Raybo, try some "providence" corn.

Nice tomatoes!

Raybo:

See my sorry 8ss plants. Only the chocolate stripe is even close to what you have. I think I set up way too early this year and the sun hasn't moved into the correct orbit to give my plants adequate light.

Looking at your plants make me want to pull my hair out. But since I don't have much of that left, I might pull half of my plants out instead.

Congrats. Maybe I'll just live through you this year ;-).

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tomato/msg0513314121644.html

Great pictures, Raybo. This will be my first year for containers and I hope they turn out as good as yours. You and Bingster were my inspiration.

Lookin good Ray!!
I think I my guys are on par with your regarding growth except no fruitset here minus a couple on my Sungold. This cooooold weather as of late has slowed em down.
I'll post some pics in the Earthtainer thread

Brian

Looking good Ray! Bad news on the old Tomato-Tone scavenger hunt today. After wasting 45 minutes driving up and down the bypass where the Southern States store was supposed to be, I called the number on the store finder on their website and instantly found out the store was rebuilt, brand-new (just opened on Monday) another couple miles more south of the original location. No wonder I couldn't find them! The new store is new stock mostly of all products, so if they had any old Tomato-Tone it was likely clearanced out months ago, so they could move the store without as much product to relocate. The new store is very nice, but all the Espoma products were fresh out of the box. :(

Are there other Southern State stores in the country? I would advise anyone that has this store in their area to check them out for the old Tomato-Tone. The few bags I got last week are bound to my wife due to the drama I made finding them (sorry Ray). That's not to say I can never share them, but they'll be shelved for now til things cool down on the home front. Who'dve thought fertilizer could cause such trouble? lol

What are the chances Ray's comparative results and a list of gardener's demanding the old formula could convince Espoma to bring back the original formula? Preliminary results are looking like the new stuff is not as good.

Thanks very much for trying Ben. Guess I will have to bring out the REALLY GOOD jewelry for your wife now!!

Another GW Member ("Arc-Angel" Joan) has tipped me onto an E-tailer who swears the Tomato-tone they have in stock is the 4-7-10 formulation. Hope so, and I will now order from them to see if true. Funny that the darn shipping charge is more that the cost of the Tomato-tone - - but at this stage I am going to pay the premium to be sure and get a few years supply tucked away.

I am more optimistic today on the "New" Tomato-tone from the comparison of the Goose Creek pair (photo #3 above). They are "neck-and-neck" at the moment (no pun intended). Hope springs eternal.....

Raybo

Ray,
Your plants look great!!
Remy

Hi Remy,

I'll be in your neck of the woods, driving my 94 year old father and 90 year old mother from Florida to upstate New York next weekend. 1350 miles in 2 days. Oh well, the EarthTainer "Farm" will be on its own for a week.

Raybo

Fruitset continues. Multiple tomatoes now on Bloody Butcher:

{{gwi:30892}}

and a big surprise is fruitset on "Dona":

{{gwi:30893}}

I thought Dona was not an early season variety, but more a mid-season one. Anyway, no complaints!

Raybo

Very nice Ray, I've been following your EarthTainer growing for about a year and a half and I think you have finally convinced me. The Florida sand/dirt is horrible to grow in!

Ray:

Maybe I should send you a picture of me. That way, if you see me in your hot tub drinking a beer, you won't call the cops. I am just admiring your farm. hee hee ;-). You are awesome Ray.

Raybo,
Is the new tomato tone 100% organic? It is my understanding that the folks at earthbox recommend using 2 cups synthetic fertilizer, or 3 cups of a organic fertilizer. I wonder if your less-than-desirable results with the new tomato tone are because you used 2 cups of it instead of three. I will be interested in hearing your thoughts on this.

bdank,

Funny, I was just thinking this afternoon if I should revise the EarthTainer instruction guide to now recommend 3 cups of organic fertilizer, as the NPK numbers of the "New" Tomato-tone are significantly lower than the "Old" Tomato-tone. I am holding off on the hope that the new Microbes "may" offset the lowered NPK analysis.

Here is a photo today of the Goose Creek pair, and the New Tomato-tone has caught up to the plant with the Old Tomato-tone:

{{gwi:1335753}}

Stay Tuned!!

Raybo

I'm wondering if maybe it takes a little bit for the beneficial bacteria that is in the "new" Tomato Tone to catch up and become established. Once established then everything is downhill for the better. Just a thought I suppose.

Great looking "farm" Ray!

Ray, do you prune your plants in the EarthTainer?

Thanks Raybo,
My local nursery doesn't have the new tomato tone yet. They have a large shelf full of the old stuff. I'm debating whether or not I should go buy as much as I can afford before it's no longer available. I've been watching your tomato tone myth-busters (love that TV show) challenge with great interest. Thanks for keeping us updated.

bdank,

I would buy a 10 year supply of the "Old" Tomato-tone, if I were you. I am planning on doing a 50/50% mix blend of the Old and New Tomato-tone for future tomato plantings, to try to make the bags of the Old Tomato-tone I have on hand last as long as possible.

Raybo