A quick update about how the tomatoes are doing on their new ‘outdoor greenhouse’ system. I really like this way of growing tomatoes, though I have had some learning experiences that make me realize I can do it more efficiently next year. I’ve also had some successes and I want to share both with you.
Tying the strings on the top is fine, but it would be more efficient to have the greenhouse pulley systems that allow you to tighten or loosen strings easily, because if I want to do that now, I have to get out the ladder, lean over in a precarious position, and retie the string. I’ve had to do this several times, either to tighten up strings that were too loose, or because I inadvertently cut the string while pruning the plants. Also, having the strings anchored at the bottom is apparently unnecessary, because the plastic clips should be enough to keep the string taut if applied correctly, which I am not doing.
I’m growing the plants so closely together that they need to be vigorously pruned, so it takes an hour or two each week to keep them tidy. Also, the string loosens over time and with the weight of the plant, so keeping them pruned helps avoid a lean.
We had two plants cut down in their prime by some woodland creature; something just nibbled at the main stem until the plant was effectively cut down. Both are in a place where I’m sure animals tend to cross the garden and the plants were in the way, so the animal got rid of them. Evidence of both halves of the plant shows that nothing was eaten. I have had a few lower tomatoes nibbled on by rats (I think rats anyway, not sure) but as the plants have grown and the tomato clusters have been too high to reach, that has stopped. Also, when I get to pruning, I often inadvertently cut off the leader, which has happened to three plants this year, so now I am waiting for a side shoot to grow long enough to become the new leader. No big deal, just some frustration on my part for not being more meticulous.
One brilliant success is that there is no evidence of blossom end rot this year. I’ve written a lot of posts about this issue before, and all my research tells me that it’s due to a water problem, not a calcium problem. So I have been very good about watering consistently. When I started the drip system on them in April, it was tempting to give them less water because it wasn’t hot yet. Instead, I started them on the 10 minutes per day watering that I knew they would need in July. The amount of water is not as big a deal as the consistency is. This way the plant grows up knowing how much water it has to complete its various systems and becomes used to that amount and works with it. It becomes efficient. That’s the idea anyway. So even when it gets over 100 degrees for weeks at a time, I will still keep the tomatoes at 10 minutes of drip a day. It seems to be working so far (and the weather has worked with me this year, as we got very little rain in May compared to last year), and with no evidence of blossom end rot, I believe this kind of watering is the key. Of course I also grow varieties that are thick and meaty, more round or heart shaped, rather than long and skinny, because the BER seemed to show up only in long and skinny types.
I have many purple tomatoes this year, as well as pink and yellow and orange. I do have some true reds but I tend to prefer a mix of colors and flavors. I am also trialing some new varieties and will report on them when it gets further along in the season.
We have yet to eat our first ripe tomato. This is pretty much on par with every summer, although last year we ate our first Sungold cherry tomato earlier in June. Sungold looks to be the winner again this year, as there are three that are almost ripe enough to eat. We had our first pesto a week ago, and when we have our first Caprese salad, then I will declare that it is well and truly summer.
How are your tomatoes coming along?