I would like suggestions also, I am going to try bush goliath for the first time

A question (rather than an answer)...
You have grown Sprite -- the determinate Grape tomato (carried by Tomato Growers Supply)? How did you like it for sweetness, plant size, etc.? I've been thinking about trying it.
Thanks,
WC2K8

Hi Folks!

Actually, ANY tomato variety will do fine in the SWC EarthTainer type system. Here is a large Big Beef:

{{gwi:40370}}

I've grown shorter ones like Matina, Stupice, and they need only one cage (without the Extension).

I would recommend holding off building the Rev. 2.0 EarthTainer system for another 45 days. I'm writing the construction Guide right now for the "EarthTainer 3 Convertible" with an easier to build design coupled with a removable tomato cage. This is what the inside will look like (shown here in its 18 gallon configuration):

The neat thing about this new design is the "slip on - slip off" cage system:

It makes planting and end of Season clean-out so much easier. This design is scalable to virtually any size container - you will just need to adjust the size of the Aeration Bench support cut-outs for the dimensions of your particular Tote. The cage system shown above is optimized for the 31 gallon Rugged-Tote from Lowes.

Stay tuned,

Aloha,

Raybo

I got all new seeds, so I have no idea of the taste of any of the ones above. I grew a brandywine last season that only bore 4 fruits, but it was heavily damaged and I was lucky it lived after some idiot tree trimmers thought they did me a favor by FLOODING all of my potted tomatoes. I just thought I'd grow from seed this year instead of buying plants from Home depot. While easy, it wasn't nearly as satisfying as I know growing from seed will be.
As for the Earthtainer, I'm not sure I can wait 45 days! I live in S. CA and will sow my seeds this week. THanks so much for the pictures, though. I may try to make a cage myself as we have some stuff in the garage that will work. The picture helps a TON! Loving this site and all of the great advice!

I would absolutely grow the Black Cherry. It will do very well in the EarthTainer. Moskovich will be a good early producer for you in S. Calif.

As you won't be actually planting out seedlings until the March 1 (or later) timeframe, hang on a bit to build the EarthTainer 3, rather than the EarthTainer 2. I am sure you will be much happier with the ease of construction and removable tomato cage system of the new design.

Raybo

Of your list, you could have bought the Orange Strawberry and Black Cherry at the Fullerton Arboretum Monster Tomato Sale last year, if that helps. I went last year for the first time and they had a great variety of tomato and pepper plants. They are doing it again on March 11, so it might work into the Earthtainer timeframe, if you can wait. :-) Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Fullerton Arboretum

Raybo-it looks like you used 2 different totes in the picture instead of 2 of the same. Will that matter, because all 4 of mine are the same exact size, shape, etc. If that is fine, I guess I can wait. I've gotta mix more compost and deal with my soil before I fill them anyway. Thanks for the heads up.
Fullerton tomato sale-thanks for the heads up on this. I'm assuming you will have to buy the plants there, so it isn't a free for all or anything. I was going to try my hand at growing from seed this year. Or do they have great seed available as well. I'll save the Earthbox 3 for the Black Cherry and Moskovich. Thanks so much for your input.

It was crowded, so it was a free-for-all in a sense, but they are selling the plants (I can't remember exactly what I paid, I think it was less than what I paid at Lowes for the previous years tomato plants). They don't have seed at the sale if I recall correctly, but they did have some master gardeners on hand to answer questions about tomatoes and I think they have a class on tomato gardening.

Good luck on germination!

The Totes are 2 identical sizes. Perhaps the angle of the photo is misleading. Not to worry....

Here is what the 18 gallon ones look like in my indoor tomato "garden".

{{gwi:8211}}

Raybo

I'll skip the Fullerton show this year, but if germination fails, I may make it there!
Raybo, Now that I think about if you were to cut off the edge and stand it on top of something(the pond basket), that is how one of the same size would appear. I got 2 collendars from Target's dollar section, but I'm thinking from reading some of your advice on other posts that those may be too big, even for 30 gallon ones? They are only about 4" high, but probably a 8 inch diameter. I may just cut the hole smaller???? My HD didn't have any pond baskets-well-they did but it was a 12" square.
I'm getting excited about this growing season-and contemplating getting more totes while they are on sale to do some zucchini as well. Lord knows I spend more than $14/season on those at the farmer's market.

Where you need to go is your local Hydroponics Shop. Ask for a 5 inch Pond Basket. You're done!

Raybo