Comments on: Tomatoes for Beginners

By: Michael Nolan

Michael Nolan — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:25:46 +0000

My absolute favorite is the Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter, though I’ve never met an heirloom I didn’t love.

By: Beth jones

Beth jones — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:40:25 +0000

Michael… what is your fave heirlooms? I think you may be a zone or two below me. I’m wanting to be able to save seeds, but also gotta take into account I’m a supreme beginner on starting plants from seed. This year I bought JetStar plants, and started Pink Brandwine (or master?) from seed. Couldn’t get a good feel for how either of those did tho… we had a suck-filled, tornadoey/hail spring and a mass attack from grasshoppers later in the summer. (yay gardening… lol!)

By: Arlyn

Arlyn — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 15:43:33 +0000

Thanks for the tip about tapping the blooms – my lone Paul Robeson has had several blooms, but none have become tomatoes! Hope this helps.

By: Michael @ MEG

Michael @ MEG — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 21:53:25 +0000

I recommend backing off on the water. You only need water your toms when the soil is actually dry. Additionally, back off on the Tomerite and use it no more than once per week.

By: eddie toomes

eddie toomes — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:54:14 +0000

your artical was interesting but it did not cover the problem i have, all the lower leaves on my tomatos have curled up they are not dry and it has not affected my toms what have i done wrong. (each plant is in 10″ pots with good quality growbag filling and i feed with tomerite every 2 to 3 days

By: Michael Nolan

Michael Nolan — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:41:07 +0000

Vicki,

It would be helpful to know what USDA Planting Zone you are in for starters but the short answer is yes and no. There are diehards on both sides of the fence about trimming tomato plants. Personally I am caught somewhere in between. I pinch off the lowest branches to the ground so that they don’t get splashed from underneath. Last year I had heirlooms that were growing so tall that I honestly topped them off so the wouldn’t be taller than 8 feet. I trimmed twice over the season and cut off a total of 5 feet from the plant. That means the plant would have grown 13 feet tall!

The tomatoes themselves don’t need to be in the direct sunlight per se. For starters, make sure you have at least 2-3 tomato plants in the same area. When you see the blooms begin to mature and become fully open, lightly tap them (the blooms) with your finger. This helps them pollinate and will result in more blooms becoming tomatoes.

Best of luck and if you have more questions please feel free to ask!

Michael

By: Vicki lahey

Vicki lahey — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 15:33:40 +0000

Hello Michael, I’m trying for the third time to grow tomatoes. Last 2 attempts were not to successful. My question is do I need to trim my plants back as they grow. I’m starting to get tomatoes but they are all underneath and not very visible to the sun.

By: Michael Nolan

Michael Nolan — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:17:24 +0000

Jared,

I’m growing two of my heirloom tomatoes upside down this year too, as well as a pepper plant (not sure which one yet) because my new place in Atlanta has a great space for it – the rafters of a second floor deck on the back of the house.

Look forward to seeing how your project progresses!

By: Jared Lyda

Jared Lyda — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:12:57 +0000

Hey Michael,
Thanks for commenting on urbangardenproject.com! I’ll be growing several upside down tomato plants this year on my porch and have NO idea what I’m doing! Thanks to this post I have a better idea…

Jared
the Urban Garden Project