Tomato Growing Thread 2022

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by JWK, Jan 1, 2022.

  1. Sheps

    Sheps Keen Gardener

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    The mystery Beefsteak continues to grow, these will be the biggest toms I have grown to date, with the biggest pushing 9cm.

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    • Ademission

      Ademission Gardener

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      Sheps,
      Your pH is spot on. Unusually so. Do you calibrate your meter regularly? What area are you in?
      I just read the ingredients on the Maxigrow Organic Seaweed bottle and I cannot find any mention of Calcium. Also if the pH of your tap water is 6.0 (acid), you are probably not in a limescale area and so you will get no contribution from the water. I would suggest buying "Growth Technology Calmag" that adds and unlocks Calcium and Magnesium to your feeds. I've just done the same but it's too early to tell if it's worked as it was only 2 days ago.

      If you are using a feed to the prescribed concentration, I wouldn't change the feed regime but adding some Calcium and Magnesium may make the difference.

      Again, I hope this helps.

      Ademission
       
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      • Ademission

        Ademission Gardener

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        Sheps,
        Beef tomatoes look great. Not much wrong there!

        Ademission
         
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        • sandymac

          sandymac Super Gardener

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          I use the same feed among others but i always add Fish blood and bone, calcified seaweed and sulphur along with aspirin to the growing medium when potting up as maxicrop lacks calcium and some nutrients/minerals are in minute ammounts from the seaweed element
           
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          • Sheps

            Sheps Keen Gardener

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            @Ademission pH was taken using the most unreliable paper strips, so maybe not that accurate.

            I've just ordered a 1L bottle of Growth Technology Calmag to give it a try as my plants are definitely lacking in something, made all too obvious by @eatenbyweasels picture of the Pink Boar that looks ridiculously healthy.

            Cheers...
             
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            • Ademission

              Ademission Gardener

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              Sheps,

              I hope it works for you. I'll let you know a little later if I see an improvement on my chilis. Calcium deficiency is a common problem (I'm told).

              I've gone back to topping up my Wilma systems with tap water and then adjusting the pH to 5.5 with "pH down" solution. I adjust to 5.5 because I know it rises during a short period and I will re-adjust as it reaches 6.5 averaging 6.0. I will also add Calmag to aid with Calcium and Magnesium unlocking to help the plants grow to their full potential.

              Good luck and let me know how you get on.

              Regards

              Ademission
               
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              • ricky101

                ricky101 Total Gardener

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                Hi,

                Think you might have to be careful with that Calmag as its surely the calcium is bound to raise the PH and act as a buffer, though no idea how strong Calmag is in the working diluted form ?

                Seems it can be used as a weekly foliar feed which avoids upsetting your waters parameters ?

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                • Ademission

                  Ademission Gardener

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                  Hello Ricky

                  Calmag was one of the products that the experts said I should get familiar with. Dilution into my hydro water is 1cc per 2litres. The final stage for me after adding things like this is to re-adjust the pH back to around 6.0 (in my new regime 5.5) so pH should not be a problem. It basically unlocks absorption of Calcium and Magnesium. Have you used it before?

                  I don't remember reading about using it as a foliar feed on the bottle instructions. A few years ago I got a problem on tomatoes where the leaves seemed to go transparent between the veins and that was cured with Epsom salts in solution sprayed on the leaves. That apparently was due to a Magnesium deficiency.

                  Regards

                  Ademission

                  Regards

                  Ademission
                   
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                  • sandymac

                    sandymac Super Gardener

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                    Calmag is a must if you are growing in coco coir
                     
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                    • ricky101

                      ricky101 Total Gardener

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                      No, never heard of Calmag before now, though like you have tried Epsom Salts on plants, but often wonder if its by then too late to make much difference that season.

                      Most of the makers/suppliers of CalMag say a foliar feed is equally as good, have you looked on your makers web site ?
                       
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                      • JWK

                        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                        I am using Epsom salts as a foliar stimulant at the moment, I do as a precaution anyway. It contains magnesium but not calcium to my knowledge.

                        I have an ancient bag of garden lime from the days when grow bags were very acidic, I am going to give my tomatoes a very dilute solution to see if it helps. I'm only going to do half my plants in case it badly affects them.
                         
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                        • pete

                          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                          I'm not such as intense grower of tomatoes as some of you are here, I just grow them for a few salads and maybe preserve a few for winter use.

                          I mostly grow mine in dirt :biggrin:
                          You don't seem to get all these deficiencies then, not very scientific I know, but I can't help thinking growing scientifically you basically end up with the same stuff you can buy in any supermarket. :smile::sofa:
                           
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                          • Jenny namaste

                            Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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                            Are tomatoes lethargic this year?
                            I have just one fruit - the size of a petit pois
                            Jenny namaste
                            they are outdoor " Sungolds "
                             
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                            • Ademission

                              Ademission Gardener

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                              Jenny,
                              I grow tomatoes mainly in Wilma systems, but I also have a few in pots outside for your comparison. I started them late in the season but they appear to have caught up. My main variety is Maskotka, but I have a small amount of other varieties (Cherry Falls, Black Russian, Radana and Garden Pearl).

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                              1. Outdoor tomatoes

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                              2. Small greenhouse LH side

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                              3. Small greenhouse RH side

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                              4. Both sides

                              I think we are a little bit behind some of the experts but fruit is forming and we had our first red tomato off yesterday.

                              Regards

                              Ademission
                               
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                              • JWK

                                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                                I think the very first Sungold I had ripen was a tiny pea sized one. Since then they are like this @Jenny namaste , picked yesterday with 2 x Sungold on the right, they are usually the smallest of the cherry types I grow. I have had some off my outdoor Sungold too this week all normal smallish sized.
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