Hi,

Personally, if I had room for 12-14 plants, I'd plant 12-14 different varieties. There are SO many great tomato types and varieties out there to try, I can't imagine limiting myself to just 4 varieties (unless you have some particular reason for this).

Anne

Hi Annie:
Thanks for your response but, it did not help me out much. To answer your question.
I did not want to purchase 14 different types of seeds and I am new to growing heirloom tomatoes and did not want to be overwhelmed with to many varieties while I'm just starting out. In the following years I hope to try others as well.
Thank you,
Brenda

Hi Brenda,

Well, that makes sense. Although if the purchase of seeds is an issue, I think you can get many types for free or for the price of a stamp and return envelope from people on this forum if you ask. That said, I think Kellogg's Breakfast and Neves Azorean Red are great choices. I haven't tried the other two, although I'll be growing a Sprite this year to see what it's like.

Good luck! I think you're wise to start out with something managable for you and then branch out from there once you get a feel for things.

Anne

I grew Kelloggs last year and I learned why they are so popular. They are juicy and meaty, and have a texture that is like no other. They are rather bland though. They don't taste bad, just no zing or sweetness. Don't get me wrong though, I will be growing them again just for the feel of that texture in my mouth. And they make a delicious, rich sauce.

Neves' Azorean Red was one of my favorite last year, and I will never be without it. Delicious and gorgeous. Period. Grow it.

I'll be a first timer with New Big Dwarf and Sprite this year too, so can't help you there.

Now, if you have that much space, here is my advice: You are going to grow tired of all those Kellog's Breakfast, so instead of growing 4 plants, why not grow just 2 (or one) and also grow some Cherokee Purple or Black Krim or Aunt Ruby's German Green? I will send you the seeds and I'll even pay the postage -- no problem. I love Aunt Ruby's GG so much that if I could only grow one, she'd be the one I grew. Cherokee Purple and Black Krim are also superior tomatoes in my garden and belong in every heirloom tomato garden in my opinion.

I'd be thrilled if you click on my name and email me your mailing address so I can send you a few seeds. Really, it's not charity, it's just gardening! And I bet there are others here who would be happy to send a few your way too. That is a lot of space to waste a whole season on.

Diversify! And experience as many tomatoes as you can in the coming season.

You will just need to try and find out what grows well and tastes good to you in your garden. What I found with KB is the temperature really affects the taste. And also we are dry here so maybe that helps. The first one was a little bland and then till we had a cold spell the second week of October they were in the 8.75-9.25 range. After the cold spell dropped to a little bland again. I take part of my excess to work everyday. After I shared one of them with fellow workers who have never ate op's except for mine they would stand in line and beg for one of the KB's I was eating as I saved most for myself. They had a wow taste except for what I mentioned. Now I've heard others say they were bland and can believe it if the weather is cool. I'm trying KBX this year also. NAR had a great taste but moderate producer. Chapman is one that produced and had a great flavor. Like gardenscout said if you want to cut down on numbers I would gladly send you seeds also. I have over 200 varieties. Just send me a message and let me know. I think you made 3 very good choices to start with. But I would cut them to two each and try a few others. I may have a few extra KBX seeds you could compare against KB. But you can't go wrong with what you are growing either. JMO. Happy gardening and much success. Jay

And if you'd consider growing a hybrid, Sungold cherry tomatoes are also excellent. They are very sweet with a kind of fruity taste to them. Also they're a terrific snack while you're out working with your tomatoes!

Let me know if you want a couple seeds to try 'em.

All look like good choices and I doubt you will be dissapointed.

Your numbers also look fine as that will give you a good look
at each variety.

Since you are planting in containers, I would pair up the NAR and New Big Dwarf. NAR gets big, and NBD stays dwarf sized (~4').

As a side note, since you are in NC, plan to come up to Raleigh 7/26/08 for Tomatopalooza[tm] VI. The chance to
taste >150 different varieties of tomatoes should give you plenty of ideas of what to grow for the future!

Lee

Here is a link that might be useful: Tomatopalooza[tm] Web Site

Just one consideration since you will be using Earthboxes - unlike the deeper homemade versions, real EB's are quite shallow. You'll need to come up with a substantial support system for these that is independent from the box itself. Learned that the hard way. ;)

Even a single determinate plant can tip over an Earthbox once it has the weight of fruit on it. This, even though I think they were developed for use with determinate varieties rather than indeterminate plants. With 2 plants in a box and some of them indeterminates you'll want to be sure to place them where the boxes are well supported and the plants can be independently staked or tied off.

Good luck with your EB gardening. ;)

Dave

Okay you guys have me re-thinking my plans and maybe I should try a few others this year.

aclum- Thank you for being the first to reply to my post to get the ball rolling you seem to have the right idea.

gardenscout - You have made me a generous offer & I will shoot you an e-mail. It sure would be awful to get sick of a tomato so maybe only one KB. I also noticed that you also like to winter sow. Do you Winter Sow any tomatoes. I am attempting six seeds of each variety for Winter sowing this year.

elkwc- What is the difference in KB & KBX? I guess one of my downfalls for tomatoes will be the heat & humidity that we experience here. So I need to learn what will do well in these conditions. I plan on sharing most of my crop with co-workers and an elderly neighbor. My son who lives with me has never acquired a taste for them like I have.

dott22- I am glad you brought up the "hybrid tomato" I had originally thought that I may need to plant at least one just in case there was issues with the heirlooms. I may take you up on your offer and plant one Sprite and one Sungold.

lee- I had not thought of your idea about NAR & NBD but it is a good one. I was going to pair them up just like I have them listed. That may help on the weight of each EB. I would love to come to Tomatoplooza that is a great idea. I live about 1.5 - 2 hrs away. Do I need to bring my own salt shaker? LOL

digdirt- I have given some thought to support for the EB situation. Here is what I have planned. Do you think it will work? I am going to line 3 boxes side by side and encase the outside of the boxes by laying cinder blocks. Then with some of the holes in the blocks plant a marigold. I have access to rebar that I will beat about 2' in the ground next to the tomatoes so that I may tie them up.

Great information here this is why I decided to try some heirlooms to start with.

Thanks, Brenda

Hi Brenda,

I'm SO happy to hear that you're going to try a few more varieties. You won't be disappointed! As long as you have the seeds, it's just as easy to grow one each of 4 different types as it is to grow 4 of one type.

If you grow your original 4 (Kelloggs, Sprite, Dwarf, and NAR), plus Aunt Ruby's German Green, Sungold, Cherokee Purple, and Black Krim, I think you'll have a great selection. But I think you'd also be very happy if you added a pink/purple - something like Pruden's Purple, Aunt Ginny's Purple, or Earl's Faux. (BTW, I might be wrong, I consider Cherokee Purple a Black). Give a holler if you'd like any of these seeds.

I don't know much about EB's but you will probably also want to consider your plant sizes. You can probably have 2 of the smaller plants per box, but some of the indeterminates can get pretty big and you might want to do just one to a box.

Just a few more thoughts.... Have fun!

Anne

Brenda, great to hear you are expanding your horizons. I got your email and will send off a nice variety of seeds this week.

I love winter sowing, but I don't take chances with my tomatoes. I start them indoors and hover over them lovingly. Your climate might make it less risky for you, though.

I used EB's last year, and I promised myself I wouldn't put two indeterminates in the same box again. Way too much root stress, in my opinion. But it was a good way to try lots of different varieties in a single season. So if that is your plan, then go for it. But an indet/det combo would be better. (I am growing in the ground this year.)

Good luck, and let us know how everything is going.

Sprite must be a bad tomato. Looks like everybody got free Sprite seeds this year.

Who was giving away Sprite as a freeby? I got "Tree" Tomato from Totally Tomatoes this year. BTW, I think adding either a Sun Gold or SunSugar Cherry is a great idea. They do make a good snack out in the garden while you are working. SunSugar is more crack tolerant.

Sprite was the freebie from Tomato Growers Supply (TGS) this year. It was also on the cover of their catalog. I'll be trying it this year.

Hi Brenda,

Let us know what seeds you got and what you'll be growing. Although I've been growing tomatoes from seed for several years, I'm no way as experienced as others on the forum. Offhand, given the varieties discussed so far, I'd combine the sprite with a cherokee purple in one box, a dwarf with a black krim in another (4 plants so far in two boxes and 5 boxes to go) and give a single box each to ARGG, NAR, Sungold, kelloggs, and a purple. So you'd have a total of 9 plants in 7 boxes, but the production would probably be the equivalent (weight wise) of 12-14 plants. Fewer plants than your original plan, but more diversity and probably as many fruits. You mentioned giving many of your fruits away so maybe "production" isn't that big of an issue. It seems I've always grown too many types to get huge production from any one (do alot of pruning to fit things in), but it's been so much fun go go out each morning or mid-morning to select just the most perfectly ripe tomato for my BLT breakfast/brunch/lunch. Might be a Black Tula one day, Kellogg's another, or Aunt Ginny the next. Variety is the spice of life !

Anyway, just my opinion offhand - but my basic point is that once you diversify, you might need to adapt the plant sizes to the EB - and not necessarily have 2 plants to a box irregarless of variety.

Looking forward to more updates from you - so much fun to get involved in tomato growing - it's really addictive!

Anne

I'd combine the sprite with a cherokee purple in one box, a dwarf with a black krim in another (4 plants so far in two boxes and 5 boxes to go) and give a single box each to ARGG, NAR, Sungold, kelloggs, and a purple.

That is a great suggestion to help her plan what to plant in each box. Putting some of those indets alone in their own box is an excellent suggestion. Here is what I sent her, in case anyone wants to help with the planning:

Cherokee Purple
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Black Krim
Sungold
Eva Purple Ball
Rutgers
Marianna's Peace

I always find that the most difficult part of tomato gardening is deciding what NOT to grow. Good luck, Brenda!

I don't have the kind of experience you all have but I do live in eastern NC. My faves so far are Brandy Boy, Lemon Boy, and Sungold. I want to try Aunt Ruby's GG and several others this yr. Good luck! Brandy

Hi Gardenscout,

Sounds like a great selection!!

I'm not sure how big kelloggs and prudens purple get under ideal circumstances, but in my less than ideal circumstances in the past (too close to where a black walnut tree used to be), they never got very big. Perhaps these two could go together in a single box???

Anyway, now that we know what Brenda might be growing, I'm hoping others who know more about the particular varieties than I do will offer suggestions on what sort of EB combo's would be good. (I'm also interested in hearing what people have to say because I've never gotten much response from previous posts asking about the relative sizes of various plants).

Anne

I'm sending her Indian Stripe, KBX, Chapman and JD's Special C-Tex. Jay

Hello Everyone:
Just a quick note to let everyone know. I am still here. I am going to find some time this weekend to begin to research all the new varieties that are coming my way. I will be in touch with my thoughts on placement and of coarse I will be open to suggestions. Gezzzzzz I think I need more EB's. How will I ever decide who gets to grow this year??
Everyone has been great.
Thank you,
Brenda

Hello to all:
It was a beautiful day in the Carolina's highs in the low 70's and to make it better I received seeds from Gardenscout & Dott22 today!! This is what I have so far: Hopefully you can help me plan my EB's. I only have 7 boxes available to use.

Kellogs Breakfast** I
New Big Dwarf** D
Neves Azorean Red** I
Sprite D
Cherokee Purple** I
Aunt Ruby's German Green** I
Black Krim I
Sungold Hybrid** I
Eva Purple Ball** I
Rutgers** D
Marianna's Peace I

On the way!
Indian Stripe** I
KBX** I
Chapman** I
JD's Special C-Tex** I
The ones with ** after the name are the ones I think I would like to try this year. I= Indeterminate D= Determinate (if I did my homework right)
Here are my thoughts each line is a box.

New Big Dwarf** D / Neves Azorean Red** I
Kellogs Breakfast** I / JD's Special C-Tex** I
Cherokee Purple** I
Aunt Ruby's German Green** I
Sungold Hybrid** I/ Rutgers** D
Indian Stripe** I /Eva Purple Ball** I
KBX** I / Chapman** I

What do all of you think? To many Indeterminates? I knew when all these seeds arrived I would want to plant them all.
Help!
Brenda

Hello everyone,

I have just joined today, but have been reading the messages for several months. I live near Charlaston, SC. About 30 miles inland from the beach to be exact. I have lived here for 28 years. Grew up neat Blowing Rock, NC. My family had a huge garden each year, and wonderful flowers, and yard. For 25 years I lived at the beach, and never had the time to consider growing vegetables. I was a single parent, work and my daughter consumed all my time. Since 2000 I have remarried, had a bad auto accident that left me partially disabled, and in 2006 we bought this house and moved inland. My husband is not in love with the beach as I am, and he says we are to old to run from the Hurricanes every few years. It is very different here. Some good, and some not so much.

My husband is from Europe and really into organic foods/products. This winter after throwing many tomatoes away he asked me to consider growing some for him. I love yard work, and I am pretty good with grass/flowers, but don't remember very much about the vegetable gardens my family had. Plus, I am in very different growing conditions here. I have heard horror stories about growing tomatoes.
I have purchased some Early Girl, and Better Boy plants from Lowes, and want to grow them in pots surrounded by herbs.

Can anyone offer me advice ? I am wondering how much space each plant needs ? My soil is a mix of red clay, and some sort of grey looking marbled clay. It sets up like cement. I can barely dig in it. Much different from the sandy soil at the beach. Never dreamed 30 miles could make such a huge difference. I bought some organic potting soil with Miracle Grow mixed in. Says it is specific for vegetables. Do I need to add anything else to the pot ? For example, I read that I should put pebbles in the bottom of the pot, mix the potting soil with my regular soil, then mulch with shredded paper, and pine straw. Does this sound right ? Oh, another site says put rusty nails in the pot to add iron, and spray with soap to keep down the bugs. Help ! I am very confused here in SC ! My plants are going to die before I can figure out how to plant them.
I fear I am already to late as the heat and humidity are kicking in. My birthday is Tues, and most years after that this area turns into a steamer.

Confused in SC,
Linda

~~~ I have purchased some Early Girl, and Better Boy plants from Lowes, and want to grow them in pots surrounded by herbs. ~~~

A 20gal container is not too big for each plant and from the description of your native soils, none of it will go to waste as you change some or all of it out each yr. I do not use any native soil in pots or nails or pebbles or anything else. Your milage may vary.

Space requirements depend on the growth habit you'll be using. Some prune to single stem and plant intensively. Others sprawl with wide spacing and everything in between.

Unless your needs and abilities are lrg, I'd consider raised beds for future. Raised beds will be easier to tend and develop the soil.

If you want in ground gardens ... From your description, you are dealing with a moderately to highly plastic clay which will cause you much moisture grief. If you work it too wet it will clod and stay that way, perhaps for a yr. If you work it too dry it will turn to dust and eat your tiller all the while providing a less than optimal medium for your plants as it will hold too much moisture too long and dry too hard to be friendly to roots.

I would consider getting (from a reliable, safe source) enough of what passes for topsoil in your area to cover your garden spot with several inches (more is better), same with cow or horse manure (aged preferably), and if you can get it, river sand predominantly made of chert. Till all that in and add more loads of manure each yr and in about a decade, you'll have a nice spot :-)

I'd go with raised beds and lots of compost.

Have Fun!

I think I have two mega blooms. My maters have just started blooming and on Delicious and Giant Belgium I have discovered what I believe to be a multiple bloom or mega bloom. I want to grow a giant and in the past these big blooms have failed to set. I have shaken the plant and have used a q-tip to try and polinate these large blooms. So far these two are still trying to set. Any suggestions for me to insure these large blooms set double or triple fruit? This is my first time trying to post and I'm not very computer literate. If this gets in the wrong place I'm sorry and would like help in telling me what to do to make this a new subject. Thanks.

Hi greenlott - I'll be glad to set this up as a new thread for you. I'll just copy and paste your post and put on the title: Question about mega blooms. It will have my name on it but you'll be able to find it by the title. That way all the replies to your question won't be mailed to the original poster of this thread. :)

In the future if you'll just scroll down to the bottom of the forum's front page right under the Happy Birthday sign you'll see the Post a New Message box.

Dave