The Tomato Project

Discussion in 'Fruit and Veg Gardening' started by Sjoerd, Mar 31, 2025.

  1. Zigs

    Zigs Young Pine

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    Tee hee :D

    I thought it was a Manx Marvel tomato (which is round) I'll soon find out as the fruits are getting bigger :)
     
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  2. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Zigs—Oké. I hope your crop will a good one.
     
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  3. Zigs

    Zigs Young Pine

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    Ta Sjoerd :)

    I took a pic, certainly looks a bit plum shaped :worried:

    DSC01789.JPG
     
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  4. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    They look healthy. Good work. We are coming into the Phytophthora season. Keep your eyes open.
     
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  5. Pacnorwest

    Pacnorwest Strong Ash

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    oh No… that’s a terrible disease and many plants are susceptible to it. My eyes are wide open… :smt119
    Sjoerd what do you do to treat plants with this disease? Some plants remove, dig up if possible and clean roots and contain the organism that causes root rot. Or destroy. Not a pretty picture. Here it is unusual in my garden well draining soil is the first defense against this disease which can destroy nursery plants in no time of not caught early.
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2025 at 12:52 AM
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  6. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Pac— I do not treat the plants. When it is hopeless I remove the plant and bag the debris for the municipal disposal. It is bad stuff.
     
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  7. Zigs

    Zigs Young Pine

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    Ta Sjoerd :)

    Good point :eek: A chap I talk to in Devon has just been wiped out by it. I'll spray with Bordeaux Mix in the tunnel tomorrow but outside will have to wait till the rain goes. When the EU banned Bordeaux mix I bought enough to see me out.

    I used to get alerts from a site called Blightwatch but that seems to have closed down. I found this site instead...

    https://blightspy.huttonltd.com/#/forecast?locationId=446
     
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  8. Pacnorwest

    Pacnorwest Strong Ash

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    Blight spy is an excellent idea. Interesting high tech notification.
     
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  9. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Now it is time to begin the first round of tasting, truss counting and averaging the numbers on the trusses. As every week— leaf removal, tying-up, suckering…and eyeing the top blossoms. Those may or may not be removed when it is time for topping the plants.

    Here are some of the taste test candidates:
    IMG_5189.jpeg

    During the inspection of the tom plants, we noticed this low-hanging tom:
    IMG_1016.jpeg

    Those little waterhoentjes found a way to get at the test toms. More protective measures had to be taken.

    This is our patch across the path in the neighbour’s garden:
    IMG_1019.jpeg

    Some individual trusses:
    IMG_1025.jpeg

    Another truss from a different plant:
    IMG_1026.jpeg

    Then an anomaly that we are noticing in some plants— double trusses, or forked trusses:
    IMG_1029.jpeg

    We do not know if the developer was trying to achieve this or if it is …an anomaly. Well, I find it interesting and believe that it would be a trait worth looking into further. I mean, yield seems an important property, or trait important to any grower, not just resistance.

    So far, the number of productive trusses per plant is between five and eight. I am chuffed. Not too bad for our climatic region.
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2025 at 3:53 PM
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  10. Pacnorwest

    Pacnorwest Strong Ash

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    Mouth watering Tom’s and lovely red color and lots of beef….tomato beef that is.. Good job Sjoerd. Your protection skills are noteworthy. :sete_005:
     
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  11. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Ta Pac— I want to do better though.
     
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  12. Pacnorwest

    Pacnorwest Strong Ash

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    That’s determination and it is a good thing… :smt026 And that effort is always seen in all your gardening pics. :sing:
     
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  13. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Pac— thanks for the encouragement.
     
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  14. Anniekay

    Anniekay Shovel Kicker

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    @Sjoerd can you eat those Moor hens (Waterhoentjes) ??

    We have Grouse over here. They are sort of like a small wild chicken but they will chase you and try to hurt ya if you are 50' from their nest. They nest on the ground.
     
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  15. Oreti

    Oreti Young Pine

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    Wowser @Sjoerd !!!!! ........ What a grand job you're doing, your hard work and dedication really stands out....well done!!. :sete_005:

    May I ask...what are waterhoentjes???
     
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