Looks good from here. Any trouble with BER in those SWCs? I had it something fierce last year, so instead I am growing in the ground this year (mostly).

Tom Petty must have been a tomato gardener: The waiting is the hardest part!

No BER here, fingers crossed!

Looks like you are enjoying very good production. Congrats.

I've come to the conclusion this a.m. after walking around my various set ups, looking more at groups than individuals, and checking moisture and fertility with a meter that the tree in my main patch is doing more harm by using water and feed than sun.

Meter readings confirm the theory but other evidence includes,

1) Nearly every potted plant has twice (several instances of quite a bit more) the mass than its in ground conterpart including those that have much less sun than the main patch.

2) Most of the potted plants have a deeper color and several have or have had that bubbly leaf look to the uppermost which seems to be an indication of maximum feed. None of the inground have that.

3) While I did use pre-fertilized, bought mix for the pots, I used Earl's recipie for the inground and all plants have until now been given the same treatments at the same times.

4) The plants inground have MANY more blooms and set fruits than do the potted so ... This is an example of feed levels affecting the vegitative state vs. reproductive state, yes?

5) The shingling effect of the trees drip line assures that the potted plants recieve more rain than those in ground. Kinda counter-intuitive to think about inground needing more suplimental water than potted but not just because of the tree's own needs, they will recieve less.

With 90s here now off and on for a bit, sure to slow fruit set anyway, I decided to give the inground a drink with some MG and epson salts and also surface side dressed with some Tomato Tone which I'll let future rains water in.

Hey Sportsguy

I't a jungle in there! :-D

that the tree in my main patch is doing more harm by using water and feed than sun

Offered to fix that for you. ;) You could have a very nice 2 foot tall stump there for sittin' and admiring the patch or picture it with a nice container sitting on that stump. A nice totem pole, maybe an eagle with wings spread? :^)

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Chainsaw Art

Dave, I was expecting as much if you might recall from an earlier discussion about said tree but was waiting for confirmation prior to action.

The tree looks nice where it is. I could find a new place tomorrow and be gone in 2 mos. or less. The tree stays :-)

Had a nice 4' Bear from an Aspen log placed on a 30" dia. rock core I got from a pier job a long time back but the ants eventually did it in. That pedestal needs a new occupant if you just gotta :-)

Change of topic, Some new pots this yr. have open style very shallow pans and the skeeters are breeding. Is there anything safe to put in the water or should I just drill a hole?