 6:12:55 PM