From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Oak Grove, Mn

Due to general lack of interest and time constraints, I feel the need to cancel the tomato weighoff that was originally planned at my property for september 7th. I know of only one other grower that was a probable entrant. If any growers in the area need assistance in getting an official gpc early tomato weight please feel free to contact me. I will assist as I can. Future years, plan to revisit the idea, but with more time available and better planning. Thank you for your understanding.

8/6/2019 8:09:00 PM

Grittyville, WA

Amazing effort raising the comitment-to-tomatoes bar bnot... Your efforts are heroic and the tomato world benefits from all the hero glue it can get from everyone. Lol... someone translate that. It doesnt sound like planet Earth English to me. Maybe someone will get what I am saying:)

8/7/2019 1:50:45 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

wow, you are way out in left field brandon. I have no idea what you were trying to say, but I kinda wish you lived closer to me. We probably would be very good strange friends. The only grower that truly expressed interest in this does not even have a tomato set yet. I guess that lack of prize fund removes incentive. I will probably revisit this idea in a few years....if I can find some corporate sponsorship and am in position to release a 200-1000 seedlings into the minneapolis area. The GPC board was very supportive, I thank all of you....no one knows the future, but if "Early Tomato" keeps causing problems...the backyard weighoffs could be a solution.

8/7/2019 8:19:33 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

Thank you for your effort Robert. I would make the trek to Mn. It would be nice to meet others. Brandon is pretty cool in person, really. I've met and talked with him.. but only until he disappears into the crowd and never seen again. This is while standing. He will not sit down.

8/7/2019 9:00:36 PM

Wisconsin

I was going to go, I wouldnt miss my chance to be the first winner of Bnot's Backyard weigh off and BBQ.

8/8/2019 2:54:23 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

That would have shocked me Mike....really long drive for a ribbon and some bbq ( I didnt even offer any beer) . Anything could happen in future years. If you are interested for the future, send me an email. Maybe we could alternate a tomato weighoff in early September between Minnesota and Wisconsin. I have to give special thanks to Pete Caspers, our regions newest rep for prompt responses to my emails (even while his patch was being wiped out by wind twice). Thanks Pete for your help...it is very much appreciated.

The idea for early September tomato weighoff is not dead. I am working on getting my feet back on solid ground and then see where the ideas go. Tomatoes have a huge potential for grower growth.

8/8/2019 9:04:43 PM

Grittyville, WA

re your diary... I have gotten lazy growing from some of my fruit but I think I might have dialed it in finally with a potassium boost. Curious where do you think your potassium is at? Hows the tea going? Oh and whats your deep soil profile how deep is that sand? Only if you dont mind discussing...

8/11/2019 12:04:21 AM

Grittyville, WA

I am just looking to learn. I may be on new uncultivated ground next year like you were this year. Looking to cut what corners I can but I think compost is best at 2+ years old?.

8/11/2019 12:10:41 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

My sand is as deep as I have dug so far. The sections I chose for garden are on raised plateaus about 4 ft high. It appears to me that when they built this house, that they brought in some heavy equipment to sculpt the landscape. I want to modify the layout but am lacking the heavy equipment.
So far I have dropped 58 cu yds of compost on about 8000 sq ft. After the soil, I added the amendments. According the the soil calculator, I should have been at in ppm 55 P, 345 K, 2646 Ca and 212 Mg. I should have added more Mg to begin with. I showed signs of Mg deficiency and have been adding epsom salt to my waterings.

Best suggestion for cutting corners..get the best soil you can find when choosing your new place. I didn't have that luxury. I was shopping when snow was still on the ground.

8/11/2019 7:31:31 AM

Grittyville, WA

OK good info and advice.
Yes. If an acre has a million plus pounds of soil in the top six inches thats a lot of the right or wrong material to buy... With some tinkering maybe you will see the sand as a blessing some day. A kind of mixed blessing right now? I dont have all the answers for you but I have had my best results with a chemical balanced fertilizer mix that is partly timed release. I think with low cec sand... you might get good results too using timed release fertilizer. I am using wilbur-ellis. Dont think they distribute nationally but... Trying to be as helpful as I can.

8/11/2019 9:45:16 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

I have been thinking in terms of cu ft not pounds lately. An acre 6 inches deep is about 806 cu yds. I am only aiming for a little over quarter acre growing area (12,000 sq ft) . I think 6 inches is not deep enough. Think about if you are transplanting a plant in the summer...with a 6 inch pot...the bottom of the pot is below top soil depth. So for a 12 inch depth, I need to mix 440 cu yds of sand/compost. By my calculations...I need at least another 100 cu yds of compost delivered. Also need to secure the equipment for moving this dirt around to get the depth I desire. I am not unhappy with my starting situation. At least I have an idea what to do with the sand. It just will take time.

8/11/2019 10:38:37 AM