very nice bing, even in the first picture the window is smiling on the tomatoes.

bingster,

So glad to hear from you again!! Excellent looking plants this year. It looks like Big Beef is a winner.

Been cold and rainy out here in San Jose this Spring - - so we are about 3 weeks behind where we were last Season. Temps are warming up now, so hope to get some ripe tomatoes within the next 2 weeks.

Raybo

hi bingster,
glad to hear you are still with the
liveing,plants look as always (super0.

HOW CAN I GET THE ON-LINE INSTRUCTIONS
FOR JOSHO'S CONTAINERS ?,WHAT DID YOU
MEAN YOU LEARNED HOW TO FIX THEM ?.

LES

Hi Les,

Just GOOGLE "josho" and you'll see the link for container gardening. He's got full instructions for building the boxes. You can also look here under "rnewste" posts...see above...he's gotten really cosmic with his "earthtainers".

I have kept mine simple but made a couple of changes to Josho's instructions. I bought a roll of plastic screen material to cover the "soil deck" to keep the mix out of the reservoir and I like the results. Had been using landscape fabric but believe the screening material allows root growth into the reservoir. I don't bother with the cover like Josho does. I just buy 55 gallon black trash bags, cut them in half, and then slip them over the top of the box.

Hi Raybo,

Good to hear from you and still always look for your posts when I'm on site. Your plants always look great and see you're still "tinkering". Hope all's well with you and your's.

Hello Terrybull,

Thanks for the comment. Yes, they've done particularly well this year. The "earthbox" system really works well for me and I get huge crops of beautiful tomatoes every year. "Probably shouldn't have said that!!!"

cheers all

Bung

hi bingster,

first thanks for the reply.

if you would be so kind to
answer a few questions for
me ? what kind of nutes do
you use ?,how do you apply
it ?,how often ?,what kind
of potting mix do you use ?.
thanks for your time and
troulbe best regards.

les

Bingster, you get better every year. Awesome looking plants and harvest too-boot. Ami

Hi Les and AMI,

Les....your answer below.

AMI, my old friend. Haven't been on the sight much this year. My brother is still over in Germany with his family and they're having a blast. Hope you are well and talk to you soon.

No problem.

I use FERTILOME tomato food which I get at ACE hardware. It contains all the micronutrients and I use about 2-4 cups per 18 gallon container. I also put in a couple of cups of EPSOM salts which I get at CVS. I also mix in a couple of cups of DOLOMITE powdered lime into my soil mix. I use Miracle Grow potting mix. It takes almost 2 cubic feet per container.

I put two plants per container. One centered in the middle of the box on each side. I put my fertilizer strip in the middle of the two plants from front to back and I dig down about 4-6 inches into the mix before I put it in.

I put my plants in on 27 March this year. I fed them twice with MG water soluable plant food. Once in the middle of May and again the middle of June. About 1 gallon per pot each time.

cheers

Bing

thanks bingster.
les.

Wow!

I'd say to got this mater growin' down pat!
Nice plants, thanks for sharing.

Barry

Meant to say "YOU" got this mater growin' down pat!

Good looking plants. The only question I have, out of nothing but curiosity, is the 50 dollar bill? Don't get me wrong man, but when I saw that I was rolling in laughter. Once again, these are typed words. You cannot hear my words, nor yours mine.

There is nothing wrong with knowing that those tomatoes-plants look good.

Springlift,

Your right....good catch! I was so proud of myself for actually having $50.00 in my pocket. The rest of the story is...it took two of those to fill up my truck that day!

cheers

Bing

About the $50 bill...IMO it doesn't do justice to those "million dollar" tomatoes!!!

Looks a lot like Marglobe tomatoes. What's the original breeding for Big Beef?

Those tomatoes are for sure.

Tracy,

Your question is way beyond my expertise but "digdirt" or "Carolyn137" could probably help.

Bing

I'll substitute with 50% the right answer. The correct half is a Beefsteak variety, and the other just plain ole' good breed.

No use whatsoever, but a couple months back, I think I was singing the praise for the Big Beef. The ability to be prolific like a Celebrity,while at the same time having the size,texture, and close taste to an heirloom.

Big Beef is here to stay. The only question is who is the next Big Beef. U know, the new off-breed. The new big hit.

I know the answer. I thought long and hard about concealing this secret for a good, long while. But after further thought, and realizing I cannot keep the tomato world in the dark just because I have inside information....I have decided to let it ride.

The next late-breaking, never before seen tomato is.......

RUTGERS

bit too much Norm Macdonald lately i suppose.

Take care,
Travis

Here is the link to Josho's

http://www.josho.com/gardening.htm

Hey Bing!

Glad to see everything is OK!

Figured you were busy...You got it down now buddy!

NICE! NICE! CROP! A1111111111+++++++++++!

WORLD CLASS!

-Timmy