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Growing Tomatoes

Talk to your 'Maters??

14 years ago

Here's a snippet from a Johnnie's newsletter which just arrived:

"The British Horticultural Society is conducting a study at Wisley in Surrey to see if tomatoes respond to voices. Auditions were recently held and a cadre of people with different voices was selected to read verses by Shakespeare and John Wyndham. Recordings of the readings are being played to the roots of the plants while a control group of tomatoes grows in silence. The study follows claims by the Prince of Wales that he talks to his tomatoes and thinks it helps them grow. While the study is fun, a BHS spokesman says it is definitely a serious study. "

I wonder if it would make a difference if they read Poe or cummings to the roots?

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Comments (12)

trudi_d
14 years ago
They like Robert Plant and Red Hot Chile Peppers.
donn_
Original Author
14 years ago
ROFLMAO!!

Wot's up, Trudles?
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bigdaddyj
14 years ago
Ahhh Trudi, you forgot:

The Cranberries
Salt-N-Pepper
Smashing Pumpkins
Fiona Apple
Blind Melon
Korn
Black Eyed Peas

OK, now I'm stuck!
missingtheobvious
14 years ago
Salt-N-Pepper would be particularly apt for tomatoes. Any musical groups named for vinegar or salad dressing? Any singers named Basil?

I swear I've heard more than a few plants and trees begging for water in our recent multiple-years' drought, so the conversation goes both ways!

I'm also reminded of the beliefs of many indigenous cultures: that before eating an animal or cutting down a tree, you should address the spirit of that animal or tree, showing respect and appreciation for their sacrifice to benefit humankind. When thinning my tomato seedlings, I did rather feel I should have been apologizing....

And on a more mundane note: Ever since Jerry Baker's Talk to Your Plants came out -- which was a good few decades ago -- I've thought the primary benefit of talking to plants is that in spending more time with them, you're paying them more attention. So you are more aware of how they're doing, what makes them happy and unhappy, etc.
ditnc
14 years ago
Now "The Raven" will be going through my head all night!!!!

"...Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary....."

I wonder if the tomatoes respond to Susan Boyle's voice singing the Les Mis songs?
trudi_d
14 years ago
A rock would respond to Susan Boyle ;-) What a great voice she has...she's a heroine to everyone 'normal'.

Hey Donn!

Years back I read "The Secret Life of Plants", I remember the Russians doing something with plants and music, maybe they liked Tchaikovski. It was intriguing but I suppose good vibes are what it's really all about. Vibrations have physical effects on every living thing.

I know that tomatoes HATE Nine Inch Snails.

LOL
kterlep
14 years ago
I sing to them. Italian Arias for the pastes, bluegrass for the Hillbilly, etc. :)
jessicavanderhoff
14 years ago
Nah- they like baby talk. But only when they're little- wouldn't want to spoil them. :-P
the_tank
14 years ago
Mine really like it when I talk dirty.
tn_veggie_gardner
14 years ago
I play Reggae music for my plants. They love it! I have a 5 foot tall Cherry tomato plant at 10 & 1/2 weeks from seed in the dirt.
platys
14 years ago
I wonder how all the screaming the neighbor kids do while they play in the pool will effect my tomatoes. I swear, on the weekends, they spend ALL day long in there, screaming.
Bets
14 years ago
More music for tomtoes:

Accordian polkas for Old German and German Johnson.
Tchaikovsky for Azoychka, Anna Russian, Purple Russian, Russian 117, Russian Heart
Russian Persimmon, and all their friends.
Harmonica music for Boxcar Willie.
The "Bonaza" theme for Golden Ponderosa.

Bets

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