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North Of The Border

Picked of another just over two pound tomato. That means that of three tomatoes, I have three between 2-2.2 pounds. I was wondering what can a do to go that extra pound, to get a actually big one? I have my entire patch empty, after I pull the tomato plants, and then I was wondering what I could do to get the soil right, and grow a 3-4+ pounder.
Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

9/16/2020 4:14:50 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

That is a big question and even a longer answer. I had the same question 5-6 years ago. How did Dan MacCoy grow a world record 8.41 in 2014? What taught me was spending time going through diary’s of successful growers. I learned from Dan MacCoys diary, Porkchops, and Wixom Grower from 2014-2015.

It starts with well drained fertile soil, good sunlight, the correct genetics for your area. That’s to get started. Then spend countless hours monitoring your plants. Learn what works and doesn’t work. How much water and fertilizer get your plants going vs ruining them. Some growers trim their plants, now some don’t. Experiment. That’s what I do every year. What works for one grower may not work for someone else. Use what works for you and take it into the following year. Learn from your mistakes. Also, your growing environment may not be suitable for growing big tomatoes. Someone from Florida may never be able to grow as big as in Washington.
Remember, experience is your best teacher. Grow more plants and experiment.

9/16/2020 4:51:21 PM

Central NY

Or...you shake down rebel and salad Doug to give up their 5 gallon pail recipes and grow one you can move around!!!!!!...even better?...use that recipe, then stick the whole thing in the ground.?....2021 can’t come soon enough.

9/16/2020 5:06:07 PM

Grittyville, WA

I need to think about improvements for next year, also. I think pruning at least 50% of the growth points would be advisable I dont think leaving the plants unpruned gives very good odds. (Did Rebel really mean completely un-trimmed is a viable strategy???) I have tried unpruned plants and the tomatoes have been small. One thing I did less of this year was the alfalfa. I think that might have hurt me a bit. I think I will use what's available to me but probably gonna try:
Lots of organics... bloom booster as a foliar in the a.m.... shade on the most blazing sunny days... a little bit of "alfalfa meal". I think that should get me into the 3-5 lb range again. Good basic care and few good food sources should get you into the 3-5 lb range.

9/17/2020 12:08:36 AM

New Berlin,NY

I would echo a lot of what Rebel said. There is a large element of what works for you to figure out based on your growing conditions.

I pruned plants is what I did this year with great results. I did top, and not pruning does lead to other management issues, such as increased vigilance with respect to disease and bugs.

9/17/2020 8:35:05 AM

New Berlin,NY

Correction I did NOT prune plants this year

9/17/2020 8:36:26 AM

Grittyville, WA

Framac, please are you growing indoors or outdoors?

9/19/2020 3:09:54 AM

North Of The Border

I am going to try, and get the soil right, and the genetics, and will definitely experiment with trimming. I would love to hear the 5 gallon recipe, for saladDoug, but he would just say it, he would loose his competitive edge! I will definitely be growing outdoors, so I can't easily keep the temps right all season.

Thanks though!

9/19/2020 7:59:50 AM