Terminated 5/13 Heritage Seeds Birdie Rouge (tomato)

[airscapes]

Birdie Rouge is a product of Ellie's at Bunny Hop Seeds
Started 1-10-22 in DIY Bounty, to stay in the DIY bounty
Germination took 3 days at 80F in a temperature controlled grow tent.
Hydro-Gardens Tomato formula, calcium nitrate and magnesium sulfate added at day 6 per manufactures instructions
hydro-gardens.com/product/tomato-formula-5lbs-box-4-18-38x5/
Ec 2.02 PH 6.7 (PH close enough to target 6.5 not to bother adjusting atm)

[airscapes]

Just an image update at 10 days, will be thinned this weekend and remain in this unit but not sure it it will remain in the tent do to lack of space.. will see what I can come up with.

This one should get no taller than 12".. I hope

[airscapes]

20 days since seed were planted.  
Tiny little guy, only suposed to get 12" tall.. 

[airscapes]

30 days and doing well!  I did change the fluid today and moved the nana C. to the bucket

[airscapes]

Just went down to check on Nano and took and thought I saw buds, grabbed the jewelers loop and yep!  Photo take with loop in front of the phones cam lens

[airscapes]

This is the 4 week mark, one flower opening.. 
Anyone know if the curling of the the leaves is normal for the Dwarf Micro plants?  This one and Lise are both doing it but the Nano Ciliegia which  is not  a true Dwarf and has more standard type leaves is not doing it and all have the same solution stength.

Had to put black paper around the plants to get a half way accurate picture. too much white and bright light even with the lights dimed to 25%

This guy is so small, have to wonder how  many more buds are inside and under it where I can not see.

[Sher]

airscapes, yes, the micro dwarf tomatoes usually curl under.

[airscapes]

Feb 13, 2022 16:43:43 GMT -5 Sher said:

airscapes , yes, the micro dwarf tomatoes usually curl under.

WHOHOO!  Thanks Sher!  
I was really worried they were getting too much of something!

[ERR0R1755]

Same here - when I grew the Orange Hat and Micro Tom, they also curled under.

[lynnee]

That thick, downward-curling canopy is what drives me crazy about the AG heirloom red tomatoes, and the AG golden harvests to a lesser extent.

The canopy hides the ripening tomatoes, and if you aren't diligent about checking for ripeness, the tomatoes may actually split before you notice them.

[airscapes]

Feb 14, 2022 13:34:03 GMT -5 lynnee said:

That thick, downward-curling canopy is what drives me crazy about the AG heirloom red tomatoes, and the AG golden harvests to a lesser extent.

The canopy hides the ripening tomatoes, and if you aren't diligent about checking for ripeness, the tomatoes may actually split before you notice them.

Try picking a couple as soon as or just after they enter the breaker state or any time before fully ripe.  If not familiar with the term, it is when the fruit just starts to color.  At this point the studies show that not much other than water will pass through the membrane to the tomato.   If picked at this point the fruit will ripen off the vine as it would on and  should taste the same if left to hang.  I think that taste part has a lot to do with the variety, but  it is worth an experiment as it can save you a lot of spit fruit, especially when grown outside.  I pick my outdoor Ealry 4th of july Burpee's as soon as the start to show orange with no taste difference but never do they split unless I miss one like you say.. hiding under a leaf!

[lynnee]

airscapes, I will try that. My tomatoes do ripen on the countertop when I terminate a plant.

[airscapes]

Not sure what week this is, but It's Sunday 2/27/22 and my poor little dwarf plants are not looking the way I had hoped they would.  I think the light has been too close and hot and the humidity too low.  Probably a little to hot on the fertilizer for these varieties as well.  The non Dwarf (Nano Ciliegia) looks fine.. so must just be this type. Anyway, have the humidity double what it was at about 60% during the day and I fear over 70% at night so working on a humidity control for the exhaust fans.   Added a control to the oscillating fan so it cycles on and off every minute during the day and on/off 1/2 minutes at night to see if that will help.

Changed the fluid today, went  with exact amounts rather than heaping spoons.   

Birdie has the most tomatoes of the 3.





 

[airscapes]

Update on 3-7-22, after changing water and fertilizer 

Lots of little fruits all hidden in the fist

[airscapes]

Roots during R&R 3-7

[Sher]

Beautiful, healthy root system!

[Shawn]

Not bad.  The roots are not out of control

[airscapes]

Mar 8, 2022 8:56:54 GMT -5 Shawn said:

Not bad.  The roots are not out of control

The plant is tiny.. I mean, I have had bigger heads of lettuce!    
Description said it gets no more than 12" tall, it  is about 9" now, and has a LOT of fruit on it for the size of the plant.

BTW for the real AG units, this DIY unit holds 2 Gallons of water so I am thinking the Birdie Rouge would work well in most any of the larger AG units for sure. 

One other thought on the roots.. I am doing R&R every week and watering with 1/2 strength so the plant does not need to search for food. Could be why the roots are not going nuts or it is just due to the Dwarf characteristics. 

[airscapes]

After a week of 63-65% Relative Humidity, this plant is looking much happier!  Leaves are unwinding a bit, and I am digging through it each morning looking for new shots.  If I pull them out so the don't grow in they seems to do much better.   I am hope to get some ripe tomatoes soon!  Man there are ton of tomatoes on this tiny thing.  I would highly recommend this for a true AG unit, it should not grow out of the light but then again, the light i have it under is much brighter than any of the AG units. It is said to get no taller than 12" and only need small pot if grown in soil.  See first post for a link to the seed seller.

[lynnee]

My AG Heirloom red and yellow tomatoes grow with tight canopies like your Birdie Rouge. They appreciate having those interior shoots cleared out, too!