Tomatoes in Miami

18 years ago

The very first time I grew tomatoes in containers on my patio, it was very successful. Patio, and HEat Wave. Nice juicy and big. That was the last time. Since then, I have been battling spider mites, leaf curl and other diseases that I cannot identify properly, and worst, few tomatoes that have tough skins. Worst, are the spider mites and leaf miners. I spray with soapy liquid or Safers. I have been told that now is not the time to plant in Miami,BUT my friends in my immediate neighbourhood all have tomato plants galore with glorious fruits. Ask them what they do, they laugh and say "nothing, just water and fertilise them." They are either in containers or in the ground.

Needless to say, I am very upset. I refuse to believe that it is not the time here. This is tomato capital, FLORIDA. In the Redlands, tomatoes are growing. All I want is a few containers of tomatoes.

What causes spider mites? ALso, my eggplant plants are riddled with mites. I spray with detergent, and the leaves just wither and fall off. The spray is not strong. Seems I am just not supposed to grow veggies.

Anybody else having problems Collards, amaranth (callalloo-like spinach) Malabar spinach and potatoes are fine. Just the tomatoes and eggplant.

Sorry for the long whine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please, someone tell me why I cannot grow tomatoes again!

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Comments (9)

coffeemom
18 years ago
Tomatoes in July????? That's like seeing bigfoot or the lochness monster. Are you kidding me?
Get your neighbors to post here and teach us how! No joke.
tomncath
18 years ago
Coffeemon is right, WORST time of the year to TRY to grow tomatoes in Florida. I still have five Solar Fire & Solar Set plants going that I started from seed 3/1. They're getting real buggy right now and I debated pulling them out this past weekend but I still trying to coax another dozen fruit out of them, but I'm losing the battle to critters. How old is your mix and what is it? Sounds like an old and infected mix....Also, it's really important that you sterilize your containers between seasons, with a 5-10% bleach solution.
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Lisa Ls
18 years ago
Hi catlover, I dont know much about gardening, I have my first vegetable garden this year and I'm tried 3 tomatoes plants ( Grape, Southern Favourite and Celebrities), so far they still very busy fruiting and happy. They only got morning until midday sun. and what I do just like your neighbourhood said, watering and fertilize them.

Japanese Eggplant

Try to use a fresh potting mix soil with a clean pot in the future.
Good luck. Lisa
an_ill-mannered_ache
18 years ago
what coffeemom said.

aside from smaller tomatoes (grapes, cherries), nothing will set fruit this time of the year. and even if you do get full-sized tomatoes to set, they'll burst or get infested by flies or drop. i don't disbelieve in the existence of these tomatoes, it's just that it's not worth it this year.
Lisa Ls
18 years ago
an ill-mannered, those pics are true, just taken at that day, the grape tomato was very leggy but still fruiting.
But doesnt matter if you don't want to believe :0)
coffeemom
18 years ago
Berkebun, ill mannered said nothing but grapes and cherry tomatoes will set fruit this time of year.We believe!
What it unbelievable is regular size tomatoes growing this time of year in Zone 10b. It's hotter and muggier.
I have tiny Everglades tomatoes growing in 4 spots but they are also leggy and have spider mite damage.
tomncath
18 years ago
And one of my two Everglades has got TYLC virus...how pathetic is that!
Lisa Ls
18 years ago
Ooopss... so sorry an ill manner , for not read clearly before post a comment ^_^
Thanks coffeemom for your clarification.
catlover_gardener
Original Author
18 years ago
I always use new MG Organic potting mix and espoma fert or terracycle liquid. I never reuse mix. I do wash pots with bleach & water, but spider mites haunt me and leaves always start out green and nice. After a while they turn yellow,then speckled(mites at work) the n brown, then fall. Tomatoes if they do bear, have hard rough brown skin. Sun is ferocious here I must say, although now has been raining a lot.

I never reuse soil (mix)