Raybo, Thanks for the help, I am using the 3:2:1 for my large SWCs, pardon the dumb question, but are all your containers "self watering" with a basket and wicking action, or do you experiment with watering from the top via emitters/by hand? The reason I ask is last year I had prolific but mealy tomatoes due to probably inconsistent moisture levels during every day/night cycle, the large containers would dry out overnight, then when watered in the morning the wicking would saturate the mix (I used HP Pro Mix with no bark fines, big mistake). In other words I think my problem was the mix lacking drainage and structure, and watering via a reservoir in a large container was not the problem, does that make sense? This year I found fir bark fines (sifted to 1/4 inch size) so I am going with your 3:2:1, curious to see if the wicking action is affected by fir bark in the mix, it shouldn't since the reservoir pond basket contains 100% peat/perlite and I have good contact between reservoir and landscape fabric

Posted by TomatoZ 5b Have harvested a couple of unexpected huge Purple Dog Creek tomatoes. All 3 of them were over 2 lbs. - the first time ever for me. The taste was great and it'll be on the 2014 list. . . . An 85-day tomato! I can only wish, TomatoZ . . . Today and yesterday we've had some showers. The thermometer hasn't hit 70ðf on either day . So, is this neck of the woods headed into the Big Cool Down? Nope. The Weather Service predicts 2 days next week will have 90ð afternoons! I AM GONNA HAVE SOME SERIOUS RIPENING IN THE TOMATO PATCH!!! The peppers can't do much, they are stunted from the cool spring. The melons may be just about played out - we will see, but they've done pretty darn good so far. This may be, however, the opportunity for me to enjoy a vine-ripened Brandywine tomato! I have an OTV Brandywine that has a good number of green fruits on it. Thanks David! We are moving into mid-September. The days-to-maturity go completely out the window when the nights begin to drop into the 40's. Doesn't look like it will be happening yet. The Pantano Romanesco tomato plant in my garden is also thanks to a gardening friend. It is in the same "big plant, loaded with green fruit" condition. The last 2 summers have been warm to hot and run late. I don't know if I can count on this. I doubt if I will ever have more than one of what is purported to be an 80 day tomato. Still, having one big, loaded plant . . !!! Steve

I don't know about woven material, but in my experience the black plastic definitely heats up the ground. I read somewhere that it actually works better if the soil is damp because the warmth creates steam. I've heard clear plastic works better to warm the soil in the Spring, but that black will still help with warming the soil. I know that if I step on black plastic in the garden in the summer, it can burn my feet, so I'm sure that kind of heat has some effect. I've come to the conclusion that here in Utah just having a shorter season tomato doesn't cut it, we have to also grow varieties that handle our extremely hot/dry summers. I think that varieties that do well for Texas growers would do better here than varieties grown by those in the Pacific Northwest or the New England states. Some things I did this year that greatly increased my success were---consistent watering(we installed a drip system), I also used Fish emulsion to fertilize when the plants started blossoming, and about a month or so later when fruit finally started setting. This was in addition to the compost, peat moss, bone meal, and fertilizer I added at the time of planting. The plants seemed to really love the fish emulsion, I swear many of them grew overnight after applying it. (I especially noticed this on the peppers and squash.) I'm going to try and plant out earlier next year by warming the soil with plastic, and planting up against our ceder fence on the west side of my yard. Plants are effected least by frost there. I am going to buy some row cover, and tack some clear plastic to the fence and create a mini-greenhouse. I have a tomato friend from another forum that gardens in Montanta---I have gotten a lot of good advice from her as far as variety recommendations. She really raved about a variety called Aurora this year. I will be trying it out next year. I think days to maturity is so variable. I just stick to varieties that are in the early to mid-season range and still try one or two varieties that people rave about each year regardless of the maturation date. Tyffanie

We just moved to Arizona from Washington. I would never have tried to grow tomatoes out doors prior to moving here. I have two Early Girls with flowers and green tomatoes in the ground now, and have been covering them to protect them from the rain. Do I need to be doing this? Also.....same with zuchini. Do I need to continue covering these guys as well? I only cover when it gets below 35 degrees. I have never had a problem with the rain and do not cover them. The humidity in the air keeps the temperature up enough below freezing during this rain right now. So I do not cover my plants. i don't think that it will hurt them if you keep them covered though.