If you grow too many tomatoes you can always leave them on neighbors doorsteps.

Ding Dong Ditch turns in to

ding dong ditch tomatoes!!

(I did that with zuchini a few years ago, I barely eat them anymore I had so many)

Karen

lol Betsy!!!

lol Betsy, that was great!

But, I think I have you all beat, wacko-wise. I grow tomatoes and I don't even LIKE tomatoes. I started growing them a couple years ago as something nice to do for DH. Tomato sandwich? Blech! DH With tomato sandwich, however... That's priceless!

I guess 'beginning the addiction. I have 2 raised beds 4x8 and have planted 13 plants in 1 and a half beds. Today I started outside the bed in normal dirt with the remaining plants I have. I built 2 cages. I am up to 15 plants. I still have about 20 more to go. Trying to find foster parents is hard as I love them all.

I'd love to try heirlooms, but I live in South Louisiana and it's bug and disease heaven.

Can they still be grown successfully down here?

About the addiction. I'm a fig addict. Y'all are tomato addicts. There are far worse addictions we could be snagged by, so who cares if we are fig/tomato addicts and who wants to kick the habit, anyway? I sure don't. ;)

Vivian

I just had a bit of joy. I shared about 20 plants with people I work with. One gal is giving the plants to her granny who has a garden. They other is a vegan and will grow them.

YEAH... Found good homes for my babies. I hope they produce for them.

Still a slight tear in my eye to see them go.

I hate to admit it, but I think I like growing them, more than eating them. I always grow more than I can use and end up giving them away. I just like seeing how different tomatoes grow.

To the Louisanna grower, you could try growing them in containers if the native ground is a problem. There good info. over on the container forum.

Hey... I can stop any time I want to. (shifty eyes...nervous twitch)

LOL!! You guys are a blast... I love sharing my little obsession with all of you. I don't even know what you look like and I feel like you're all part of my summer family. Thanks for the laugh everyone. Hope everyone's off to a good start to spring.
Best,
Don

I told myself, "This year I am only planting 10 tomato plants". I have 32 in the ground and bought 16 more from the nursery yesterday.........

I think I'm in denial like Maternut. I don't have a problem - it's everyone else... If the plants took over the whole house - not just the living room and kitchen THEN I would have a problem. If I didn't grow anything else, then I would have a problem. If I had cups all over of fermenting seeds THEN I'd have a problem. As far as I can tell, it's everyone else who has the problem!

Very good thread.

I have a small raised bed garden. I have 12 plants. I grew 12 more for my friend who asked me to. I work with 30 people who did NOT know they were going to be growing tomatoes this year. I'm worried about next year. Either they'll see me coming and run and hide, or they'll see me coming and the stampede will kill me!

Susan

who isnt a TA, that's the real questions. The heirlooms are too tempting. And I actually don't have any this year! I guess I have enough sense to not buy a pack of 30 seeds for $3-4 when I am only one person. I went to a seed exchange and started about 15 plants.
I love gardening and I love the work, so I am hoping I can lure some people in having a pseudo community garden-just to eat all the produce.
My fav heirlooms are the black/russians and white tomatoes- couldn't find any white ones this year.
I probably will find myself at a nursery during the next few weeks picking up some....adding a couple feed to the garden :)

Hi, my name is Jennie. Such a fun thread! I have been an addict for 33 years. I know I am an addict because even though we were moving out of state last June, I still planted nine heirloom/op tomato plants, vegetables and herbs. I usually plant 20 -25 tomato plants. I knew I wouldn't be able to enjoy them, but the new owners would. I mourned dreadfully when my former neighbor told me they ripped out the tomatoes and vegetables and put sand in the raised bed and a huge play structure. As it was too late to get a garden started in our new home, I went through terrible withdrawals last summer. Family, friends and DH's former co-workers also went through terrible withdrawals as I wasn't there to keep them supplied. I decided to scale back to just four plants this year. I had discovered Craig Lehoullier's blog last year and was so excited we would be moving close enough to buy plants from him. Going over his list, there were just too many tomatoes I wanted to try. So I ended up with five of his heirlooms, three of his dwarf tomato plants and three hybrid that I really like (not from Craig). Eleven plants for the two of us! Luckily, DH nor I have ever had an overdose, but I must find new "users" to supply quickly!

Well, I just said farewell to my extra tomato babies (except for the last 2 understudy plants in case I lose any more to transplant shock). Luckily, I found a great home for them - a friend who always has an excellent garden. Planned on planting 25 plants, grew 63, planted 33. Hopefully I'll get some tomatoes this year!

The family thinks I'm nuts so it's fun listening to everyone else! Thanks for the sharing.

I just got 3 plants last night...and I hid them from hubby.

I am new and I am addicted. However, they were Aunt Ruby's German Green. (and I really wanted them) They also have Black Krim and Pineapple. I am kicking myself that I only got the Aunt Ruby's. You know you are addicted when all you can think about is going to the store for more plants!!!!

I keep buying transplants but I am growing some from seed too. :)
Karen

I fully intended to plant 12-18 tomato plants this summer, but somehow I've got 32 in the ground now. Thanks for the help with that, Gardenmommy! :)

lol guys. I thought it was just me and my mother.
My name is Nadej and I have 3 4x12 raised beds designated for tomatoes this year...
I currently have about 120 6-7" seedlings on my back porch. Also about 20 smaller ones in the basement under grow lights.
Somehow, these numbers just don't add up and for some reason this isn't the first or second year this happens.
(I've successfully restrained myself from listing all the variety names I grow with pride and joy. Must post before it's too late...*twitch twitch*:)))

Thanks Lunita for helping me grow to 33 plants! Couldn't turn down Yellow Brandywine & Pruden's Purple - too much fun trying new varieties! PP is in the ground & DH did the drip for the YB bed last night. They look great. I'll keep you posted on how your adopted babies do!

vivian,
you most certaninly can grow heirlooms in louisiana. i'm in southeast louisiana and i have grown black krims and mortgage lifters with success. so have neighbors. you won't get the yield as you do with hybrids, and they take a little more care, but not much. i have about 65 plants and this year i'm growing about 15 black krim, about 10 mortgage lifters, and about 6 german johnsons(first time). i was only going to do the mortgage lifters and german johnsons this year but my neighbor pushed the black krims on me. she gave me the seedlings from the plants i pushed on her last year. in addition to the heirlooms, i'm growing big boys, better boys, big beefs, steak sandwich, and super beefsteaks. i also grow three varieties of cukes, four varieties of squash/zuchinni, two varities of eggplants, asparagus, cantalope, and a slathering of peppers and herbs. i plant everything in the native soil and they all do fine. you will have some probs with bugs and disease but i find the best solution is to plant so much you don't have to sweat the losses. start the seeds early(january) and don't be afraid to put them in the ground early. the heirlooms are finiky when they want to set so you will see more blossoms drop, but they will set.

Karen-
NO MORE TOMATO BUYING! Will you be at the swap this year? I have AR's German Green and Pineapple (didn't plant Black Krim this year, but I would have if you'd asked me). Do you want me to bring you a pineapple to the swap? They're my absolute favorite tomato and I'm kind of obsessed with making other people grow them (Trudi, I think that I just sent you some of my pineapple seeds so that you can make other people grow them too :o) Just lmk and I'm happy to bring one to the swap for you. I just potted them up today.

happygardener23 I really want to go to the swap!!!

I have some plants I prob should divide and bring along :)

I almost bought a pineapple. Those tomatoes are SO TEMPTING!

I would love to try a pineapple one. I heard they are yummy :)

I did notice seedlings sown with worm poop are growing better....YEAH

Karen

Karen-
I'll have one earmarked for you at the swap. I'll put it in the holding area. I'm counting down the days for the swap (and hoping to snag a couple new tomato varieties myself)!

Thanks! happygardener23 !

My son has a baseball torunament that weekend but I am hoping it starts Saturday!

Karen

My name is Abayomi and I choose not to-mato today.

Well actually, I am up to 170 heirlooms in my collection now and as long as no one shows me another heirloom seed catalog, I'll be just fine.

I bought 34 large cages today. And a bunch of other garden stuff, some I needed and some I didn't. But I needed the cages and well, 34 may not be enough.

LOL! Trudi.

That is what Florida weave is for.

I have 200+ 'mater babies right now.

I've reserved a tractor with a tiller attachment for Friday. Even my TroyBilt is not up to that. Well, actually it is but I'm not.

Look out pasture! Another piece will become home to some tomatoes.

Betsy

Hello my name is Seth, after moving the car that was parked on my back lawn for the winter, I ripped up a 20x40 space and started the beginnings of a small humble garden here in Brooklyn, after setting out 12 blueberry bushes, 15 strawberry plants and 6 raspberry canes, the other side of the yard was looking neglected. So I threw down some re-bar and chicken wire and now have 15 assorted heirloom and sauce/paste maters, enough to feed my entire block. What doesn't get smoked, preserved, eaten or given away will be composted for next season.

I honestly don't like most tomatoes...I just like growing them and educating people that a tomato doesn't have to taste like a nasty hothouse tomato!

I used to live in Sacramento where the conditions are awesome for growing most anything. I'm now in MO where...not so much.

That said I have 15 OP varieties growing out. At least 6 of each...some more. So at least 100 plants.
Amazing considering I don't like tomatoes that much.
The bulk of what i'm growing will be sold at the farmer's market, turned into sauce, dried, or harvested for seed that will be traded.

Hello. My name is John, and I am addicted to Heirloom/OP Tomato growing.

My wife is wonderful, but her eyes go to ceiling when I talk tomatoes.

If God forbid we someday end up getting a divorce because her eyes need surgery after raising them up too often , I will give her the house and car. But I will not let her take away my 120 backyard spots for 'maters.

Jennie, I know how you feel!!!! I had to sell a house because of a work transfer years ago. I had built a really nice solar greenhouse, removable double pane glass, insulated metal roof on the north side, with water barrels to store heat.

If the sun didn't shine for a week and the temps were in the teens it would stay at 70+. I could put a propane lantern in it and bring the temps up to 80 +.

I had a four year old tomato growing in it! Had fresh toms in January! I removed the glass during the summer and let it grow as far as it could! Trim it back at the end of the summer and put the glass back on.

Two months after I sold it..... I rode by while visiting my family and friends..... The Greenhouse was gone! I cried a little.......

By the way, My name is Ted and I'm addicted. Just started way too many plants (60) for my late season toms.

Bets, I don't have long rows, otherwise FLA weave would likely work well for me. I was due for some new cages, some of the older ones had lost their solder and the rings were more halo than support. I think I've got less than seventy plants this year, which is way under what I usually grow, but I'm doing less of each variety with more spacing. Hopefully, less will be more.

happygardener23 no swap for me...too many baseball games and too much gas for the 60 mile trip. Thanks for the offer!!

I am totaly addicted. I have a hard time passing plants for sale. I have enough but with the cool spring I keep wondering if I should get more plants that produce quickly or some that like cooler temps.

I also bought some pepper plants and hid them from hubby. I never told him. I found an early heriloom type.

HELP ME. I want more plants. I am dreaming of making more beds for veggies!

Karen

I save open pollinated/ heirloom seed strains. At present I have over 200 strains of tomatoes. I have everything from 2'- 4' container tomatoes to one Italian variety that will vine from 15'- 25', producing up to 2- 3 bushels of tomatoes. I will have a seed company established by this fall. I am at present moving to a 300 acre farm to increase my amount of all seed varieties. As time goes on this year I'll be taking in data and pics of all varieties I grow.
More later... Have a Blessed Day!... Ray

Hi, I'm Yaeli and I am also a tomato growing addict. This year I am expanding from 12 plants (8 in soil bags) to 20 plants (yea a lot of soil bags). I started 40 tomato seedlings and all are very happy. I'm giving 8 seedlings to my next door neighbour.

But, oh the shame of it: I am planning to try to con (cough, I mean help, help) another neighbour who has this gorgeous big raised bed in their yard that is just growing weeds. I'm going to offer to weed, water, and take loving care of their garden bed if I can just plant maybe 15 (?) of those seedlings and some green beans, maybe a few lettuces, maybe....(ok, I'm not just a tomato addict, I have multiple vegetable addictions!) and I'll be so happy to share the yield 50/50...

I will try heirlooms next year, God willing and the creek don't rise. For now, I got a few little Celebrities. I know--Hybrids and they are not the tastiest tomatoes.

BUT--They are not determinate, as it will say on the tags, which is a wonderful thing, IMO. I got a couple of that variety a few years ago and saw that they will put out suckers in the crotches of the branching, which doesn't limit the production of the plant. I don't recall others called determinate being like that, but that's not the best attribute I found for this plant. They produced all season long, even in the hottest part of summer in S. Louisiana! I had tried a lot of tomatoes that were supposedly good throughout the summer, but not a one produced. I'm still wondering where the summer was they were supposed to produce. In the fall, I pruned off all the dead and scraggly growth from the Celebs, they put out more suckers from everywhere and produced into the fall. I skinned and seeded the tomatoes, cooked them down, crushing them, tossed some chopped garlic into the mix, then cooled and froze it. Three bags got pushed aside in the freezer and a couple of months ago I found them, defrosted one, added some salt and Italian herbs to the mix and it was the best from scratch sauce I've ever made. And they were frozen from 2011.

I am addicted to Celebrity tomatoes, have no intentions of kicking that habit and am not ashamed to admit that!

Have fun!

Please welcome me to the club.

My name is Sey and I am a tomato addict. LOL

Sey

Welcome, Sey. We will do nothing to dissuade your addiction, so you're at the right place. LOL!

Hi I'm Larry and I'm not an addict. I can stop any time-maybe today but think I'll waitI think till next week. Love to grow tomatoes and by the end of the season folks see me coming they close the door and hide . Me an addict nooo. Who's got a new plant.

Larry, I would NOT EVER close my door to you if I saw you coming toward my house with a load of tomatoes. :)

I am not a tomato freak. Never mind the fact that I have 120 plus plants growing from seed, and only space for maybe 12 at most. The extras get sold, and the money goes to buy more seed, more lights, more fertilizer, more starter trays, more potting up cups, more components for making potting mix. There is no way I have a problem.

Nate

I believe you, Nate :)

Sey

I have room for 20. Have 200 plants. How will i choose??????

Also have 69 heirloom varieties that i havent even opened the seed pack of. Ughghhhh

This year , somehow, I managed to grow as many as I have space for.

27 varieties and a total of ~ 43 plants. I only gave away one plant. feels good :)

I hate composting and begging neighbors and relatives to take some.

Next year I will cut back by 50% ; No more than 12 varieties and 20 plants. I want to have some fun and play. :)

Sey

"Next year I will cut back by 50% ; No more than 12 varieties and 20 plants. I want to have some fun and play."

Yeah, right!

I say this every year...

I'm Becky. I'm finding out that my behavior is not that of an addicts, but completely normal (at least here!) LOL! I started 29 different varieties of heirlooms - all from old seeds (2009-2012). All 29 varieties of tomato seeds germinated!!! Some with more success than others. Now I have 100+ seedlings taking over the living room, dining room and spare room. Its like Wild Kingdom in here!

Of yeah, in the garden, I have room for 40 or so plants.

Booberry, I think you have a problem by not admitting your addiction. LOL

Sey

We all have this addiction- ain't it fun

You know if you perfect the passive solar greenhouse, you can double or triple your growing season...