8 weeks from ripe based on what? Do they already have fruit set on them?

Dave

Dave, I think dbrown is talking about DTM, 8 weeks from plant out.
That is a possibility with some early varieties in a favorable climate and under good growing conditions. On the other hand some beefsteaks take about 8 weeks from bud to ripe fruit.

Sey

Might be tough in zone 5. Good luck!

Yeah if he is using DTM and in zone 5 if they don't already have fruit on them then I wouldn't hold my breath regardless of the variety. As mentioned it is minimum of 6-10 weeks from fruit set to ripeness. But if they already have fruit on them then maybe 8 weeks could work but I'd doubt it.

Dave

What varieties do you have planted dbrown? They look good and ready to grow! Please update this thread and let us know when you actually do get ripe tomatoes!

In my climate you have to add 10 days to 2 weeks (approx) to DTM numbers for the early varieties. If they say DTM is 60, actually it will be like 70 to 75. I know how Bloody Butcher, Early Treat and Siletz did last season.

Another thing is that USDA zone number does not say anything about summer weather. All it says is how cold and long winters are. You might be some place in zone 6 and have a much better summer growing conditions that we have in our PNW zone 8. .

Sey

8 plants are Early Girls , no buds yet but they are dependable, about 60 days DTM, no doubt I will have ripe fruit by July 15. I have been growing them for many years.

Alright dbrown,
I Think EG has DTM of like 55 days. So I hope you are right about it.
Please post pictures when you get your first RIPE fruit on them.

BTW: where are you located ? and what your summers are like ?
Thanks

Sey

South Central Ohio Seysonn. . Summers are hot and humid from early June thru mid August. So now it is June 11 and we are going to have ripe tomatoes by , say July 10 if not sooner. Just the Early Girls, the Brandys and Better boys will be a bit longer. Most of the EG plants have golf ball sized tomatoes now. Not much rain in May or so far in June so I have had to water a few times.

High dbrown
I think you will get it. From June 11 to July 10 is 29 days..
According to general tomato time line it takes about 19 days from peach size to ripe fruit for beef steak type. EG has smaller fruits and it should take even shorter time. You have a good chance at it on or before The Fourth.
Please report back. Thanks.
Sey

6 weeks later , tennis ball sized , probably at least 10-15 per plant and a bunch of smaller ones, hundreds of tomatoes ready to ripen in about two weeks. The excess rain we've had in the last 2 weeks doesn't seem to bother them, but the ground drains good.

dbrown2351, may I suggest you to prune a little ?

Fungicide.
Also, keep in mind that the plants will grow at least 2-3 ft. and the current support might not be high enough.

I don't prune, snip, brush, shake , beat or floss. They are in cages that are staked with a 7 foot 2X2. Of course they will grow a lot higher, they will actually almost double what they are now, but the tops will just lay over on other foilage. I just make sure nothing touches the ground by tying lower branches to the stake / cage with plastic ribbon.

3rd year in this spot, may move them next year.

Those 2x2 look to me like 4 ft. high.

The plants already look crowded to me.

If you drape... don't know...

BIG jungle there, soon.

If air can not circulate, the plants can get diseases.

Btw, i can't see the cages.

You say you don't prune.

I don't prune either - well except the necessary - but my real estate is BIG.

The frame bellow is 16 ft. wide by 12 ft. high.