Hi all,

My 2008 Summary

Overall, a pretty disappointing year. In 2007, I had 10 earthboxes and harvested over 600 tomatoes from twenty plants. For 2008, I built 18 additional boxes for a total of 56 plants and only harvested 400 tomatoes. I grew 17 varieties from seed (see below)...some were heirlooms and some were hybrids. I started my seeds six weeks before planting in my boxes on 1 April. My seedlings were on the "leggy" side but seemed to do fine once transplanting them.

Ive decided that my great tomato variety experiment for 2008 ended up a "bust". I guess IÂm a heretic because 2008 taught me that I like the hybrids much more than the heirlooms. To me, the heirlooms donÂt taste any better than the hybrids and canÂt say IÂm wild about the catfacing, heavily ribbed/malformed fruit, and small fruit I got from the heirlooms. My hybrids produced much more fruit, larger fruit, and "prettier" fruit than did the heirlooms. The hybrid exception was Brandy Boy which had a lot of catfaced and malformed fruit. I understand beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I like big, round, smooth fruit...and plants that produce a lot of it. The hybrids give me the fruit IÂm looking for, the heirlooms didnÂt. Have included my list of varieties planted, how they did for me, and my Journal for the year. There may be a few useful tidbits in there you might find helpful. Also have some PICS at the end of the post.

Some Thoughts:

Spring 2008 could not make up its mind as to whether it wanted to be nice and warm (normal) or cold/windy so we got bothÂon a day to day basis. April and May are normally beautiful months for growing with warm days in the 70Âs and nights in the high 50Âs to low 60Âs. Our April had days from the high 70Âs down to the high 30ÂsÂright in the middle of blooming, pollinating and setting fruit. IÂm sure this probably accounts for a lot of the malformed/catfaced fruit I experienced. June was much hotter/humid than normal with temps that were more normal for July than June.

I pruned heavily in the beginning so did not get my first clusters of fruit until about two feet up the stem. Next year I will rebuild my trellis system into a box so I can use a Florida weave around the perimeter of the plants because I donÂt plan on pruning next year. IÂll also build my trellis higherÂto 7 feet.

I may also rethink two plants per container. IÂm convinced it doesnÂt affect production at all but it sure ends up being a jungle come mid-June when the plants are over 6 feet tall, very robust and growing into and around each other.

I will use plastic truss supporters next year. Lost a few clusters I didnÂt catch in time which got so heavy from fruit that they broke the stems.

Got hornworms first week in JuneÂjust like always. Bought a "Dustin Miser" from TGSÂworthless IMO!!

Still had some problems with BER, especially with the Whopper CR from Park seeds. Had the same problem with them last year. Used some lime in my soil mix but it did not seem to help the problem.

Wanted to try some cherry and paste types this year. Was not impressed with any of them (Linguisa and Rocky did the best) so will concentrate on all beefsteaks next year.

My boxes and fertilizer strip worked fine just as they did in 2007. The fertilizer...couple cups epsom salt, couple cups of lime, couple cups of Fertilome tomato food.

So hereÂs next yearÂs list: Supersteak, Big Beef, Beefy Boy, Better Boy, Whopper CR, Lemon Boy, Brandy Boy, and maybeÂCherokee Purple.

Hope all of you have had a fun and bounteous gardening season.

Cheers,

Bing

2008 VARIETIES

NUMBER TYPE NAME COMPANY

1-51318 BEEFSTEAK SUPERSTEAK BURPEE

2-61101 BEEFSTEAK BRANDY BOY BURPEE

3-6301 BEEFSTEAK PORTERHOUSE BURPEE

4-5433 BEEFSTEAK BIG BEEF PARKS

5-5339 BEEFSTEAK BEEFY BOY PARKS

6-5380 BEEFSTEAK WHOPPER CR PARKS

7-5600 BEEFSTEAK LEMON BOY PARKS

8-3722 BEEFSTEAK MARIANNAÂS PEACE TGS

9-5207 BEEFSTEAK CHEROKEE PURPLE TGS

10-5618 BEEFSTEAK AUNT GERTIES GOLD TGS

11-5833 BEEFSTEAK KELLOGGÂS BKFST TGS

12-54965PASTE BIG MAMA BURPEE

13-5045 PASTE OPALKA TGS

14-5070 PASTE ROCKY TGS

15-6260 PASTE POLISH LINGUISA TGS

16-6148 CHERRY BLACK CHERRY TGS

17-5645 BEEFSTEAK MEXICO TGS

RESULTS:

SUPERSTEAK

FAIRLY LOW PRODUCTION BUT VERY LARGE 16-20 OZ FRUIT

BEAUTIFULLY SHAPED TOMATOES

NO CATFACING OR MALFORMED FRUIT

TASTE WAS GOOD

BRANDY BOY

VERY ROBUST PLANTSÂLARGE TOMATOES (10-16OZ)

PRODUCTION SEEMED TO DEPEND ON THE PLANT

SOME GOOD

SOME WITH LITTLE PRODUCTION

ONE PLANT WITH ONLY TWO TOMATOES

A LOT OF MISHAPEN FRUIT AND CATFACING

MOST FRUIT WERE PRETTY HEAVILY RIBBED

SOME NICELY SHAPEDÂLITTLE RIBBING

VERY GOOD TASTE

PORTERHOUSE

LOW PRODUCTION BUT VERY LARGE FRUIT (14-20OZ)

HEAVILY RIBBED FRUIT

LARGE AND DEEP STEM SCARS

BIG BEEF

VERY GOOD PRODUCTION

VERY NICELY SHAPED FRUIT

LARGE FRUITÂ9-11 OZ

BEEFY BOY

GOOD PRODUCTION

NICELY SHAPED FRUIT

8-10 OZ FRUIT

WHOPPER CR

NICELY SHAPED FRUIT

GOOD PRODUCTION

ALWAYS SEEM TO GET BER ON QUITE A FEW TOMATOES

VERY GOOD SIZEÂ10 TO 14 OZ

LEMON BOY

VERY GOOD PRODUCTION

VERY NICELY SHAPED FRUITÂ7-9 OZ

TASTES GOOD

MARIANNAÂS PEACE

VERY POOR PRODUCTION

SMALL FRUIT---3-4 OZ

RIBBED AND SOME CATFACING

PLANTS GOT SOME KIND OF DISEASE AT TOP OF PLANT IN

CHEROKEE PURPLE

MEDIUM/LOW PRODUCTION

MOSTLY SMALL FRUITÂ3-5 OZ; ONLY 1 GOOD SIZED TOMATO

GOOD TASTE

AUNT GERTIES GOLD

NO PRODUCTION AT ALL FROM 2 PLANTS

KELLOGGÂS BKFST

LOW PRODUCTION

MOSTLY SMALL FRUITÂLARGER ONES VERY MISSHAPEN/CATFACED

THE TASTE DID NOTHING FOR ME

BIG MAMA

VERY LOW PRODUCTION

OPALKA

LOW PRODUCTION

SICKLY LOOKING PLANTS

ROCKY

BETTER PRODUCTION

5-6 OZ FRUITS

POLISH LINGUISA

BETTER PRODUCTION

5-6 OZ FRUITS

BLACK CHERRY

GOOD PRODUCTION

PLANTS NOT VERY ROBUST LOOKING

TASTEÂNOTHING SPECIAL FOR ME BUT FRIENDS LIKED IT

MEXICO

VERY LOW PRODUCTION

2008 JOURNAL ENTRIES:

17 FEB

108 POTS PLANTED IN 30 AND 42MM PEAT PELLETS.

TWO SEEDS PER POT.

PLANTED 5 PELLETS OF EACH TYPE TO GET 4 PLANTS

PUT ON HEAT MAT TIL GERMINATED THEN TO LIGHT RACK

THINK ITÂS BETTER TO JUST PUT ON REFRIGERATOR

24 FEB

PLANTED ANOTHER 35 POTS DUE TO 80% GERMINATION RATE

ALSO PLANTED 5 LEMON BOY AND CANTALOPE

CANTALOPE GROWING VERY QUICKLY-SPROUTED 3 DAYS

26 FEB

ABOUT 80 PERCENT GERMINATION RATE.

BRANDY BOYS DID VERY WELL.

NONE OF THE WHOPPERS GERMINATED.

REPOTTED 64 PLANTS INTO 2X3" POTS

ALLOWING THE OTHER 20 OR SO TO GROW A LITTLE MORE

42MM PELLETS MUCH EASIER TO TRANSPLANT THAN 30MM

6 MAR

TRANSPLANTS SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF DISTRESS

NOT DARK GREEN BUT SOMEWHAT PALE GREEN

CAN SEE SOME VEINS

WILL WATER AND FEED TODAY WITH NITROGEN MIX

15 MAR

REPOTTED INTO 4X4 POTS

SEEDLINGS "LEGGIER" THAN IÂD LIKE

25 MAR

TOOK FLATS OUTSIDE TO HARDEN OFF

FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS BROUGHT BACK INSIDE

LEFT OUTSIDE WHEN LOW AT NIGHT S IN THE UPPER 50ÂS

SEEDLINGS IN THE SHADEÂNO SUN

29-30 MAR

REPLANTED INTO CONTAINERS

ALL SEEM TO BE DOING WELL

WILL LEAVE IN FULL SHADE UNTIL 6 APRIL

5 APR

BAD THUNDERSTORM BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF SEEDLINGS. FIXED THEM THE BEST I COULDÂWEÂLL SEE

6 APR

PLANTED THE OTHER 10 BOXES. SEEDLINGS IN POTS PRETTY BEAT UP SO TRIMMED ALL LOWER LEAVES. ON A FEW, ONLY HAVE TOP GROWTHÂWEÂLL SEE. BOXED PLANTINGS SEEMED TO RECOVER SOMEWHAT

7 APR

BRIGHT AND SUNNYÂFULL SUN FOR FIRST TIMEÂWEÂLL SEE

13 APR

SEEDLINGS PLANTED 29 MAR ALL DOING VERY WELL

BEAT UP SEEDLINGS ALSO DOING WELL..NO PROBLEMS SO FAR

SET UP THE REMAINING 10 TRELLISES AND STRING

25 APR

PLANTS THAT WERE DAMAGED ON 5 APR HAVE RECOVERED NICELY

HAVE SOMETHING ON SOME OF THE LOWER LEAVES OF SOME PLANTSÂCANÂT IDENTIFY WHAT IT IS

FIRST BUDS STARTING TO APPEARÂALL LOOKS GOOD

30 APR

FED PLANTS LIQUID BLOOMING FERTILIZER ON 28 APRIL

HAVE A FEW BUDS BUT THEY ARE HALFWAY UP THE 3 FOOT HIGH PLANTSÂNEXT YEAR DONÂT PRUNE ALL THE LOWEST SUCKERSÂLET SOME GROW OUT

PLANTS ARE DOING WELLÂNO PROBLEMS SO FAR

MORNINGS ARE A LOT COOLER THAN I REMEMBER FOR LATE APR

1 MAY

FIRST TOMATOES SET

7 MAY

LOTS OF FLOWERS NOW

10-15 MAY

LOTS OF TOMATOES SET NOW

ALL PLANTS LOOK GOOD EXCEPT THE TWO PASTE PLANTS (OPALKA AND ROCKY)

PORTERHOUSE -UGLY FRUIT (HEAVILY RIBBED) BUT A PRETTY GOOD FRUIT SET-BIGGEST TOMATOES SET

FIRST CASES OF BER SEEN ON A COUPLE OF TOMATOES

FED WITH BLOSSOM FOOD AND CALCIUM

SOME PLANTS ALREADY OVER TOP OF TRELLIS AT 6 WEEKS

23 MAY-27 MAY

REMOVED 9 WHOPPERS WITH BER-RETHINK FOR NEXT YEAR

CATERPILLARS HAVE SHOWED UP-WILL TREAT WITH BT

BIG BEEF HAS BEST FRUIT SET-20 OR SO FRUITS

PORTERHOUSE FRUIT LOOKS GOOD

LEMON BOY ALSO LOOKS GOOD

NOT IMPRESSED WITH ANY OF THE PASTE TYPES

LOTS OF BLOSSOM DROP AND NOT SETTING FRUIT

SOME PLANTS 7Â PLUS

MAYBE ONLY 1 PLANT PER BOX NEXT YEAR WITH NO PRUNING

28 MAY

TREATED CATERPILLARS WITH BT

3 JUN

PICKED FIRST RIPE TOMATOÂA SMALL BEEFY BOY WITH BER!!

FIRST TWO BLACK CHERRIES ALMOST RIPEÂA DAY OR TWO

CATERPILLERS A PROBLEMÂKILLED 2 BIG ONES

PORTERHOUSE ARE GETTING REALLY BIG NOW

SOME MORE BER ON PASTE TYPES

SOME LEAVES STARTING TO SHOW PROBLEMSÂESPECIALLY BOTTOM LEAVES

10 JUN

PICKED FOUR RIPE TOMATOESÂ1 PORTERHOUSE, 1 BRANDY BOY, 1 BIG BEEF, 1 BEEFY BOY AND ABOUT 12 BLACK CHERRIES

11 JUN

LOTS OF TOMATOES NOW STARTING TO RIPEN. CUT AWAY A LOT OF FOLIAGE SO I CAN SEE ALL THE TOMATOES. REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE SIZE OF THE SUPERSTEAKSÂNOT A GREAT DEAL OF FRUIT BUT THE FRUIT ARE VERY BIG AND WELL FORMED. DEFINITELY REPLANT NEXT YEAR. THE PORTERHOUSE ALSO PRODUCE A NICE BIG TOMATO BUT ARE HEAVILY RIBBED. NOT A GREAT DEAL OF PRODUCTION WITH THEM. THE BEEFY BOY AND THE BIG BEEF HAVE BOTH SET A LOT OF WELL SHAPED FRUIT. THE LEMON BOYS HAVE ALSO SET A LOT OF FRUIT. NOT IMPRESSED WITH MEXICOÂTHINK ONLY ONE OR TWO TOMATOES. BRANDY BOY SEEMS TO DEPEND ON THE PLANT. SOME HAVE A LOT OF FRUIT AND OTHERS HAVE NONE. A LOT OF THE FRUIT IS MALFORMED OR CATFACED. WHOPPERÂSOME GOOD AND SOME BAD. THINK IÂLL FORGET ABOUT ANY PASTE TOMATOES FOR NEXT YEAR. NOT IMPRESSED WITH OPALKA. SPINDLY PLANTS AND NOT A LOT OF FRUIT. THE ROCKY AND POLISH LINGUISA ARE THE TWO BEST. BIG MAMA PRETTY MUCH A DUD. THE BLACK CHERRY TASTE TO ME WAS NO BIG DEAL. HAVENÂT SEEN TOO MUCH CATERPILLER DAMAGE LATELY.

14 JUN

TRIED THE FOLLOWING:

BRANDY BOY---VERY GOOD FLAVOR

LEMON BOYÂVERY GOOD ALSO

CHEROKEE PURPLEÂALSO GOOD

KELLOGGÂS BKFST----NO FLAVORÂDID NOT LIKE IT MUCH

19 JUN

CUT STEMS ON ABOUT 8 PLANTS

CATERPILLARS ARE GETTING BADÂHAVE NOT SPRAYED AGAIN

SUPERSTEAK ARE HUGE TOMATOESÂ1-2 POUNDS

PORTERHOUSEÂALSO BIG BUT HEAVILY RIBBED

MOST OF CHEROKEE PURPLE VERY SMALL-ONLY ONE BIG ONE

AGGÂLOSER!

KELLOGGÂS BKFSTÂLOSER

MARIANNAÂS PEACEÂLOSER

PASTESÂNOT IMPRESSED, POLISH LIGUISA AND ROCKY THE BEST

25 JUN

ABOUT DONE FOR THIS YEAR

ESTIMATE ABOUT 70 TOMATOES LEFT ON THE VINE

CUT STEMS ON A BUNCH OF PLANTS

LESSONS LEARNED:

PLANT ONLY 4/5 WEEKS PRIOR TO PLANTING

GROW IN COOLER TEMPÂGARAGE

TRY "SUNGOLD" CHERRY NEXT YEAR

DONÂT PRUNE AT ALL NEXT YEAR

BUILD SQUARE PVC TRELLIS TO GO AROUND OUTSIDE OF BOX AND BUILD TRELLIS ANOTHER FOOT HIGH

MAYBE ONLY ONE PLANT PER BOXÂVERY CROWDED

BIG BEEF LOOKS LIKE A WINNER

WHOPPERS HAVE BER AGAIN BUT NICE 11OZ TOMATOES

LIKE PORTERHOUSE AND SUPERSTEAK FOR BIG FRUIT

CATERPILLARS SHOWED UP AROUND 21 MAY

LIKELY CANDIDATES FOR NEXT YEAR:

LEMON BOY

BRANDY BOY

BIG BEEF

BEEFY BOY

SUPERSTEAK-BIG TOMATOES

CHEROKEE PURPLE

WHOPPER

BETTER BOY

CELEBRITY