I bought patio, totem, florida basket, cabernet (growing three of these -- these are the bigger ones and the others are smaller) and prairie fire from Tomato Grower's supply to use in my greenhouse as they were some recommended for greenhouse growing.

They are doing really well. Now, I thought some of them had been affected by fusarium wilt but my father who is an ag entomologist says it looks like nitrogen deficiency to him, so I'm putting more nitrogen on them as prescribed and hoping it will help with the yellowing and dying off on the lower leaves. I had originally put organic soil and some other recommended all-natural things and have been using some micronurients and fertilizer but I guess the way I have them set up isn't giving enough nitrogen. I hope that's what it is, anyway.

All but my Florida basket look at least a little affected, with my totem and cabernet looking the worst.

I'm also growing one Giant Belgium as it was a freebie with my purchase and I wanted to see how it would do. It has a few little tomatoes on it so far, but they are supposed to be really big.

This is my first year doing any greenhouse gardening. I have the cabernet and prairie fire in one of those upside down stand planters that is box shaped at the top and holds a lot of soil. They seem to like the upside down growing. The totem is in a small pot but I need to move it to a bigger one. The Florida Basket is in a 10-inch hanging basket and doing wonderful with lots of tomatoes. Prairie Fire and Patio are in 2 gallon pots.

desert,

Thanks,

I ordered the Prairie Fire and Cabernet, plus the Florida 91 VFF. It's not that I'm made of money or have a printing press but I figure the only way I will ever find out what grows and sells best is to try as many as possible. I have room for 30, maybe 40 plants if I don't want much spare room to work, so I plan on trying four of each type. If I just cover my costs this fall/winter/spring by next year I should have a much better handle on what I want to do. The goal is 100 pounds of maters per week or about six ripe toms per plant every seven days.

Thanks,

Mike

Wow! That's a lot. I wish you the best of luck! It had been quite a while since we'd eaten fresh homegrown tomatoes and we ate our first two out of the greenhouse last night. My husband and I both agreed we couldn't ever go back to store-bought again! I had completely forgotten how much better they tasted. Again, good luck!!

Found three more types to try, specialty seeds for greenhouse production: IT-06-313, Mira and Sacramento. But darn, are these seeds a bit pricey. A total of 150 seeds for $40, counting six bucks for shipping.

Mike

I just planted regular tomato seeds inside my greenhouse during the Winter...the regular kind I would plant for my area outside in Oregon...the seeds sprouted and when they got big enough I transplanted the smaller plants into bigger pots...then in approximately mid May (our last frost date) I transplanted them either into my garden or into large pots which I set outside...They grew slowly during the Winter..and about February or March? started getting flowers and tomatoes..I made sure the temperatures didn't go below 50-55 degrees and they did fine...just to let you know you don't have to spend an arm and a leg for seeds.

Thanks, but I want to grow plants, not seedlings in winter. I'm sowing seeds now so I can transplant them into containers in early September. I don't plan to "heat" the greenhouse to over 55 degrees this winter, which is warm enough for some of Dr. Baggett's species (Siletz, Legend) to set fruit. If the sun with the heaters warm it to 60, 70 or 80, that's fine. But the seeds I am trying will be grown their entire life inside, not in a garden.

Mike

Well good luck..let us know how they grow...

Just wanted to show you a picture of the tomatoes....I could have left them in the greenhouse too..once again good luck..
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Wordwiz...where did you order those seeds from? I've ordered from Tomatoe Growers before. I've had some trouble with their seed lately. I too would like to find a nice determinate variety...one that can also stand up to a lot of humidity.

I believe a 5 gallon container may be okay for the varieties that don't get overly large. Normally, the plant's roots soon completely take over any container I've put them in...resulting in more frequent watering and fertilizing.

Our Ohio winters are normally sun-free most of the time. If you can put lights in, I would. It would sure boost the growth and speed up bloom time.

Gcritters, very nice looking plant. Healthy.

The Siletz and Legend I ordered from Ed Hume Seeds. The others were from Tomato Growers. The ones I still want to order are from NE Seeds.

One thing about the Siletz and Legend - they were developed for the Pacific Northwest growing season, which is supposedly not ideal tomato growing weather.

Mike

Patio tomatoes will do well in 3 gallon containers, but you should use at least 7 gallon containers even for determinate tomatoes.

HI, I grow tomatoes in the greenhouse in summer, as our nights are too cool and damp to grow them outside. I don't get many blossoms and those I do get often don't set fruit. I've resorted to Blossom Set, but even still the crop isn't what I'd wish. I fertilize regularly. I've usually planted only varieties recommended for greenhouse growing or the ones that do well in cooler weather. This year, I have Siletz, Oregon Spring, Greenhouse, a couple of different cherry toms, and Zebra (yes, I know it's not a greenhouse variety, but I had some last fall and I HAD to try to grow them!). Long Keeper did pretty well, as has Koralik. I think one of my problems is crowding. I tend to have too many plants in too small a space. I think next year I will reduce the number of plants and see if that helps. But I'd rather find another solution!

Thanks,
Jean

I am building a greenhouse as we speak and will be lucky to keep the nighttime temperature above 50 degrees. I do OK in the summer outdoors with Sweet 100's, early girl and lemon boys even though my nighttime lows are 40's to low 50's. (In fact, I'm not even frost-free until late June.) I'd like to grow some heirlooms in the greenhouse, though. Do any varieties set fruit at 50 degrees? My location (SW Colorado) and elevation (7400') afford plenty of sun but wild outside temperature swings, thus significant (and expensive) heating demands

Does tomato set work? I'm not sure how to accomplish wintertime greenhouse pollination.

Your experiences will all be appreciated.

Mark